USUSA events debuts new ticketing system with High Stakes Bingo
Tuesday, Sept. 5, Utah State University Student Events hosted the first event using the newly implemented ticketing system at High Stakes Bingo.
Students gathered from all across Logan on Tuesday night to take part in the USU tradition of playing bingo in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom during Weeks of Welcome. However, this year students would not need a physical ticket to get through the doors, but rather a QR code on their phones would be scanned at the door.
The new system being used is called Transact Mobile Ordering, or Transact. It is an app students can download on their mobile devices and log into with their A-number. It is expected this app will be used for all future student events that require tickets. Transact allows students to get tickets to events like High Stakes Bingo in advance, without having to make the trip to the TSC Card Office.
First-year student Sydney Baird shared her experience learning about Transact and using it for the first time in a text correspondence.
“The new ticketing system was super easy to use. I was able to get my ticket super fast and the easy scan made it so you could get inside in a timely manner,” Baird said.
USUSA Events posted about the new app on their Instagram predating the event.
Baird explained how easy it was to follow the directions that were listed on the account’s page.
“I found out about the event from Instagram, and the instructions were there telling me exactly what to do,” Baird said.
Other students noted a positive aspect of using Transact is they do not have to worry about losing a physical ticket before the date of the event.
USUSA Traditions Director for Student Events, Ashlynn Smith, had lots of good things to say about Transact from an operations standpoint. One benefit of this new app is it allows USUSA to meet different ADA accommodations for students. It has also increased security for events by ensuring only students with an A– number are allowed entry.
With the launch of Transact, tickets for High Stakes Bingo sold out in 51 hours. Many students were unaware tickets were being sold digitally this year, or they were even available yet. Other students thought this app was just a one time thing, and avoided downloading it altogether.
Smith shared some insight in response to these concerns.
“Next semester, we have another bingo coming up in the spring, we’re going to do a countdown so that students are more aware of when the tickets will be coming out,” Smith said.
This countdown will be posted on social media, and can be expected to be seen on the USUSA Events page.
For students who don’t use social media, Smith provided an alternative way to receive the countdown for when tickets for events will be going live.
“I’m utilizing My USU as a countdown as well. If people have their notifications on for that app, it’ll quickly be fed on (My USU app) like, ‘Tickets are available for our sixth bingo in 24 hours’,” Smith said.
Smith also mentioned the idea of a text thread students would be able to subscribe to and receive updates for events on. This is another method USUSA Events would use to let students know when tickets for events would be going live in the Transact app, and would urge them to act quickly to secure theirs.
Overall, this new ticketing system has proved beneficial from its first run. USUSA Events were able to fill the TSC Ballroom to capacity for both sessions of High Stakes Bingo. Students won big prizes, danced on chairs, and most importantly, sang The Scotsman.
Students can look forward to painting the TSC bus loop on Oct. 2, the next event from the USUSA Events Traditions committee.
As for the next event using the new ticketing system, be sure to download Transact and watch your social media for updates on when tickets for the Mr. USU on Oct. 4 will go live in the app.