This story was printed from www.cw.ua.edu. Site URL: http://www.cw.ua.edu.
Student section to expand by 872 By Caitlin Tudzin Senior Staff Reporter February 12, 2004 In an effort to keep up with the growing student population, UA officials have added 872 seats to the student section at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The current number of seats offered to students is 11,287, which was the amount designated for the section in 1998. The entire south end zone will now be reserved for students. Athletics director Mal Moore said requests from students who were unable to get tickets, as well as the projected increase in student population, led the athletics department to designate more student seating. "We anticipate 1,000 to 1,500 more students next year," he said. "That and the demand of students already here led us to decide we wanted more students to have the opportunity to get tickets." Moore said he does not believe ticket prices will go up from $5 at this time, though it is a possibility that it could happen someday. He said the 872 seats will be student-designated until the stadium is expanded in a couple of years, a move Moore predicts will add about 7,000 to 10,000 seats. "I'm pleased and thrilled the student body is growing and pleased that we get great support from our students because that's so important," he said. SGA President Katie Boyd said several students came to her to voice their concerns about the effect a growing population would have on football ticket availability. Boyd said since the stadium already seems crowded in the student section, it only made sense to increase the amount of space designated for students. "There are 20,333 students on campus, and many times we have students' guests," she said. "It's always packed and after Aug. 1, some students even get turned away from buying tickets." Boyd said as long as the demand remains for these seats, they will continue to be blocked off for students. She said the placement of the new student section is great because it places fans closer to the game. "I think the neatest thing is that it's the front section across the end zone, right where the football players run out," she said. Boyd said Moore and Rhoda Vaughn, director of the athletics ticket office, were both helpful in reaching student demands and putting into place a plan for the new seating arrangement. Boyd said the next step is to make sure seating increases as enrollment increases. "Now we will work on getting a plan in place so that in the future the number of seats available to students will grow with attendance," she said. Bryan Grimes, a sophomore finance major, said he thinks it is great the University is making more room for students, since the section is already cramped. "It will be a good thing that there's more seats and tickets, because it will get more people out to the games," he said. "I knew people who couldn't get student tickets last year, and tickets in other sections are too expensive." Emily Burgio, a sophomore nursing major, said she agrees the addition is definitely a good thing for students. "Games are so crowded, you have to get there two to three hours before it starts to even be able to see something," she said. "Right now, the student section is definitely too crowded." Burgio said she thinks the amount of seats sounds good right now, but she added that taking too many seats away from other sections will take away seats from sections with pricier tickets, resulting in less money for the University. ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
