Following the changes in the entry process for the student section, Joe Alleva, vice chancellor and director of Athletics,
apologized for students’ wait to enter Tiger Stadium during this weekend’s home game.
Last year, students waited in three separate lines, but this year students waited in one large line called a snake gate.
Eddie Nunez, associate Athletics director, said the original goal with the changes was to make student entry easier and
more efficient.
However, given the delayed kickoff due to lightning and miscommunications among the event staff, Nunez said their best effort was not given.
Elementary education senior Jordan Bedford said even though she arrived to the line relatively early, she waited 20 minutes to get into the stadium — longer than ever before.
“I wish they would go back to where it was and just have more lines,” Bedford said.
Sam Eysink, kinesiology junior, said she waited in line for 45 minutes and saw several students cutting the line.
While she was waiting in the heat, she said she considered leaving.
Business freshman Maegan Pittman said people were crammed together in line and policemen told students to move forward, but it did not help.
She said she felt claustrophobic as students were pushing and shoving while it was drizzling.
“They weren’t letting anyone in the stadium,” Pittman said.
Eysink said the stadium should have more people scanning tickets and more lines for students.
Joshua Ramirez, math sophomore, said this was his first time in Tiger Stadium, and even though he had to wait 30 minutes he said his experience wasn’t horrible because there were minimal lines inside the stadium.
“Once you got through the student section, everything was good,” Ramirez said.
In a letter to The Daily Reveille, Alleva said because several students were unable to get their tickets or IDs scanned before they entered, anyone with a student ticket will be given full credit for attending the game.
Nunez said there will be a meeting today to review and finalize plans for next week’s game.
“We want to make sure this is corrected,” Nunez said. “The plan is to make this right.”
“I wish they would go back to where it was and just have more lines.”