I have a few questions about the student entry process for men's basketball games at the John Paul Jones Arena. I may also have a solution. Continue reading to find out.
Aside from Michael Buffer deciding Adrian Joseph was named "Brian Joseph," my only complaint Sunday was the student entry process.
I want to make a simple suggestion that I think will solve a number of short and long-term ticket and entry problems for men's basketball games.
But first, here is a run-down of the current system:
1) Student remembers to request a ticket on SHOTS and does so, usually at least a week in advance.
2) Assuming s/he hasn't attended every "Orange Passport" game this fall, our student waits to see if s/he will be granted a ticket.
3) Our student is then granted a ticket and given about two days to "claim" it.
4) Student remembers to "claim" his or her ticket.
5) Student learns that s/he will be entering with "Group 10" while his or her friends enter in miscellaneous groups before that.
6) Student decides s/he can go to the game, remembering that if s/he wants to cancel, s/he must do it before noon one day prior to gameday to avoid losing "Sabre Points."
7) Student goes to the stadium with several friends, all friends then scatter to find their individual entry groups, wait in line, find each other inside the arena, remember that somebody went to the bathroom (but which one?), wait for somebody's boyfriend, learn that every seat is saved in the bottom deck, try to get upstairs, don't know how, realize that they lost our student (who is still outside with Group 10), wait for him or her, go upstairs and finally find seats near the rafters.
Only at a school like Virginia would entering a basketball game be so ridiculous. We've made sure to rationally limit lost time, reward good attendance, maximize ticket sales and minimize no-shows.
All good things, except that in practical application, some of it isn't.
The "timed-entry system" is a little over the top.
Under this system, students are placed into one of 10 groups after a lottery drawing that incorporates previous game attendance. "Group One" enters the arena 90 minutes before tip-off. Subsequent groups enter every five minutes, until "Group 10" enters the arena 45 minutes before tip-off.
There are several problems with this system.
First, students going to games with friends are almost inevitably separated from their friends, based on their group designations. This is not the way that people want to go to sporting events. As a result, the first person who enters the arena ends up trying to save seats for his or her friends, who got stuck in Groups eight, nine and 10.
In the long-term, students may not come to games because they are frustrated with the process of it all.
Doesn't that defeat the purpose of building this new arena in the first place?
Ultimately, the SHOTS ticket claim system and Hoo Crew are very constructive developments for men's basketball at Virginia. But the timed-entry system is too much of a "procedure" for an athletic event.
Instead, Virginia should establish "early entry" and "normal entry" processes for students entering the John Paul Jones Arena. If your ticket says "early entry," you may enter the arena 90 minutes before tip-off. If your ticket says "normal entry," you may enter the arena 45 minutes before tip-off. After that point, anyone can enter.
Under this alternative system, students can, for the most part, enter the arena with their friends. Fewer seats would be saved for friends who are forced to arrive later based on their group designation.
Tickets would still be distributed electronically by SHOTS, with surpluses still returned back to the general public.
Hoo Crew could still determine "early entry" based on attendance at previous games.
Die-hards can come whenever they want, but not enter until 90 minutes prior to tip-off. Other students granted "early entry" can still come near to that time and be rewarded for their loyalty with good seats.
"Normal entry" students still have a specific time to gather and enter.
The students worried about the value of their time can come whenever and sit wherever.
Better way to do things, right?
Yes, we would have some students waiting in line before games but wouldn't that be a good thing? Who cares if people are waiting in tents the night before the Duke game Feb. 1?
During a season like this one might shape up to be, energy from the students should be harnessed in any way possible. The slight changes listed above could be another way to do so, removing the restraints of the current entry system and contributing instead to straining the men's basketball experience for students at Virginia.
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