By Toma Lynn Smith

The University of Louisville will hold its annual drawing for student season tickets on April 18, utilizing a method of ticket allocation only in its second year of use. The tickets, which were previously distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis, are now being given through random selection.

“Basically, students were to form groups among themselves based on who they would like seats near. Each group was then randomly drawn and awarded seats in that order,” sophomore economics major Fred Rodgers said of getting his tickets last year.

According to Brooks, students are encouraged to sign up between 3-5 p.m. on April 18 in the outfield of Jim Patterson Stadium.

Brooks said the drawing will begin at 5:30 p.m. and that the order numbers are drawn will determine placement for seating next year. He said that if the demand for tickets exceeds their allocation, then the lottery process will be used to determine who gets tickets.

Groups whose numbers are pulled are told to attend the annual spring football game, where vouchers are distributed and the season tickets will be sold after the game.

In previous years, students have camped out to get their season tickets, something that was changed partially through the input of the Student Government Association and other student leadership, according to Associate Athletic Director Kenny Klein.

“We set out with the idea of creating a system that was fair and less invasive for the student,” said SGA’s Co-Director of Athletic Affairs Zach Brooks. “We thought the process we used last year worked very successfully.”

Some students have voiced their concerns with the new method. Speed School Student Council President Richard Jones said he is bothered by how little control the student now has over the quality of their seats.

“I enjoy sitting in the student section because of all the energy and the view is very good in both Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium and Freedom Hall,” Jones, a fifth year engineering student said. “I don’t like not being able to influence my seats at all under this new method, but with a group set-up, it still makes the experience enjoyable.”

Tickets are also being distributed differently between undergraduates, who get two thirds of the allotted student tickets, and graduate students, who get one third. No guest tickets are allowed for either class.

For second year medical school student Heather Felton, the differences in ticket allotment are understandable, but the lack of guest tickets is a hindrance to graduate students.

“We have many students who are married and wouldn’t attend athletic events without their spouse,” Felton said.

“We asked to be able to distribute tickets to our students in the best way possible to accommodate all students. We felt that if no guest tickets were offered at all, then married students would feel excluded from athletic events.”

For some students, having a consistent allocation policy is a big step. Jones and Graduate Student Council President Tim Brauch have created a 2009-2010 ticket allocation policy which SGA will vote on at tonight’s senate meeting.

They both feel there should be a solid blueprint for this process, so they don’t have to invent a new method every year. Klein said the input of SGA is constant in the ticket distribution process.

For Klein, timing the ticket distribution around the spring football game, which takes place April 18 at 7:30 p.m., is also important to the process.

“The thought was to tie [the ticketing] into an event and make it more than just a ticket procedure,” Klein said. “If a student is buying tickets, he or she obviously has an interest in football and the spring game is?the closest public event to the timing of the ticketing process.”

Students may attend the ticket distribution at any of three different locations: the Brown and Williamson Club at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, the Multi-Purpose Room in the Student Activities Center, or the SAC gym.

Students should arrive between 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., as the drawing will start at 5 p.m. Every student participating must have a student ID.

Brooks expressed great optimism about the possible success of the method this year.

“Last year’s ticket allocation process had the biggest turnout of my four years at the university,” Brooks said.