Last year was a disappointment for student season ticket holders such as myself. It was only $99 for the season but 1) The team sucked 2) students who used the lottery got every game 3) we weren't given winter break tickets (Syracuse game) 4) There were no incentives to buy season tickets other than close seats.
This year they got it right. Not only should the team be better, we are now given the option to buy winter break tickets for $7 per game, and we also get to attend a fall practice and special events, chance for free Nike gear, and we will all be recognized at a home game.
Just wanted to let the Alum's know this whole basketball program is heading into the right directions, and students should all hop on the opportunity.
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vt athletic department is getting a lot of things right lately. 1) hiring of Buzz Williams 2) extending the contract of Beamer 3) building a new indoor practice facility 4) hiring Whit Babcock 5) hiring kevin jones .
6) Hiring Buzz Williams!!!
FTFY!
So Buzz gets 1 AND 6?
He is the alpha and the omega.
from what i remember my freshman year (im now a senior) we got tickets for the games over break, which was essentially a waste of money for me. definitely affordable enough now for me to buy for me senior season. im pumped.
Showing my age here, but could someone explain the lottery system? There was no such thing when I attended
Students log in on hokiesports and select games they would like to attend (for football, it's done on a game-by-game basis; I think for basketball you can select up to three games at a time). If they 'win' the lottery, they're notified by email and can pick up tickets at the ticket office. There is no cost to enter the lottery, so if you win, tickets are free.
They're generally done on a weekly basis, and winter break is done as one whole block. So most of the time there's only one or two games at a time, but it's done practically every week, and every once in a while there's 3, and usually 4-6 for winter break.
They need to keep track of season ticket purchases and reward multiple sport and season holders with decent seats. I bought season tickets for basketball and football every year and my seats got worse each year. I was given the top row of the East stands my senior season, the very freaking top! Also was put up next to the band in basketball about 8 rows from the top. This was after they put my painted up picture on the cover of the pocket schedule handouts next to Zabian! Rant over!
I agree with the need to change the seating for those who win the ticket lottery. Freshman have just as much of a chance to be selected for season tickets as Seniors. I had great season tickets sophomore year then didn't get selected for season tickets the next two years even though I attended nearly every game that wasn't over xmas break my whole college career. They need to find a way to reward loyal fans.
We play Syracuse at home on January 3rd. Hell, for $7 a ticket for that game, the place should be filled to capacity in the student section. Cassell should be nuts for that game.
It won't be though. (Most) everyone will be away from Blacksburg, and unless the team is ranked or on the verge of being ranked by that point, students won't make the trip away from Christmas break for a "certain shalacking" even if it is a great opportunity for the team to pull an upset. Enthusiasm for basketball isn't what it could be here, which is a bummer, I love going to games, but just knowing the way enthusiasm for basketball is around here most times, I would bet that 300 or fewer students are in attendance.
Actually - you're probably right. I remember in 2007 when we beat UNC at home when they were #1 - the student section wasn't full. Game was on a Saturday too I believe
That stadium was definitely full. I got back in town just a few minutes before the game started and was in the top top top row. It was packed, and my favorite basketball memory.
Fast Forward to 4:20
We need Deron Washington clones... Quick, call the Fullers parents to help out!
Maybe I was thinking UNC(G)
I stand corrected.
Came back early from break for that one as a student. Used our friend's front row tickets (they weren't fans enough to come back early) and since my seat was right in front of one of two of the gate's to the court, I got to be the barrier between 1,000s of students and two security guards. I survived, though without my hat which I found another student wearing one the way back. He gave it back though as I tried to explain to him my non-existent voice.
If some students want to hook up an alumni for that game, I could use the tickets. :)
Yep - Ditto that HokieAlum6144
You need to show your Hokie Passport to use a student ticket.
Alas, my senior year was the year they introduced the hokie passport. I think it has changed a bit since then.
Hold the phone... Jim Boeheim has to come to Cassell? We sure aren't in the Big East any more.
He came last year as well and complained the entire time he was here. Second year in a row it's played during winter break though.
Shows you how closely I follow hoops. Thanks for filling me in.
Tip of the iceberg about how awesome Whit is.
Lets just say, if you come to our Duke tailgate in November, you'll have the option to tell him yourself about how awesome a job he is doing as Athletic Director of Virginia Tech.
In my four years, I won the basketball lottery for non-winter break ACC games 0 times. Sucked.
you might have the world's worst luck.
Probably relevant here, so this is Buzz's mentality for preparing the team:
Yeaah... that sounds intense. "Rest like a champion" made me chuckle.
my only problem with everything is that last year they literally gave away free tickets at the door and people still didn't come. I have had several people say to me "why bother buying season tickets when i can just walk up to any game i want to go to and have a ticket". I am also disappointed the Syracuse game is over winter break again this year, the place would go crazy if it was any other time.
with that being said i do believe the program is headed in the right direction and they have to start somewhere