Students were forced to choose between tailgating and the best seating at Carter-Finley Stadium before Thursday’s game against Florida State University.
New ticketing policies enacted by the University Athletics Department distributed seating to students on a first-come, first-serve basis. Administration enacted this new policy following the Boston College game on Sept. 23.
“It kind of makes it an inconvenience, because you can’t come in at your own pace,” Robert Gray, a freshman in First Year College, said.
Parking to the stadium opened at 3:30 p.m., restricting both tailgaters and students trying to get seats close to the field. Students were assigned seating sections based upon when they arrived at the stadium, so those who tailgated before the game were ordered to sit in sections 14 and 15.
According to Jeff Rodio, a sophomore in aerospace engineering, a lot of tailgaters didn’t even have tickets and were only there to tailgate.
Alumni Chris Hodges and David Woodall were tailgating in the student lot with Campus Crusade. They said they had been cooking since the early morning.
Likewise, some students began waiting in line early for seating.
“We got here about 3:30 p.m,” John Kincaid, freshman in First Year College, said.
According to Silas George, a junior in mechanical engineering, the new ticketing system caused few problems. He said the line seemed to go fast.
Some students didn’t approach the gates until late — minutes before kickoff — and were surprised at the short length of the line.
“I thought the lines were going to be longer,” Jenna Ray, sophomore in biological sciences, said.
However, according to Adam Gibbs, a freshman in political science, there were problems with the system. He said he was separated from his friends when he and another student, Molly Collins, a freshman in food science, were not allowed to come into the stadium with food. The system requires students who want to sit together arrive together.
“It’s like [being in] the third grade again,” Collins said.
In a previous Technician article, Dick Christy, the assistant athletics director for external operations, said the new ticketing system was intended to make the students safer.
However, there were still problems with students sitting in the wrong sections, even with their hands stamped in accordance with the new policy.
“There were people with section 14 and 15 stamps on their hands … at least 7 or 8 of them,” Eric Ellis, junior in sociology and education general studies, said. “They were all drunk out of their minds, and one girl kicked [my girlfriend’s] sweater.”
Ellis said he reported the incident to an event staff member, but no actions were taken.
Travis Collier, a junior in political science, said he was also upset by the new policy.
“I’m so fed up with administration trying to make us into Wake Forest and UNC. We need to get rid of Oblinger.” Collier said. “Oblinger needs to get with the Pack, or get out.”
Staff members Josh Harrell and Chris Sanchez contributed to this report.