Tickets go on sale Tuesday

The University released purchasing information and details of the new paperless system for 2008 student football tickets in an e-mail to students Friday.

Tickets will be sold to current students starting Tuesday at 7 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. on April 22. Student season ticket packages are $35, and include seven home games. Tickets must be ordered online at www.rolltide.com. About 11,000 packages are available, and students are encouraged to place their order as quickly as possible.

Through the paperless system, students will receive a confirmation e-mail once their order has been completed. Afterwards, the system will automatically transfer the appropriate access to students' ACTion cards prior to each game. Students will enter the games by swiping their ACTion card at the student gates of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The paperless system will still allow students to sell tickets to other current students or upgrade their ticket to a student-guest ticket.

To sell a ticket, students must exchange money on their own, and then the student with the ticket must go online and transfer their ticket privilege to the other student. Once the privilege is transferred, both parties will receive a confirmation e-mail. Ticket privileges can be transferred online until game time on home football days.

UA Spokeswoman Cathy Andreen said students will not need to exchange CWID numbers to transfer ticket privileges, contrary to what was reported in The Tuscaloosa News.

To convert a ticket, the student with the ticket must go to the athletic ticket office between Monday and Thursday of a home game week and pay the difference between a student ticket and a regular admission ticket. The prices range from $35 to $60 for conversions.

Students cannot sell or convert their entire ticket package at one time.

Students who aren't planning on going to a particular game can also donate their ticket to an online ticket pool. Students who would like a ticket can put their name on a waiting list, and, if a ticket becomes available, they'll receive an e-mail confirmation indicating they have received a ticket.

Student-friendly system

Louise Crow, SGA vice president for student affairs, said the new system will "require some adjustments and transitions for students," but provides benefits, as well.

"I think that, once students get use to this process, they will see how much more efficient it is. Not only will this allow more students to attend games, it will cut down on the amount of tickets that are sold for obscene prices," she said. "Also, this system will allow students who were unable to purchase tickets the opportunity to afford to go to the games."

Crow said other benefits will include shorter lines at the gates on game days, quicker admission and keeping the University up-to-date technologically.

"Putting tickets on our [ACTion] card keeps UA updated on modern technology, yet still gives students the ability to purchase student-guest tickets and sell their own tickets."

Crow said there may be glitches, but the administration will be ready to address them.

"The administration and athletic department realize that there will be small glitches in the new system that will have to be worked out," Crow said. "The SGA will work continuously this summer and throughout the football season to get student input, suggestions and concerns and address those needs as best as possible."

Crow, who previously served as SGA director of communications, said part of her platform for the spring 2008 election was making the new system as student-friendly as possible, but the Athletic Office made the decision to make the switch to paperless tickets.

"This is something that has been discussed for a couple of years now, but did not get underway until this year," she said. "Since I knew that this would be a huge transition for our student body, I wanted to make sure student opinions and concerns would be addressed as a top priority of this administration."

Some unsure of change

Kasey Reynolds, a freshman majoring in public relations, said she does not like the new system because it makes things more complicated.

"I don't see any benefit in it because it's going to be more of a hassle to sell them," she said.

Lauren Cole, a freshman majoring in education, said she thinks the new system will be less of a hassle.

"I think it's a good idea because you don't have to worry about losing your ticket," she said.

Some students also expressed concerns that they won't have a keepsake from the game.

"That's really the only bad part, because I keep all of my tickets," said Sarah Wiley, a sophomore majoring in secondary education and English.

Otherwise, she said, the system is fine.

"It doesn't seem like there's a big difference except now there'll be no paper," she said.

Alex Taylor, a freshman majoring in electrical engineering, said he sees no problem with paperless tickets.

"The thing is, I don't really need documented evidence that I went to a football game," he said.

Crow said she is aware of some students' concerns that they will no longer have a keepsake from football games, and the SGA is working on addressing that concern.

"SGA executives have spoken with several students that have voiced this concern. SGA members are in conversation about designing similar tickets from previous years and printing them for students that want keepsake memorabilia."

Paper tickets will be issued for away games, however, and will be sold Tuesday to students who have earned at least 65 hours of credit as of the end of the fall 2007 semester.

Students will be able to order tickets to the Clemson, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU away games, and ticket orders will be filled based on a student's credit hours, with priority given to students with the most hours. Orders will be filled until the total allotment for student tickets has been used for each away game, and those whose orders aren't filled will receive an automatic refund.

Students will pick up away game tickets at the ticket office in August.

Incoming graduate, freshman and transfer students can purchase home game tickets beginning June 2, during their summer orientation. Freshmen will be able to choose between a three- or four-game package.

Students enrolled for five or fewer hours must buy an activity/recreation/athletic privilege to be able to buy football tickets, and rates will be published at www.cost.ua.edu in late June.

For more information on the new system, students can visit uanews.ua.edu.