The SGA will announce the map of where in Bryant-Denny student organizations will sit on Friday and release the results of the SGA’s reformed block seating plan. And while the student section is primed for a change this year, the University is working on reminding students about the consequences of missing home games.
SGA Press Secretary Meagan Bryant said in a statement that the student organization seating map will be publicized by Friday, September 7 by 5 p.m.
“After applications were submitted along with an application fee, the applications’ scores were determined by Campus Labs software, and a map was made accordingly,” Bryant said. “The grading scores and applications are password protected which eliminates the possibility of altering any scores.”
While SGA is tackling the issue of block seating, the ACT Card office is working to remind students of the University’s rules for seating in the stadium, advising students to get into the game a minimum of an hour before kickoff, as gates open two and half hours before.
“Lines will be very long, so expect delays,” the ACT Card website states. “Give yourself 60 to 90 minutes to get into the stadium, whether or not you participate in student organization seating.”
The website also makes clear that block seating is only in effect for a while before the game.
“Student organization seating is in effect until 45 minutes before kickoff or capacity is reached in the lower bowl, whichever comes first,” it states.
Additionally, for every ticket a student does not use or transfer by halftime, 1.5 penalty points will be assigned to their account. If you do not donate your ticket by 5 p.m. Friday, you will receive .5 penalty points.
Students with over three penalty points will not be eligible for postseason tickets this year or regular and postseason tickets in 2013.
Some students agree with this somewhat strict point system.
Tyler Shaw, a junior majoring in management information systems, explained it was a fair way to stop students from selling or not using all their tickets and making a profit.
“If you don’t use or want your ticket, why not donate it and not lose the points?” Shaw said. “It’s that simple.”
Caroline McNair, a junior majoring in accounting, said the point system helps the south end of the stadium look full of Alabama student pride.
“It not only encourages students who have bought tickets to attend the game and fill up the student section, but also it prevents students from constantly purchasing and then wasting tickets that are in such high demand,” McNair said.
SGA President Matt Calderone agreed that getting in as early as possible to avoid the long lines is the right idea for students.
“I have gone to every football game two hours early since I have attended the University,” Calderone said.
For students who did not purchase a student package, the waiting list for the ticket bank becomes available at 1 p.m. Sunday before a home game.
Parking is also disrupted due to games, so the University requires that students who park on Colonial Drive and in the Tutwiler lot must move to other orange lots, such as Hayden Harris or the Campus Drive Parking Deck. Fines of $100 will be issued to cars that are not moved from these lots by 5 p.m. Friday, and cars will be towed at their owners’ expense.
UA students enter Bryant-Denny through Gate 31 and block seating will be in effect until 45 minutes before game time.
