Hoops ticket pickup to begin next semester
By David Irvine
Old Gold and Black Reporter

With the 2001-02 men’s basketball season getting underway, students can expect several changes to be made in the current ticket distribution system.

Student-led initiatives have resulted in new policies designed to be both less of a headache for fans and more conducive to filling the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

“Some students came to us regarding ticket policies and procedures, so we listened to their opinions, brought in our ticket office manager and asked him about our procedures in the past,” Dan Hauser, the director of sports marketing, said.

One of the most notable changes to come out of such discussions is the decision to do away with ticket pickups for fall semester games. Now students must only present their student ID and athletic pass at the coliseum entrance at the start of the game to be granted general admission seating. This holds true for the Florida State game at the end of fall semester and the Clemson game over winter break.

Hauser explained that not only should this make for less of a hassle for students who chose to attend the first several games of the season, but it should also encourage early arrivals to the coliseum.

“We felt that at the first-semester games the student attendance has been such that we could go with general admission,” Hauser said. “Our thought process was to make it easier for students to come and attend games, and allow the first people that get to the game to get good seats. We thought that was also positive in that people would come early to our games and watch our team warm up.”

One game for which students cannot receive free admission is the contest with UNC-Wilmington on November 12. Due to the fact that it is a preseason National Invitation Tournament game, a cash-only ticket price of $4 will be charged.

Hauser said that the university did ask for free admission for students, but was unable to make such arrangements.

“It’s a tournament that we don’t control. Participation in campouts would increase, promoting school spirit.

“We wanted to make the campouts more accessible to everybody,” senior Jordan Wagner said. “If campouts are on the Mag Quad, there should be a more fun atmosphere.”

The students are currently seeking administrative approval for the move, but Wagner admits that it is unlikely. Pickups were held at Benson University Center several years ago, but problems with unruly students at campouts necessitated the move to north campus.

Should the move be made to the Mag Quad, however, Arnone said that students would be notified of the change. “What we are probably going to do is send out another flyer around Jan. 12,” he said. “We’re just waiting to hear about that.”