NDSU fans begin to buy USD tickets

The University of South Dakota had 800 tickets available for the Oct. 20 game against North Dakota State University. Along with admission to the game, the ticket included a bus to Sioux Falls for the game at Howard Wood Field.

All 800 tickets were given out to students, but students may still attend if they would like to purchase a ticket.

Since the university’s upgrade to Division I athletics, tickets have begun going on sale prior to games. Red, blue and green tickets were available, designating where students would be able to sit.

“Before you walk into the game you know where you will go,” Lindsay Sparks, assistant director of Student Life, said during a Student Government Association meeting on Sept. 18. “It is convenience for you guys.”

David Herbster, USD’s athletic director, said during the Sept. 25 SGA meeting that in 2012 the university will be implementing student ticket pickups for all home football games.

The ticket pickup system for the NDSU football game is a two-pronged approach, with students picking up tickets along with the ability to sign up for bus transportation to Sioux Falls.

“The plan is that every student has an opportunity to get into a game,” Herbster said.

First-year Bridget Wilds used the ticket pick-up system for the Dakota Days game.

“I got my ticket late, so I got aan overflow seat,” Wilds said. “I didn’t really like that I would’ve had to go at the same time as my friends to get seats by them. I just didn’t realize how fast the tickets would go.”

Wilds said it is difficult to pick up tickets ahead of time.

“To get there in time and not be stuck in overflow, class schedules don’t always leave time for detours, but I can definitely get to the game early enough for a good seat if I wanted to,” Wilds said.