UH gives CNN 800-seat debate venue, gets 25 tickets University gets more than 200 ticket entries in six minutes



Take a look at some of the best memes from the previous debates. The University of Houston will host the next GOP debate.

Take a look at some of the best memes from the previous debates. The University of Houston will host the next GOP debate. Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance Image 1 of / 293 Caption Close UH gives CNN 800-seat debate venue, gets 25 tickets 1 / 293 Back to Gallery

University of Houston faculty, students and staff may need a little luck on their side to get a seat in the Moores Opera House for the Republican debate next week.

As part of its agreement to host the final Republican debate before Super Tuesday, the University of Houston will give CNN access to an 800-seat venue. Just 25 of those seats will be reserved for the university. They'll be given out randomly, a university spokeswoman said Friday.

The university's contract with CNN, obtained by the Chronicle, says the news station will set aside "at least 25" tickets to the Feb. 25 debate for UH and will "work in meaningful consultation with the University on the number of VIP preferential seating in the Orchestra level."

UH opened a raffle for the tickets it can give out on Thursday and received more than 200 entries within six minutes, said P'Nina Topham, a UH spokeswoman. The university is hosting student and faculty watch parties for those unlucky many who don't get a spot in Moores.

Under the contract, CNN will cover all costs associated with the event, though UH will provide CNN workers for the event -- likely in the form of student volunteers and university employees -- who the station will compensate.

The race to be a student volunteer is just as crowded as those seeking seats. The student government, which will pick the volunteers, accepted applications for a span of 27 and received 554 of them. More than 200 of them showed up for interviews last week and the university expects about 75 of them will get gigs.