Renovation in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center has limited seating for this year’s commencement ceremony, allowing graduating seniors to receive only three tickets.
Seating is limited because one-third of the seats are being replaced due to the renovation process, University Registrar Robert Doolos said.
Seating has been unlimited in past year, except last year when President George W. Bush spoke. Graduates received three tickets then as well.
Of the three tickets provided, one is for the graduate, and two are for guests, Doolos said.
The Chancellor’s office still has not scheduled this year’s speaker, Doolos added.
Dan Radakovich, senior associate director of Athletics, said the Athletic Department will eventually replace all of the seats.
In addition to seat replacement, Radakovich said workers will upgrade the restrooms, provide more handicap seats and ramps and install an elevator.
These renovations began in mid-March and will continue until October, Radakovich said.
There are 14,204 seats in the PMAC all together. About 6,700 of those seats are available this year for guests after graduates, faculty and Golden Grads — alumni who graduated 50 years ago or more — are seated.
The Office of the University Registrar is anticipating 2,500 of the roughly 3,500 graduating seniors will attend this year, which allows three tickets per student, Doolos said.
Students planning to attend the ceremony can pick up their ticket, plus two guest tickets from April 11 to 22 at the Union Box Office, Doolos said.
The Registrar will count the number of tickets left, and students can pick up extra tickets from April 26 to 29 at the same location.