The OSU Athletic Department seeks to increase athletic event participation by offering admission to many events with a student ID.
OSU already lays claim to the “rowdiest arena in the nation.” Athletic department officials hope with a recent expansion in seating, Boone Pickens Stadium will be just as loud.
After looking at other programs across the country, such as the University of South Carolina and University of Texas, school officials set up the new seating they thought was best for fans.
“As we traveled around, we noticed that those venues have been able to place student fans, pom and the band together to form an energy,” said Kyle Wray, director of marketing. “We didn’t have that. This year we are looking for it.”
They might have traveled near and far, but their biggest inspiration came from around the corner.
“The west end zone was built just in the tradition of Gallagher-Iba with the students on top of the action,” Wray said.
After years of research and construction, athletic department officials implemented ticket price adjustments and seating configuration aimed at enhancing the game day experience, including how students get into athletic events and where they will sit.
With the addition to Boone Pickens Stadium nearly complete, the students’ section has been expanded and shifted to fill some of the new seats.
However, the new seating is not met with complete enthusiasm from members of the student body.
“Last year, I liked that they had the students on one side with the band on the field,” said Ryan Hatch, music education junior and band member. “Those were the best seats in the house.”
More than just reconfiguring the seating chart, the Athletic department is trying to increase student fan attendance and involvement.
“Key to [success is to] get a crowd,” Wray said. “The best crowd is a college crowd, not only in football but in other sports. We want to get more students in all the other sports as well.”
To increase attendance, all active students can get into all athletic events except football games and men’s basketball with a student ID.
Wray’s hope is that by eliminating the financial obstacle from most athletic events, more students will be driven to go and cheer on the team.
“It should be a pride factor for our students,” Wray said. “Our athletes are playing a game and we should be there to support them.”
For some students, such as aerospace engineering junior Ryan Reynolds, the privilege of going to the game isn’t worth the pain of opening their wallet.
“I don’t want to spend a $150 on seven games,” Reynolds said. “Especially when I can just watch it on the OSU channel with my buddies and have a lot of fun with that.”
Without the “ticket office hoop” to jump through and any financial burden for most sports, it is Wray’s plan and students like Reynolds’ hope that things will now be different in the Oklahoma State stands.
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