ASU Athletics recently implemented a text-messaging assistance program, which will provide those who attend athletic events with aid if they need it in situations like injuries during games or fans getting too rowdy.
To use the program, users must send a text message to 41513, begin their message with “Sparky” and then state the issue and location.
Assistant athletic director Bill Givens said so far the texting assistance program has averaged about 50 to 60 texts per game. He predicted the number will increase as the season continues.
The program was active at the last two ASU home football games.
The text messages have ranged from people reporting broken seats at sporting events to complaining the music is too loud, Givens said.
The texts go to a computer that is monitored by a worker in the command center in the stadium. The dispatcher then sends appropriate people to deal with the issues.
People can text the number and get assistance for many things, from flat tires to dealing with obnoxious fans.
“It’s not a brand new technology, but the past two or three years, more collegiate and professional stadiums have been implementing programs like this,” Givens said. “It’s so simple: simple to implement, simple for guests to use and simple for us to track and respond to various problems people text us about.”
Evonne Hernandez, 44, a Globe resident and a season-ticket holder since 2004, said she thinks she and her husband will use the program if they have complaints about the people sitting near them.
“Since we have assigned seats, we know who is supposed to be there and who isn’t,” Hernandez said. “I don’t think it’s fair when we’re paying so much money for these seats and people just come and sit in them.”
Computer science freshman Julian Guerrero said he thinks the program will be used more by community ticket holders than students.
“As students, we know more about the area and know more people to call if we need help than the adults who are only coming to campus for the games,” Guerrero said.
Global studies and communication sophomore Devin Peters said she agrees the program is aimed at older users who may be less familiar with ASU.
“I think students are going to deal with their own problems. If someone threw something at me, I’d deal with it instead of texting someone,” Peters said. “But I think adults and people who aren’t at every game will appreciate the extra assistance.”
The texting assistance program is available for up to five hours before kick-off at each home game, throughout the game and one hour past the end of the game.
“This is like a real time suggestion box,” Givens said.
Reach the reporter at sheydt@asu.edu.