Athletics Department instates new ticketing policies

More students in a smaller area caused seating issues for late arrivals.

By Travis Cornejo

Published Sept. 15, 2009

The Athletics Department met Monday morning to discuss how the new policies worked out for Saturday's game against Bowling Green State University.

"After our first game, we evaluate everything," Associate Athletics Director Whit Babcock said.

According to the MU Athletics Web site, for the 2009 season, students are required to enter through gates 3E or 4E, wearing a wristband that was distributed along with their tickets. The Web site also said the student section is now general admission seating and groups recognized by the Organizational Resource Group can apply for group seating.

Babcock said student ticket holders would receive an e-mail reiterating the new policies and procedures either Monday or Tuesday.

Brad Fischer, executive director of Mizzou Spirit Zou Crew and Tiger's Lair, said the new policies worked out pretty well for the first game, though issues might arise at more crowded games later in the season.

Fischer, a former staff member of The Maneater, said seat size in the student section was reduced, though the numbering on the seats hasn't been changed. He said Tiger's Lair included 1,600 students this year, as opposed to last year's 1,500.

"The Athletic Department let us sign up more members," Fischer said.

Approximately 11,500 students filled the student section at Saturday's game, Babcock said. He said from what he could tell, 20 minutes before the game, only about half had filled the section, meaning many students arrived near the beginning of the game.

Babcock said he saw problems seating those who came just before the game started and making sure students were able to find the appropriate sections.

"If you get there earlier you're not going to have any problems," Babcock said. "For every student who bought a ticket we had a seat."

Babcock said the wristbands given to all student ticket holders were established to help easily identify students and make sure they get to the right section.

"It's consistent with what a lot of other Division 1 programs do," Babcock said.

According to the Athletics Web site, the new policies and procedures were put into place with the recommendation of the Student Advisory Group for Intercollegiate Athletics. Formed in spring 2009, the advisory group was put together with the help of former Missouri Students Association President Jim Kelley.

"I wanted to make sure that we had a formal structure in place to deal with important issues that would come up regarding student participation and student attendance at athletic events," Kelley said.

The advisory group's members came from a list put together by Kelley, Babcock and MU Wellness Resource Center Director Kim Dude. Kelley said they aimed to have a good representation of students in the group.

"I think that the list of students included is always going to be flexible," Kelley said. "Something that we're going to have to reevaluate from time to time."