That’s the ticket: changes to student ticketing policy take effect next week
Utah State University will institute a new ticketing policy for home football games this season, moving to hard tickets starting with the first home game on Sept. 6 against Idaho State.
To obtain tickets for games in the past, students swiped their student ID cards at gate entrances to get into games. This year, students will take their ID cards to the TSC card office or the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum ticket office the week of the game.
On the Monday before each home game, the card office will be open from 7:00 a.m. until noon, at which point the card office will close and the ticket office in the Spectrum will open for ticket distribution. Following the initial rush on Monday, tickets can be found at both the card office and ticket office during regular business hours the rest of the week.
After their cards are swiped, students will be issued tickets with an assigned section and row, however they will be able to pick their seats within the assigned row. Each student is allowed to swipe up to four other cards in addition to their own in order to pick up tickets for their friends. However, having a hard copy of a ticket does not guarantee entrance to the game—ID cards are still required, and will be swiped at the gate before entering the stadium.
Students new to the hard-ticket system have had varied reactions to the change.
“I think the new ticket system will save us time waiting on game day,” said senior Jay LaBosky. “Instead of being in line, we can tailgate and hang out with friends.”
Junior Megan Anderson voiced her concerns over the new system’s need for students to plan well in advance for attending games.
“I personally don’t understand why they need to change it,” Anderson said. “As college kids we like to have moments where we can be spontaneous. For me that’s what games are. Half the time I don’t decide to go until right before the game, so the new system would keep me from going.”
If a game isn’t sold out, students can still wait in line and swipe their student ID card to get in at the gate. However, if the game is sold out there will be a standby line at the southeast gate. Students in the standby line will be admitted 15 minutes after kickoff to fill in any empty seats.
The new hard ticket system will not cost students anything. According to the USU Athletic Department, it will give students the opportunity to fully experience Aggie football game day, as well as improve the overall fan experience.
“It would be a good system if the hard copy guaranteed a spot,” said junior Jeanann Blake. “But the fact that it doesn’t makes us worry about something we don’t need to worry about. Football is meant to be fun for the students—they’re adding unneeded stress.”
With the change, USU has now shifted to a type of ticket approach used by most major universities in the nation.
“I’m not really sure how it will work out yet, but it will probably be good,” said Austin Stevens, a transfer student from Brigham Young University. “I like it way better than what they did at BYU.”
The gates to Romney Stadium will open 90 minutes prior to each game and be staffed by ushers to help students find their assigned section and row until 10 minutes prior to kick off.
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