ASU students began camping outside of Wells Fargo Arena as early as Sunday Sept. 21 for tickets to the ASU vs UCLA game on Sept. 25. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)
ASU campuses experimented with an online ticketing system for Thursday night’s football game against ASU and are looking to make the new system a permanent service for students.
Students at all campuses previously had to line up at Wells Fargo Arena in order to reserve tickets to football games, which made it difficult for students outside of Tempe to receive lower bowl section seating. The one-time online system has allowed students to hold a spot in line without the hassle of waiting in 100 degree heat and possibly not receiving their desired ticket.
Undergraduate Student Government Downtown President Frank Smith III said the process has has gone very well so far.
“My vice president and I have been talking to students about the online ticketing process, and they are excited about it,” Smith said.
Smith said the ticketing system allows students to reserve their spot in line without having to worry about getting to Tempe to wait in line.
“Students can sign up online for tickets and can go pick up their tickets the day of the game between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.,” he said.
As of now this online system will only be for the football game against UCLA, but if it is well-received then the system may come into effect again for other large games like the Notre Dame football game on Nov. 8.
“This just happened for this game and we have had over 800 students from downtown reserve a ticket since the launch last week, and this is something we have to see how well this goes and see where to improve,” Smith said.
Polytechnic and West
Both the Polytechnic and West campuses are using a slightly different ticketing system, which allows students sign up online to hold a seat on the game day shuttle and allows them to reserve a wristband once they reach the stadium, Undergraduate Student Government Polytechnic President Ryan Olkes said.
“Students who sign up online will reserve a seat on the shuttle and a wristband that will hold their spot in line for tickets,” Olkes said.
This system is only for the UCLA game and was set up to make it fair for students at campuses outside of Tempe to receive lower bowl seating without having to travel to wait in line.
Online registration for a spot on the shuttle closed Tuesday afternoon and the feedback has been mostly positive, Olkes said.
“I have heard from a few students who said they are happy they don't have to wait all day and risk getting upper bowl seating,” he said.
Along with the ticketing system, water misters and opening Wells Fargo Arena as a student waiting area for tickets is being looked into, Undergraduate Student Government West President Howard Waldie IV said.
“We’ve requested additional water stations and for students to be allowed inside of Wells Fargo Arena to stay cool, as well as open additional ticketing stations,” he said. “We are also asking for water misters for outside of the arena for any students who have to wait outside for tickets or are waiting to get inside of the arena.”
Campuses will be looking for feedback on the ticketing system and will be editing and improving where they can, Waldie said.
Reach the reporter at jshanco2@asu.edu or follow on Twitter @joey_hancock
