Student super fans brave cold weather and long nights for tickets
What is a good seat at a sporting event or concert worth? Showing up an hour early to stand in line for tickets? How about collecting camping gear to wait outside for 12 or more hours?
The newest fad for some Utah State University students is religiously camping overnight for the best seats at home football games, bringing air mattresses and computers to prepare for the occasion.
Undeclared freshman Hunter Nalley is one of those students.
“I have camped out for every game except the last one,” he said.
Though good seats at a game are rewarding, Nalley has a stronger motivation to camp overnight for games.
“The motivation is it being a good team,” Nalley said. “I really didn’t think we would have a good team coming from California, living next to USC, UCLA. I had never even heard of Utah State, so I was like, ‘Oh, this is going to be crap’, but, yeah. The first game was in the spirit of college, and then I figured out quickly that we had a really good team, and being in the front row is a lot of fun. Camping out for the game also makes the front row that much more special.”
Nalley said he typically eats dinner then goes straight to camp out on the Sunday night before the sales. He sets up at about 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. with other students, then camps out until 7 a.m. the next day when tickets are available. Though typically there are only about 20 or so students who decide to camp out, Nalley said the group likes to beat the rush of people who show up at around 6 a.m. also hoping for those front row seats. For him, camping out for front-row tickets increases his connection to the game.
“You definitely feel closer to the players as well,” he said.
Logan Reese, a freshman in mechanical engineering, camped out for two games. Though the thought of good football seats is also enticing for Reese, he appreciates the social aspect of camping out with a group and meeting new people there.
“The whole reason that I camp out is, one, it’s a great social event, you know?” Reese said. “You go hang out with people that share your same beliefs and values about the game of football. And also there’s a plus at the end of the night because you get a good ticket, so you can support your school’s team from the front lines right behind the players.”
Kyle Dunbar, a freshman in business administration, also enjoys the group atmosphere of the campouts, meeting new people and channeling his Aggie pride.
“I do it because it shows school pride,” Dunbar said. “It’s fun to be around other people with lots of school pride.”
The campers have 12 hours of free time, so entertainment is essential.
“Netflix plays a big part,” Nalley said.
Nalley and fellow campers also like to take light naps and listen to music while waiting for tickets. He said campers should be prepared for anything.
“You never know if it’s going to get really cold or not,” Nalley said.
Nalley brings a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, his computer, his phone, headphones and a pillow among other supplies. He and others usually camp out on the back patio of the Taggart Student Center, though that could change with the coming of Winter.
Tickets go on sale at 7 a.m. in the TSC on Mondays the week of home games.
— sadiejherrera@aggiemail.usu.edu