Ticket Line

[Liz \'05]

The Grad line started around 8:45 at the east end of Barton.  There were probably 30 people there, heavily policed by Athletics staff ("You step out of line, you're at the end of it - oh, you stepped out.") by the time I figured out where the undergrad line was and went sprinting off towards it.
I think there were a lot of people that planned for the line being last night.  I was in Barton, and most of my group was somewhere on campus so that when we heard about the line (via cell phone, not email, though there was someone on his computer checking), we could run there and get our line numbers (4 line numbers under 90, plus two more under 200).  I think there were a lot of groups doing that, which may/may not mean that the more, if not most, dedicated fans tended to get better line numbers.
As for the line number checks between 10 and 6...it's not a bad idea, but I spent the night catnapping and paranoid that I'd missed a line number check and was going to lose our good seats.  There's no order to the numbers, so it's not as if Athletics knows approximately where numbers 125-150 are and can wake up only that group - they wake up everyone.  I agree with the line idea posted elsewhere - don't set a starting time and make us wait outside.  One possibility is that a tent city grows a la Duke (which doesn't seem too concerned about the conflict with academics), at the same time, fewer people camp out for tickets until just before the sale.  It could work, and certainly seems fair.

[Jim Hyla]

[Q]I'm not positive if I remember all the details correctly, but I think what Age is suggesting is similar to what was done in the late 80s, pre- Internet and e-mail. I think they just announced (in the Sun and on the radio), more than a week in advance, when tickets would go on sale and that people who wanted to do so could line up around the outside of Lynah. The line was policed, with random line checks, but everyone had to sleep outside[/Q]That's they way it was in the 60's. However there wasn't quite the demand then. At least not untill 66-67.

[calgARI '07]

I thought they didn't offer season tickets to the students in the 60's.

[Al DeFlorio]

[Q]Jim Hyla Wrote:

 [Q2]I'm not positive if I remember all the details correctly, but I think what Age is suggesting is similar to what was done in the late 80s, pre- Internet and e-mail. I think they just announced (in the Sun and on the radio), more than a week in advance, when tickets would go on sale and that people who wanted to do so could line up around the outside of Lynah. The line was policed, with random line checks, but everyone had to sleep outside[/Q]
That's they way it was in the 60's. However there wasn't quite the demand then. At least not untill 66-67.[/q]
Until at least 65-66, it was first-come first-served admission on a game-by-game basis with students using a CUAA coupon.  Got people into the rink plenty early, and a high percentage of 'em were students.

[MB]

Hey, I'm an Eagle scout, and I'm all about camping in the rain.  Or snow.  Or hail.  No structure may sometimes be the best structure.  Don't make camping out a slumber party-- make it an ordeal with many riches at the end.

[Will]

I've never been called villainous by the Sun before:  http://www.cornellsun.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/10/01/415cdbffd3f63

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

I think the first time they moved the line indoors was '81.  Also remember the ticket sales took place over three days back then.  The first day only seniors could get tickets, the second day added sophs & juniors, and the last day anybody could get tickets.   And knowing there were fewer tickets available kept the size of the line down.   I don't understand why they changed that.  It worked pretty well.

My sophomore year, I camped out on senior day, holding a space for for some seniors in my fraternity.  The camp-out was only 24 hours, but it snowed a bit that day - the season started much later then.  The line policed itself, though one group did bring a baseball bat (never used).  My senior year, they were planning to move the line indoors at 6 PM.  The line started forming that morning in the pouring rain outside the location (the baseball practice facility).  

By restricting the first line to seniors and forcing most of the wait to be outside in the elements, you really cut down on the facetimers.  One other consideration:  back then, section C was the prime student section and they allowed 4200 people into a game.  

Times change (and not for the better).

[Bio '04]

Thanks for the info Liz

[billhoward]

There were indoor ticket lines at Barton Hall in the early 1970s.

[David Harding]

As a freshman in the fall of 1968 I was oblivious to lines and season tickets, if any;  I just showed up early for every game with my coupon book and got standing room.  

In the fall of 1969 word spread and the line formed in Barton Hall Thursday evening.  Seats were chosen and tickets were distributed Sunday morning.  I don't remember much to-do in advance.  Things were sufficiently well organized in 1969 that it felt as though they had been through the drill before and had things under control.  

I was more alert in 1970.  Initially Athletics said that we wouldn't be allowed to camp in Barton, so we rounded up tents to pitch.  In the end, it was pretty much the same drill as the year before, with the line in Barton again.  

[David Harding]

http://cornellbigred.collegesports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/093004aab.html