About Student Football Tickets
Student Football Ticket Policies and Procedures
NOTE: The policies and procedures below are current as of September 29, 2009. Policies and procedures are still being developed, and are subject to change without notice.
- Eligibility
- Cost
- Season Tickets
- Student Ticket Accounts
- Home Game Ticket Process
- Away Game Ticket Process
- Loyalty Points
- Seating Assignment/Location
- Stadium Access
- Guest Tickets
- Transferability
- Cancellation
- Spouse Cards (External Link)
Eligibility
- Students – Students must be currently enrolled and have paid the full University Programs and Services Fee to be eligible for the opportunity to purchase student football tickets. Eligible students are not guaranteed a ticket. Students who have not paid the full University Programs and Services Fee but are enrolled in at least 6 hours may opt to pay the full fee to become eligible for the opportunity to purchase student football tickets.
- Spouses – Eligible students may purchase a Spouse Card through the Volcard Office to provide their spouse the opportunity to purchase student football tickets. Purchasing a Spouse Card does not guarantee the spouse a ticket.
Cost
Home student football tickets are discounted and sold at $10.00 or $20.00 depending on the game. Student guest tickets and away game tickets are sold at face value.
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Season Tickets
In order to provide the greatest number of students the opportunity to purchase tickets, student season tickets will not be available. Tickets will be sold on a game by game basis only.
Student Ticket Accounts
Students have secure, personal accounts in the student ticket system from which to: (a) manage their account information, (b) track their attendance history, (c) view their Loyalty Point total, and (d) print their ticket.
- Initial Login - The first time students log in to the student ticketing system, they will need to use their NetID username and the password ‘guest’ (password is case-sensitive). They will then be prompted to change the password so that it will be unique to their account.
- Email Opt-Out - By registering for tickets, students consent to receiving emails related to their ticket requests. Students can elect to opt-out of receiving additional emails regarding athletics events by checking the disable emails button under their Student Status Information on the Student Information page of the online student ticket system. Students will then only receive those emails related to their ticket requests (e.g. email notification of being awarded a ticket, etc.).
- Reminder Emails - Students can elect to receive an automatic email reminder at the beginning of each ticket registration period by checking the reminder email button under their Student Status Information on the Student Information page of the online student ticket system.
Home Game Ticket Process
Student home game football tickets will be purchased through an on-line ticketing system. The home game ticket purchase process is a three step process.
- Request a Ticket
- The first step to obtaining a home game ticket is to request one. There is a two day Request Period typically beginning at 12:01am ten (10) days prior to the game (Wednesday) and ending two days later (Thursday) at 11:59 pm. There is no advantage to being the first student to request a ticket, nor is there a disadvantage to being the last student to request a ticket.
- During the Request Period, eligible students may request 1 student priced ticket and up to two face value home game guest tickets. The request does not guarantee a ticket. It is onlya request for the opportunity to purchase tickets.
- Tickets are requested by going to http://bigorangetix.utk.edu during the times specified above, following the links for purchasing home game tickets, and making the necessary entries for student and guest tickets.
- Students wishing to sit with other students must identify a group leader and request to be seated with the group leader during the Request Period. (See also: Seat Assignment/Location)
- Purchase a Ticket
- Once the Request Period ends, a selection/seat assignment process, weighted on loyalty points, is run to identify the students/groups who will have the opportunity to purchase tickets during Claim Period 1 and determine the location of their seats. The more loyalty points held by a student/group, the more opportunities for being selected and the more opportunities for a better seat. After the selection/seat assignment process is run, students who requested tickets will be notified through email as to whether or not they have been selected and are being given the opportunity to purchase the tickets they have requested. The opportunity to purchase a ticket is split into three time periods: Claim Period 1, Claim Period 2 (waiting list), and Open Sales Period. These time periods are outlined below.
- Claim Period 1
- Students who request tickets will be sent an email by 7am the day after the close of the Request Period. The email will indicate that either they have been selected and now have the opportunity to go purchase (claim) their tickets, or they have been placed on a waiting list.
- The students selected will have until Monday at 11:59pm to purchase (claim) their tickets.
- Tickets are purchased by going to http://bigorangetix.utk.edu during the times specified above, following the links for purchasing home game tickets, and completing the necessary payment information. Acceptable forms of payment are Visa or Mastercard.
- Students, who fail to purchase their tickets by the deadline, forfeit their Claim Period 1 purchase opportunity.
- Claim Period 2 (Waiting List)
- Claim Period 2 takes place only if the following two things occur. First, the number of student tickets requested exceeded availability. Second, tickets remain unclaimed after Claim Period 1.
- If the scenario outlined above occurs the system will take the remaining tickets and reassign them to students/groups in the order they are on the waiting list. The waiting list is in loyalty point order.
- These students will then be sent an email by 7am the day after the close of Claim Period 1 (Tuesday). The email will indicate that they have been selected and now have the opportunity to go to the website and purchase (claim) their ticket.
- The students selected will have until Tuesday at 11:59pm to purchase (claim) their tickets.
- Tickets are purchased by going to http://bigorangetix.utk.edu during the times specified above, following the links for purchasing home game tickets, and completing the necessary payment information. Acceptable forms of payment are Visa or Mastercard.
- Students who fail to purchase their tickets by the deadline forfeit their Claim Period 2 purchase opportunity.
- Open Sales Period
- The Open Sales Period occurs at the end of Claim Period 2.
- Any tickets available after the close of Claim Period 2 are sold on a first come, first served basis during this period.
- Guest tickets may be purchased during this period.
- If the number of student tickets requested is less than the number of student tickets available, then the Open Sales Period will open early and begin simultaneously with the start of Claim Period 1.
- The Open Sales Period will continue until one hour after kick-off.
- Tickets are purchased by going to http://bigorangetix.utk.edu, during the times specified above, following the links for purchasing home game tickets, and completing the necessary payment information. Acceptable forms of payment are Visa or Mastercard.
- Print Ticket
- Once a student has purchased their home game tickets on-line, the student must print out the tickets at home.
- The ticket will bear the student’s name, event description, event date, the assigned seat, and a verification barcode. (Guest tickets will have the word ‘GUEST’ on them)
Away Game Ticket Process
Student away game football tickets will be purchased through an on-line ticketing system. The away game ticket purchase process is a four step process.
- Request a Ticket
- The first step to obtaining an away game ticket is to request one. There is a two day Request Period beginning at 12:01am on a Wednesday and ending on a Thursday at 11:59 pm. The exact schedule of away game sales can be found on the Ticket Sales Schedule page.
- During the Request Period, eligible students may request 1 student ticket and 1 away game guest ticket. The request does not guarantee a ticket. It is only a request for the opportunity to purchase tickets.
- Tickets are requested by going to http://bigorangetix.utk.edu during the times specified above, following the links for purchasing away game tickets, and making the necessary entries for tickets.
- Purchase a Ticket
- Once the Request Period ends, a selection process, weighted on loyalty points, is run to identify the students/groups who will have the opportunity to purchase tickets during Claim Period 1. The more loyalty points held by a student/group, the more opportunities for being selected. After the selection/seat assignment process is run, students who requested tickets will be notified through email as to whether they have been selected and are being given the opportunity to purchase the tickets they have requested. The opportunity to purchase a ticket is split into three time periods: Claim Period 1, Claim Period 2, and Open Sales Period. These time periods are outlined below.
- Claim Period 1
- Students, who request tickets, will be sent an email by 7am the day after the close of the Request Period (Friday). The email will indicate that either they have been selected and now have the opportunity to go purchase (claim) their tickets, or they have been placed on a waiting list.
- The students selected, will have until Monday at 11:59pm to purchase (claim) their tickets.
- Tickets are purchased by going to http://bigorangetix.utk.edu, during the times specified above, following the links for purchasing away game tickets, and completing the necessary payment information. Acceptable forms of payment are Visa or Mastercard.
- Students who fail to purchase their tickets by the deadline forfeit their Claim Period 1 purchase opportunity.
- Claim Period 2 (Waiting List)
- Claim Period 2 takes place only if the following two things occur. First, the number of student tickets requested exceeded availability. Second, tickets remain unclaimed after Claim Period 1.
- If the scenario outlined above occurs the system will take the remaining tickets and reassign them to students in the order they are on the waiting list. The waiting list is in loyalty point order.
- These students will then be sent an email by 7am the day after the close of Claim Period 1 (Tuesday). The email will indicate that they have been selected and now have the opportunity to go to the website and purchase (claim) their ticket.
- The students selected will have until Tuesday at 11:59pm to purchase (claim) their tickets.
- Tickets are purchased by going to http://bigorangetix.utk.edu, during the times specified above, following the links for purchasing away game tickets, and completing the necessary payment information. Acceptable forms of payment are Visa or Mastercard.
- Students who fail to purchase their tickets by the deadline forfeit their Claim Period 2 purchase opportunity.
- Open Sales Period
- The Open Sales Period occurs at the end of Claim Period 2.
- Any tickets available after the close of Claim Period 2 are sold on a first come, first served basis during this period.
- Guest tickets may be purchased during this period.
- If the number of student tickets requested is less than the number of student tickets available, then the Open Sales Period will open early and begin simultaneously with the start of Claim Period 1.
- The Open Sales Period will continue according to the posted schedule.
- Tickets are purchased by going to http://bigorangetix.utk.edu, during the times specified above, following the links for purchasing away game tickets, and completing the necessary payment information. Acceptable forms of payment are Visa or Mastercard.
- Print Ticket Voucher – AWAY GAMES ONLY
- Once a student has purchased their away game tickets on-line, the student must print out a voucher at home.
- The voucher will bear the student’s name, event description, event date, and a verification barcode.
- Pick-Up Ticket – AWAY GAMES ONLY
- Once the student has printed the voucher, s/he must take the voucher to the Central Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the University Center and redeem it for their ticket.
- The student will need to present his/her Volcard along with the voucher to obtain the ticket.
- The ticket(s) must be picked up during the times specified on the schedule.
Loyalty Points
Starting this football season, a Loyalty Point system is being instituted as part of the student ticketing process. Loyalty Points will be used to help determine the opportunity for purchasing tickets and seat location. The greater the number of loyalty points held by a student, the greater the possibility of being selected for the opportunity to purchase tickets and the greater the opportunity for obtaining better seating. An example would be if student A had ten orange marbles and the student B had one white one. Both students put their marbles together in a bag. One marble is then selected at random from the bag. There is a much greater chance that one of student A’s orange marbles will be selected than student B’s white one. However, there is still a chance that student B’s white marble will be selected.
Since this is the first season using loyalty points, there will be an initial load of points based on the number of hours completed at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
- Initial Load of Loyalty Points
Since this is the first season using loyalty points, there will be an initial load of points based on the following chart. (Hours completed at UT are as of the end of Spring 2009 - SP09):
Student Level Hrs Completed at UT Points Graduate Student 9 Undergraduate Student 91+ 9 61-90 6 31-60 3 0-30 0 - Earning Loyalty Points
Attending Football Games - The primary method of earning Loyalty Points is through attendance at home football games. This is tracked via handheld scanners at the student entrances at Neyland Stadium. Students must enter the stadium by half time to earn Loyalty Points. Attendance is required to earn Loyalty Points. Zero (0) Loyalty Points are earned simply for registering for a student ticket or purchasing a student ticket.
Early Stadium Entry – For the first two home games, students who enter the stadium at least one hour before game time will receive two bonus loyalty points per game. - Posting of Loyalty Points
Loyalty points earned at football games will be posted to student accounts by noon the Wednesday following the game.
Seating Assignment/Location
- Seating Assignment – Student seating for football is reserved seating. A weighted loyalty point selection process is used to determine seat assignment. Seats are assigned from best to worst in the order that students/groups are selected. The more loyalty points held by a student, the greater the chance s/he will be assigned a better seat. Students must sit in the seat designated on their ticket.
- Seating Location – Student seating is located in sections D, E, F, G, H, I, J, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, & NT18.
- Sitting Together – To sit together, students must form groups. Groups can be created only during the Request Period of the ticket purchase process.
- Groups are defined as two or more individuals.
- The maximum group size is 12.
- To form a group, one individual in the group must be identified as a Group Leader.
- Group Leaders will identify themselves by checking a box in their on-line account which states the following:
“I consent to serve as a Small Group Leader for up to 11 other students who may request to be seated with me. Any student may join my seating group by entering my NetID when s/he requests tickets for an upcoming event. I understand that a group’s loyalty point standing will be the average of the loyalty points held by the group” - Students wishing to sit with someone identified as a Group Leader must enter the Group Leader’s NetID in the Group Field. (NOTE: The Group Leader must enter their NetID in the Group Field or they will not be placed with the group.)
- If a student requests to be seated with someone who has not accepted Group Leader responsibility, or who has lost Group Leader eligibility, the student will be notified on-screen that the person they selected is not a valid Group Leader.
- Students who request to be seated with a group that has exceeded its maximum size of 12 will be notified on-screen that the group is full.
- For weighted loyalty point selection purposes, A group’s loyalty point standing will be the average of the loyalty points held by the group (Guest tickets included as part of the group have a value of zero).
- Students who request to be seated with a group acknowledge that their chances of being selected during the weighted loyalty point selection process are now dependent on selection of the Group in the process.
- Each group member must purchase (claim) their individual ticket if the group is selected.
Stadium Access
To gain access to the stadium on game days, students will need to bring the ticket with their name printed on it and their Volcard. Students must enter the stadium through either gate 4 or 23.
Guest Tickets
For those games, when student ticket demand is less than the number of student tickets available, students will have the opportunity to purchase guest tickets.
- When available, students may purchase up to two guest tickets.
- Guest tickets are sold at the ticket face value.
- Students may request guest tickets during the Request Period. If the total number of tickets requested (student & guest) is less than or equal to the number of student tickets available, then the student will be able to purchase the requested guest tickets with their ticket during Claim Period 1. If the total number of tickets requested (student & guest) is greater than the number of student tickets available then student guest tickets will only be sold, based on availability, during the Open Sales Period. Sales during the Open Sales Period are on a first come first served basis.
Transferability
- STUDENT TICKETS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.
- Students may only enter the stadium using the ticket they purchased.
- Altering the name, or any other information on the ticket, is a violation of the Student Standards of Conduct, and may result in student disciplinary action up to and including exclusion from the University. When the student ticket is scanned at the stadium, the scanner will show the name of the purchaser. If the name on the ticket has been altered, the ticket will be confiscated and the student attempting to use the ticket will be reported to Student Judicial Affairs.
Cancellation
Ticket Requests – Ticket requests may be cancelled at any time during the Request Period.
Home Game Ticket Purchases - Students may cancel a home game ticket purchase, prior to the day of the game, by contacting the Central Ticket Office on the first floor of the University Center during its scheduled business hours. The Central Ticket Office is typically open 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday through Friday except for official University holidays and administrative close days. Students who cancel a ticket will be issued a system credit that may be used towards the purchase of a ticket to a future game in the season.
Away Game Ticket Purchases – AWAY GAME TICKET PURCHASES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.