Ticket prices through the roof for WSU vs. Oregon with 'College Gameday' in town

PULLMAN, Wash. — Fair warning for fans looking for a last-minute ticket to watch Washington State take on Oregon in Pullman on Saturday: be prepared for sticker shock.

On Friday morning, the online ticket exchange Stubhub listed the cheapest ticket at $210 for an End Zone Reserve seat. A Club Sideline seat was listed for $800, and four Family Plan 22 tickets were listed for $1,500 each.

Much of the demand coincides with the first time ESPN’s "College Gameday" has visited Pullman. For 15 years, Cougar fans across the country have waved a Washington State flag, known as 'Ol Crimson' in the background of the ESPN kickoff show.

The 15-year streak of flag waving has included 34 states and 72 cities -- even at the University of Washington in 2013. Now, it will come full circle when the show kicks off on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. local time at the corner of Stadium Way and Ferdinand's Lane.

"Even though I was the first one to start it and keep it going, I'm still amazed that something I thought of 15 years ago, did 15 years ago, would have this kind of effect," said Tom Pounds, who started the tradition of flying the flag in 2003, according to the Associated Press. "It still amazes me."

The No. 25-ranked Cougars enter Saturday's matchup with a 5-1 record while, the No. 12-ranked Ducks come into Pullman fresh off an overtime win over the Washington Huskies.

To deal with the crowds coming to The Palouse this weekend, pullmanradio.com reports the Pullman City Council approved an emergency declaration on Tuesday.

“We’re going to try and set some records this weekend,” Washington State athletic director Pat Chun said.

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