I believe in positive reinforcement. So, in giving credit where credit is due, a moment of well-deserved thanks and snaps for The University of Alabama administration and their student football ticket policy. I may also be on a “T-town Never Down” high from the weekend.
Paying $5 a ticket to watch the best college football team in the world is phenomenal, especially when non-student tickets are difficult and expensive to come by. Not to mention how jealous it makes my rival SEC friends.
At Texas A&M University, students are required to buy an initial sports pass (ranging from $170 to $350) before being able to register for season football tickets. These sports passes give you access to other sporting events throughout the year; events that, for Alabama students, are often free. Our $30 package for six games translates to $300 for the Aggies. Thanks, and gig ‘em.
And besides the initial deal, I’m able to sell my tickets throughout the semester, making some profit. Shame on those who buy student tickets for that reason only, but when I am hosting too many friends to bring to the game or heading out of town, a flier in Tutwiler does make me a cool $20, easy.
Across the Mississippi at Lousiana State University, their ticket purchase cost is like ours, around $7 a ticket. But unlike UA, the school heavily punishes any tickets resold for profit. While our dorm room lobby hosts hundreds of “Ticket 4 Sale” fliers, LSU students can be stripped of ticket purchasing power for posting an ad on Facebook. That also means our administration isn’t preoccupying themselves with student-market places on Facebook – another win.
Secondly, the University has made the ticket purchasing process incredibly simple and sensible. A set list of rules and regulations for predetermining ticket purchasers, along with a “three strike” system, has ensured a fair regulatory process. There are tales of woe for those students who don’t make it into the walls of Bryant-Denny Stadium, but it’s hard to sympathize with those who can’t read the game day FAQ sheet that’s plastered to every University surface. And you can’t waltz in halfway through the second quarter and seriously expect a good seat. Don’t be that guy.
Utilizing our student ACT cards removes the hassle and wastefulness of paper tickets, making it easier for students to enter and seat themselves at the game. Other schools require you to pick up tangible tickets on Monday morning, “pull seats,” to end up next to your friends and get in the ticket line early to make sure you get the best view. I just swipe my ACT card.
Other features, like the transfer policy, deadline for day-of ticket donation and guest pass fee, are continued examples of how our administration has properly handled thousands of individuals, without being overly involved and confusing.
There are too many people at this University. That has surpassed opinion and become a fact. But, on game days, the administration has figured out a way to wrangle us into our seats mostly unscathed. So, as we inch closer to our first home meet, I enter into the crowds with a positive attitude. (Note: Do not let me down.) My experience with Alabama game day in the past gives me some hope in the University’s ability to handle the logistics of 30,000 students.
SoRelle Wyckoff is the Opinions Editor of The Crimson White. Her column runs on Mondays.
