LSU has implemented a new method to reward students for waiting in line before giveaway games and staying to support the teams. For those who don’t oblige, their season tickets can be at risk.
“Any student that leaves the PMAC prior to tip-off will be exit scanned, and will lose the privileges to their LSU Basketball student tickets for the remainder of the season.”
This was the message in the LSU Athletics email prior to the men’s basketball game against Kentucky that was offering free T-shirts to the first 500 fans in the door. The memo has now been used before every men’s basketball giveaway game.
“This policy is intended to ensure giveaways are rewarded to students and fans who are genuinely there to support the team,” said director of fan experience Kelsey Dulinski. “The goal is to prevent individuals from collecting giveaway items and leaving before the game begins, and instead reward fans who arrive early, stay and actively cheer on the Tigers.”
LSU has encountered this issue before: many students have waited in line for giveaways and the game, only to be left empty-handed while peers immediately leave with the free jersey or sweatshirt.
“The increased popularity and improved design of recent giveaways have led to a noticeable rise in students leaving immediately after receiving items,” Dulinski said. “This policy helps ensure giveaways reach fans who are staying to support the team.”
The message in the athletics emails just says ‘LSU Basketball’ and does not specify men’s or women’s, but it has only appeared in promotional emails for men’s games so far.
Director of Marketing Julia Fecke and Dulinski said that this process will apply to women’s games as well, with the “potential for this process to be implemented with other sports in the future.”
If students attempt to leave early on days when those messages appear in the email, their tickets are scanned just like they were when they entered the PMAC. It only applies to students who receive free season tickets through their status as a full-time student.
