The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Student Tickets Move Online, Add New Package
4/28/2010 | Athletics
OXFORD, Miss. - In an effort to increase attendance and provide easier access, Ole Miss student leadership began meeting with athletics administration in the spring of 2009 to formulate a strategy.
The result is a new all-sport season pass that can be purchased online and requires only the student's university ID card to enter the event.
"Students often complained about the inconveniences of the student ticket purchasing process," said Artair Rogers, outgoing Associated Student Body President. "This ticket plan offers easy access. There will not be long lines of students waiting for season tickets at the Tad Pad.
"Additionally, the all-sport pass will allow students to save money. We are confident this ticket plan meets the needs of the students."
Based on the number of student tickets available for men's basketball games, a total of 2,000 all-sport passes are available at a cost of $125 per pass. The total price for individual season tickets for football ($84), basketball ($48) and baseball ($68-72) will equal approximately $200, offering a savings of $75 with the all-sport pass.
"The new ticket plan attempts to create a better overall gameday experience for students through providing easier access and more convenience," said ASB President-Elect Virginia Burke. "The plan also aims to increase school spirit through greater support of our athletics teams and participation in sporting events."
"Our primary goal was to create a more efficient and user-friendly structure for student tickets," said Sans Russell, Ole Miss Senior Associate Athletics Director for Ticketing and Priority Seating. "The new ticketing options, pricing and online purchasing address the needs of both the students and the athletics department."
The all-sport pass must be purchased on the OleMissSports.com ticket site and will be downloaded to each student's ID card. This ID card will grant access to all regular-season Ole Miss athletics events and must be presented for proper scanning of the unique barcode at the appropriate student entrance of each athletics venue.
All-sport passes will only be for sale July 1-31. After that, each of the seven qualifying student groups (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, law, pharmacy, graduate) will be allocated a maximum number of football season tickets they can purchase from the remaining tickets.
A total of 5,500 football season tickets will be sold at a recommended price of $84 each and will be available online. There is a maximum of one season ticket per student. After August 27, any unsold football season tickets will be made available to any qualifying student who has not already purchased a season ticket.
When all 2,000 all-sport passes are sold, no further men's basketball student season tickets are available. Individual game student tickets will be available on a game-by-game basis.
Additional baseball student season tickets will be sold during the fall and spring terms at OleMissSports.com for an estimated cost of $68-72, based on the number of scheduled home games. Individual game student admission will be $3 beginning with the 2011 baseball season.
With the recent renovations and improvements to the Oxford-University Stadium student section, both student and athletics department leaders agreed the new fees were necessary but should be reasonable and affordable.
"When the ASB approached Athletics to discuss changes in the ticketing process, it was clear that charging admission to baseball games was inevitable," Burke said. "I wish there did not have to be a charge for admission, but in order for students to continue to benefit from renovations of the baseball stadium, some type of fee must be assessed."
A percentage of student tickets will be held back for the freshman orientation session ending August 20.
Only students who are enrolled for at least half-time hours for the fall 2010 term will qualify to purchase season tickets.
All student tickets sold are general admission.