Football Tickets

irish_hopeful · 05-27-2006, 01:04 PM

Yes, I suppose this makes me a newbie, but as an incoming freshman, I'm lost as to how the football ticket process goes. Getting football tickets, obviously, is even more important than applying for housing. I'm sure there's a ND website that gives all of the information but I couldn't locate it quickly.

From what I've heard, all students get tickets. Once or twice a year I think students are eligible for more tickets to give to parents, family, etc.

What's the deal with tickets?

Thanks in advance.

MomofNDgrad · 05-27-2006, 03:49 PM

Parents of ND students receive a ticket order form. They are eligible to apply for up to four tickets for each of 2 games (these are specific - you can't apply for just any games on the schedule). Parents mail in the form with payment for the tickets plus a handling charge. After a lottery is held late in the summer, the applicants are notified of whether or not they will receive tickets. If not, the money, less handling charge, is returned. We never had any problem getting the tickets for which we applied.

As to student tickets, you will have to find out from a source more knowledgeable than I. It's nothing to sweat about at this stage. Don't worry. When school begins in the fall, you will be given plenty of information on the process.

irish68178 · 05-27-2006, 06:37 PM

Don't worry, you will hear plenty about the student drawing before it happens. What will happen is first you have to go over and get lottery tickets, so if you want to sit with people you need to go over with them (or take their ID's) and get consecutive lottery tickets (though you can still sit together other ways, like moving around seats, this is the best way). Then, that night they have a lottery and that lottery determines when you go to get your tickets. Then you go over there at the proper time, get in line, and get your tickets. The process takes a while, it can take an hour or more, but is worth it. Overall they do it pretty well, just a lot of people they have to deal with! I hope that helps some!

FightingIrish01 · 05-28-2006, 03:03 AM

Hey if you attend like only 2 games out of the 6 home games, do you feel left out at not attending the football games. I guess it would be weird seeing hundreds of people outside of your window heading to the Dome.

So my question is, what do most students do? DO they buy the full 165 dollar season ticket package or only attend a few games?

If you do not go to a game, what happens during the Saturday morning?

irishgirl · 05-28-2006, 03:41 AM

To get your ticket application as a freshman, they make you go to a meeting in the JACC... last year ours was called "From Football to Finals"... basically about alcohol and safety and stuff like that. That's how they get you to attend-- they bribe you with ticket apps.

Most students buy tickets to every game because they're sold in a package. I suppose you could get single game tickets from the Alumni Association, but they wouldn't be in the student section and no students really do that.

On Saturday mornings, the players go to Mass and you can watch them walk over to the stadium, the band plays the concert on the steps and then marches over, and there are food booths everywhere. It's a lot of fun.

irish_hopeful · 05-28-2006, 08:55 AM

Thanks a lot, all. Yes, from what I've heard, everyone goes to all of the games. It's not a question of "if" and, I'd assume, especially not in this upcoming season.

NDFreak7 · 05-29-2006, 09:39 PM

from one of the above posts, it seems like you are assigned an actual seat in the student section...is this true? or are you simply issued a student ticket and then is it first come, first serve as far as location once you enter the stadium?

irish68178 · 05-29-2006, 11:11 PM

You are assigned a seat.

NDFreak7 · 05-31-2006, 09:37 PM

irish68178, do you know the reasoning behind the University's policy of assigning an individual seat to each student? This format takes away the importance of arriving super early in order to have the best spot.

irish68178 · 06-01-2006, 09:55 AM

I think just to keep everyone from being crammed down by the field and also having an idea of where everyone is. Also, you can exchange two of your tickets for general admissions tickets (for a fee) which anyone can use and they have to know what seat you have to know what seat to give that person that you sell your ticket to. Overall I think it is just to get people about where they belong and in their proper section (senior, junior, etc.). Also, they know how football is at ND and they don't want people to have to get there 4 hours before the game.

It isn't written in stone, people usually shift around a lot and while I have always started in my seat I have never finished there. They aren't crazy about enforcing it unless you are causing problems for those around you either by drunken behavior or just it being overcrowded but usually your fellow students have to complain for them to do anything, so that kind of tells you how bad it has to be before that happens.

I hope that helps a bit.

NDFreak7 · 06-01-2006, 11:18 AM

irish68178,

a few things...

-the students are arranged according to graduation year?
-why would you want to exchange your tickets for general admission tickets? it's more fun to be around the other students

My thoughts on the assigning seats thing is so that it looks better...more organization instead of as you said, cramming. Also, maybe they don't want all of the die hards, who would arrive really early, close to the field(two reasons: 1. less chance of storming all of the time 2. spread out the really intense throughout the section, which will incline others around them, maybe in the back, to join in and go crazy as well).

blammm · 06-01-2006, 12:35 PM

The student section is arranged by class with the seniors at midfield on the press box side and stretching all the way to the tunnel with the freshmen.

The reason for the ticket exchange for general admission is so that if you or a friend can't go, someone else can use the ticket. The season ticket booklets only work with a student ID so unless you want to give someone else your ID you have to trade the booklet ticket in for a gen admission ticket.

irish68178 · 06-01-2006, 02:17 PM

exactly, good response blammm

emswim · 06-01-2006, 03:55 PM

Is it possible to get an extra ticket for your family? I have 2 parents and 3 siblings, and I would love for them to be able to go to a game together.

irish68178 · 06-01-2006, 05:06 PM

That should be easy enough to do many different ways. You can trade with another student for another game, which is probably the easiest way, or another option is you can use the alumni ticket sale the day of the game that students and alumni have access to (I haven't used it so can't talk too much about it, but I know it exists for almost all games). Another option is talking with your local Notre Dame club, they are usually very helpful. If you ask around I think you will be able to figure out something. Email me and let me know what game and I will work on it to and if it is a parents game (sounds like it is) I will see what my parents plans are to see if I could trade with you next year in South Bend.