2008 Woodie Awards
Officials limit student basketball tickets to 1,500
Andy Blais
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News
|
"It's the exact same policy we've always had," said Greg Burke, deputy director of Athletics.
He added that there are slight differences that include student tickets being ripped when purchased so they cannot be resold. Additionally the ticket office will open at 10 a.m. on game day and there will be a new "students only" entrance.
Burke said there has been a maximum of 1,500 free student tickets per game since the Ryan Center opened in 2002. He said the reason was simply because "All parties thought it was too much of a challenge the night of [the game]."
According to the policy reminder posted around campus and given to students going to the game, "Once the student allotment has been exhausted, students may then purchase as many tickets as they would like for $8 each, which is the price for the general public."
According to the URI Budget Office, this year's student fees for athletics is $275, which would cover all free tickets.
"As we get more and more students who come to the games [the policy] is just clarified," Burke said.
In the history of the Ryan Center, there have only been four games where 1,500 student tickets were given away, including two games against Providence College, a University of Massachusetts game and one George Washington University game.
In years past, when tickets were handed out several days before the game, ticket redemption was low. In the 2004-2005 academic year, ticket redemption was around 33 percent. The number increased to 65 percent the following year. Ticket redemption went up to 88 percent when same day ticket distribution was introduced. This year's ticket redemption is 93 percent.
Burke added that same day ticket disbursement allows students to be more conscious of their plans and know that they will be able to attend the game.