New football student season ticket plan announced
April 07, 2008 | Football
Badger football games at Camp Randall Stadium are an enjoyable and exciting part of campus life. For many students, they are a key component to their experience at the University of Wisconsin.
With that in mind, the UW Athletic Department has solicited extensive feedback from students regarding student football tickets. Using this feedback as a guide, and in an effort to best serve its student customers, the UW Athletic Department announces the following adjustments to the student football season ticket process. These adjustments are effective immediately.
Student Football Season Ticket Modifications
Ticket Sales Process
' Due to continued high demand for tickets, a lottery system will be used for all students who apply for tickets this year. Previously, a lottery system was used for freshman and other new students only.
' There will be one lottery for student football season tickets, and all full-time undergraduate and graduate students (both returning and incoming students as of June 1) may apply for the lottery
' All tickets will be sold as full season tickets
' The lottery will be weighted by class standing as of June 1 (graduate students and seniors receive four chances; juniors receive three chances, sophomores receive two chances, incoming students receive one chance)
' Each class will be guaranteed a minimum number of lottery winners (each undergraduate class 2,000 tickets, graduate students 500 tickets)
Ticket Sales Timeline
' Lottery applications will be accepted from June 15-June 30, online at uwbadgers.com. The lottery will be held during the first week of July after the registrar has the most accurate list of returning and incoming students
' Lottery results are scheduled to be communicated on July 7
Voucher Distribution
' Vouchers will no longer be mailed to students
' All vouchers must be claimed, by each individual student, at the Athletic Ticket Office beginning August 18
Section P Adjustments
' Section P will no longer be reserved for upper-class students only, it will be open to all students on a first-come, first-served basis
' All students will receive identical vouchers (no need for upper-class and under-class vouchers)
Section Reserved Seating
' Students will continue to select a specific section upon entering Gate 5 of Camp Randall Stadium
' Student will no longer receive a reserved ticket with a specific seat assignment upon exchanging vouchers
' Students will instead receive a wristband that designates their assigned seating section
' Students must sit in their assigned section and wear their wristband at all times
' Students may select to sit in any open seat within their assigned section
2008 Student Football Season Tickets
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there going to be a lottery for student football season tickets instead of a straight sale'
With increasing demand for student football season tickets (tickets sold out in less than three days in 2007), a lottery system appears to be the most equitable system for all students who are interested in purchasing season tickets. In a recently completed survey which was sent to all students, 80% of students are concerned with how quickly student season tickets have sold out. In addition to the survey, the Athletic Department had discussions with ASM leaders and students participating in a student ticketing focus group. Given the current demand for tickets, a lottery system is a reasonable solution.
What is the reason for having the lottery request period in June and not during the spring semester while I am still on campus '
The Athletic Department is committed to doing everything it can to make sure that student tickets are purchased by students. By holding the lottery in June, the Athletic Department can get the most current information from the registrar as to which students are expected on campus once the fall semester begins. Students are encouraged to sign up online at uwbadgers.com for Bucky Text , which is a free text message service provided by UW Athletics that will provide students with reminders as the student lottery registration period draws nearer.
I've always had my vouchers mailed to my permanent address. Why do I have to pick them up at the Athletic Ticket Office' Can another student pick-up my set of vouchers'
The Athletic Department has seen a growing number of students who do not receive their vouchers through the mail, which leads to the re-printing of hundreds of vouchers. When a voucher is re-printed, the bar-codes on the original vouchers are voided. However, many of these voided vouchers end up in the hands of students and others, who then attempt to use these voided vouchers for admission into Camp Randall Stadium. In an effort to curb the number of fraudulent vouchers floating around campus, students will be required to pick-up their vouchers from the Athletic Ticket Office. Students will not be allowed to pick-up vouchers for another student, and no exceptions will be made to this policy. The Athletic Department is dedicated to having each student be responsible for claiming their own set of vouchers.
What is the reason for no longer holding Section P exclusively for upperclassmen'
Section P has some of the most desirable seating across the entire student section. It is also the largest of the student sections, and takes the longest to fill up with students. By allowing all students access to Section P, the students who arrive the earliest, regardless of class standing, will have first crack at the most desirable seats.
OK, so now when I have my voucher scanned at Gate 5, I get a wristband instead of a reserved seat ticket. How does this work exactly' How are the wristbands marked' Are there different colors for different sections ' Does my wristband have a specific seat printed on it or can I sit in any open seat within my section'
Each wristband is color-coded to correspond with a specific section area. These colors will change from game to game so if your wristband for section P for the Akron game is colored red, it may be colored blue or green for the Marshall game. The wristbands will also be labeled with section and row information, as well as the opponent Wisconsin is facing that day. Initially, wristbands will be handed out for the lower half of each student section, for seats below the cross-aisle (rows 6-46). Students coming through Section P chutes when gates open (90 minutes prior to kickoff) will receive a wristband that is marked 'Sec P, Rows 6-46'. Students wearing those wristbands are free to sit in any open seat in Section P, between rows 6-46. As more people come through the gates, the supply of wristbands for Section P, rows 6-46 will eventually run out. At that point, a different colored wristband, labeled Section P, rows 48-68, will be handed out to students coming through Section P chutes. Students with these wristbands are free to sit in any open seat in Section P, between rows 48-68. The same process will be used for the other student sections (O, N, M, L, K & J).
If I leave the stadium but I am still wearing my wristband, can I re-enter the stadium'
No. Once you leave the stadium, even if you are wearing a wristband, you cannot get back into the stadium without using another voucher or game ticket.
For the men's basketball lottery, students receive additional lottery chances for years of lottery participation. Why isn't that the case for the football lottery'
There has been a lottery for men's basketball season tickets since 2004, whereas this is the first full-fledged student football lottery. Beginning in 2009, the Athletic Department expects to begin using football lottery participation history as a factor in the number of lottery chances each student receives.
How do I enter the lottery'
Students must go online to uwbadgers.com to register for the student football season ticket lottery, beginning June 15 at 8:30 a.m. and ending June 30 at 4:30 p.m. Students must have a credit card to apply for season tickets. If students have difficulty registering for the lottery online, they should contact the Athletic Ticket Office for assistance between the hours of 8:30a.m.-4:30p.m. Monday through Friday, however, no phone, in-person, or mail lottery applications will be accepted, all applications must be made online.
How can I purchase student away game tickets '
Students can request away game tickets on their online applications when applying for the season ticket lottery. Lotteries for each individual away game will be held if demand for tickets exceeds supply. Students do not have to be season ticket lottery winners to be away game lottery winners. Notification of away game sales/lottery results is scheduled to be communicated on or about Monday, July 7.
