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The atmosphere in the ‘Ville leading up to the Cardinals’ Final Four game Saturday night was electric, and though the Cards weren’t able to pull off a win, hundreds of thousands of loyal fans were glued to their TVs right up until the buzzer.
Many of those loyal fans were University of Louisville students who would have given an arm, a leg or a kidney to be at the game.
As with any NCAA tournament game, there simply aren’t enough tickets for everyone. In U of L’s case, 1,400 tickets were provided, 300 of which were put in a lottery for the students. Sympathy for students led the Athletic Department to procure 100 more after the initial lottery, but at the unsubsidized price of $130.
While all students who wanted to attend the game were given an equal chance to get tickets, the Student Government Association admits it was not prepared to handle such a complicated task on such short notice.
Granted, it’s been 19 years since the Cards last made the Final Four; it’s easy to say that their success this season caught many people off guard.
Nonetheless, it is imperative that the powers that be stand ready for the possibility of Cardinal sports succeeding each season. The SGA was put in a tight spot -— their task was essentially impossible -— with little help, guidance or lead time from university officials. A little preparedness would made for more efficient and equitable ticket distribution.
The moral of this story is clear: never let NCAA championships catch you sleeping. Many of those involved with this year’s tournament to-do were in uncharted territory, but a little foresight would have made a big difference.
But, as they say, “there’s always next year.” While reaching the Final Four is exciting, here’s hoping that next time it won’t be marked by chaos and snafus in the handling of student tickets. It’s their team, after all.
