Sept. 26, 2007
Starting in January, University of South Carolina students can say goodbye to standing in long, early-morning lines for basketball and football tickets. The new year will bring students new, easier access to tickets when the University launches the online ticketing system TicketReturnTM.
Through TicketReturnTM, eligible, fee-paying students will be able to log in to a Web site where they can request tickets and print them directly to their own printers. The new system also will allow students to accumulate loyalty points that will increase their chances of obtaining tickets for high-profile games, which often are distributed through lotteries. Andrew Gaeckle, a junior business major and student government secretary of athletics, said that the new system will make access easier for students.
“This system will add more convenience to our busy schedules, enabling easy access to athletic tickets from any computer on campus,” said Gaeckle. “This system will also benefit those fans that have high attendance at athletic events, adding to the Gamecock spirit.”
Jerry Brewer, associate vice president for student affairs, said that the new system was developed to create a more efficient way of distributing tickets to students.
“The TicketReturnTM system was selected to provide 24/7 online access to student tickets using a student designed priority system,” said Brewer. “The distribution and management of the student athletic tickets eliminates any issues with ticket pick-up conflicting with class or lab attendance.”
During each game’s ticket distribution period, students will be able to request tickets on the University’s TicketReturnTM Web site. The system will ensure equitable distribution of tickets by automatically setting up ticket lotteries when student requests for tickets exceed the ticket supply.
Students who are unable to attend a game for which they’ve already requested and claimed a ticket will be able to return that ticket to the system, where it will be released for distribution to another student. Kent Hegenauer, ticket manager for the Athletics Department, believes this system will allow more students to attend games.
“The new system will allow greater access for tickets to the total student population at the University,” said Hegenauer, “not just those who can get to the Russell House on the first day of distribution.”
A student advisory committee will create policies for using the system, develop components of the Web site and design the structure for awarding loyalty points.
Students are welcome to attend three system demonstrations set for 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2 in Russell House room 203. The demonstrations will feature representatives from Student Life, the Athletics Department and TicketReturnTM.
Based in Charlotte, NC, TicketReturnTM, LLC, is a leading national provider of adaptive ticketing software, access control systems, and Internet-based event marketing services. Founded in 2001 as an alternative to costly proprietary ticketing systems, TicketReturnTM delivers powerfully simple ticketing networks supported by Internet-based technologies operating on standard Microsoft PCs and networks. The company’s primary markets include stadiums, arenas, and theatres operated for the benefit of colleges and universities, professional sports, and the performing arts. For more information, please visit www.ticketreturn.com.
To give suggestions or for more information about online student ticket distribution, please e-mail studenttix@gwm.sc.edu.
