The ASUO and the University athletic department have teamed up to present University students with a student season ticket option for the upcoming football season.
The deal, which will reserve 1,000 student season ticket packages for the six home games this year, will cost around $200 per package on GoDucks.com, based on the fair market value. GoDucks.com will notify University students through their University e-mail accounts when and how they can purchase these packages.
“It’s at the request of the ASUO because some die-hard fans couldn’t get tickets,” Dave Williford, executive assistant athletic director, said.
By creating a student season ticket option, the ASUO, which was represented by former Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee chair Alex McCafferty during the negotiations last academic year, has increased its total allotment of student tickets offered. Before, the ASUO could not afford to purchase the entire student section, which consists of 5,445 seats. Now, with the season pass option, 1,000 student seats are already reserved, and the ASUO can purchase the rest for students who prefer to use tickets already paid for by the incidental fee.
“Students who wish to purchase a season pass will have a guaranteed spot at every home game,” McCafferty said. “This leaves 1,000 less students vying for regular tickets, increasing the opportunity for those who do not have season passes.”
McCafferty created this deal with the athletic department to increase the number of students able to attend football games and to save the ASUO money. He helped negotiate the season pass option when renewing the contract between the ASUO and Lane Transit District when LTD asked for an increase to allow University students to continue to use their ID cards as bus passes. By developing this option for students with the athletic department, the ASUO will save 11 percent, or approximately $160,000, of its budget.
“Since the ASUO recently established an electronic ticketing system with the athletic department, adding the season pass option with our current contacts seemed the most practical route,” McCafferty said.
University senior Jordynn Didlick is excited about the prospect of buying a season ticket pass for the student section.
“Sometimes you don’t get tickets because it’s first come, first served,” Didlick said. “If you could get a guarantee like that, that would be cool. Those who want to put the money in it can get their tickets, but those who don’t have money can still have a chance.”
Duck Athletic Fund Executive Director Garrett Klassy, who worked with McCafferty as a representative of the athletic department in negotiations, did not respond to repeated attempts by the Emerald for comment.
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