Return of the Great Wait! - Student Season Tickets

stereax · September 01, 2026, 02:44:16 PM

From an email I got literally just now:

One of Cornell Hockey's most iconic traditions is making its return.

On Saturday, September 19, the Lynah Faithful will come together for The Return of the Great Wait, an abridged revival of the legendary student campout for Men's Ice Hockey season tickets.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m., students in attendance will receive early access to purchase their Men's Ice Hockey season tickets in person at the Cornell Athletics Ticket Office. No phones. No computers. Just students coming together to secure their seats at Lynah Rink and celebrate the return of a Cornell tradition.

Additional event details, including arrival information and the complete schedule of activities, will be shared soon.

Can't join us for the Great Wait? Men's Ice Hockey student season tickets will become available through the regular online sales process the following week, with access opening by class year:

Monday, September 21: Graduate and professional students
Note: To limit access issues on release day, Graduate/Professional Students should reach out to bigredtix@cornell.edu prior to the ticket release to validate their student status.
Tuesday, September 22: Class of 2027
Wednesday, September 23: Class of 2028
Thursday, September 24: Class of 2029
Friday, September 25: Class of 2030
Student season tickets are limited and will remain available only while supplies last.

The line is back. The tradition is back. And the next generation of the Lynah Faithful is ready to make its mark.

Do your time in the line.

stereax · September 01, 2026, 02:48:13 PM

Sounds like they're making a big event of it - "complete schedule of activities" implies as such.

I, for one, am honestly excited as HELL. Though I know my seat probably isn't being sold before Tuesday (which is when I get in, because grad sales on Monday are always only the grad block in A), I'm still almost certainly going to go. (As long as I'm not asleep 😅) It sounds like it's going to be a great time.

And I love how this is a great way for the younger undergrads to "get in first" - you care about Cornell hockey this much? Prove it!

billhoward · September 02, 2026, 05:40:32 PM

Um, the great wait isn't if you don't have to wait. Season tickets don't sell out. Okay, Cornell can introduce an artificial waiting period, maybe play some pep songs.

My first year at Cornell, the line was really big, and long. Oh, wait. The team had gone 29-0 the year before. That creates demand. I did the line for the heck of it, since I had a press pass that kind of guarantees center ice seating.

I believe it was sophomore year that I was part of the contingent that managed the Barton Hall line. I think because of a Sun Sports Desk affiliation rather than my fraternity connection. There was more demand for tickets than tickets. This being two seasons removed from — checking — last national championship. And Cornell did go on to the NCAA championship game in Boston Garden that year. Spoiler alert: We lost to BU. And we went to the Frozen Four the next year as well. So that kept people filling Lynah via season tickets. That was a looooong time ago that every home game was full. We still have Harvard.

So some of it is rah-rah, some of it one hopes gets line-participants get better tickets.

The Rancor · September 02, 2026, 06:51:05 PM

I'm glad they are bringing back the line. Good work, Casey. And, to be fair, it is a modern world, and some kids just want to order online, not in line. Hopefully there's room for both.

Although I really hope it becomes a huge thing and sells out all student tickets on the in person line every year.

stereax · September 02, 2026, 08:25:47 PM

Quote from: The Rancor on September 02, 2026, 06:51:05 PMI'm glad they are bringing back the line. Good work, Casey. And, to be fair, it is a modern world, and some kids just want to order online, not in line. Hopefully there's room for both.

Although I really hope it becomes a huge thing and sells out all student tickets on the in person line every year.

Yeah, I can see why they don't want people queueing in front of Lynah for days before 😂 but I definitely agree. Tradition needs to be respected, and bringing it back in this form should be awesome.

imafrshmn · September 03, 2026, 05:22:23 PM

This is unquestionably a Good Thing for cornell hockey. Reward commitment, build camaraderie and anticipation, and give the players and student fans a chance to meet up.

ugarte · September 03, 2026, 05:42:51 PM

i don't even understand how this works? when are you allowed to start lining up?

Dafatone · September 03, 2026, 05:56:24 PM

I like the idea, though I'm curious about execution.

My two years with season tickets (wtf was freshman or sophomore me doing) were the 05-06 crowd crush situation that ended the surprise ticket location announcement system, and then the first year they did "let's all have an overnight on the scratchy green indoor turf in Bartels."

Neither was great, really.

George64 · September 03, 2026, 07:46:33 PM

Quote from: imafrshmn on September 03, 2026, 05:22:23 PMThis is unquestionably a Good Thing for cornell hockey. Reward commitment, build camaraderie and anticipation, and give the players and student fans a chance to meet up.

This will only truly happen when the Barton Hall sleepover is resurrected.

stereax · September 03, 2026, 08:26:37 PM

Quote from: ugarte on September 03, 2026, 05:42:51 PMi don't even understand how this works? when are you allowed to start lining up?

They say details to follow. I'm going to assume probably start lineup at like, 7 am, doors open at 9, and they'll do some stuff with like, free snacks and small tchotchkes and shit.

chimpfood · September 04, 2026, 07:29:30 AM

I expect nobody will show up, but worth a shot!

The Rancor · September 04, 2026, 08:44:47 AM

Quote from: chimpfood on September 04, 2026, 07:29:30 AMI expect nobody will show up, but worth a shot!

Why?

Jim Hyla · September 04, 2026, 01:15:38 PM

Quote from: George64 on September 03, 2026, 07:46:33 PM
Quote from: imafrshmn on September 03, 2026, 05:22:23 PMThis is unquestionably a Good Thing for cornell hockey. Reward commitment, build camaraderie and anticipation, and give the players and student fans a chance to meet up.
This will only truly happen when the Barton Hall sleepover is resurrected.

George, I can't believe you're promoting sleeping indoors.

Whatever happen to lining up outdoors, overnight?

Those were the good old days.

George64 · September 04, 2026, 02:33:39 PM

Quote from: Jim Hyla on September 04, 2026, 01:15:38 PM
Quote from: George64 on September 03, 2026, 07:46:33 PM
Quote from: imafrshmn on September 03, 2026, 05:22:23 PMThis is unquestionably a Good Thing for cornell hockey. Reward commitment, build camaraderie and anticipation, and give the players and student fans a chance to meet up.
This will only truly happen when the Barton Hall sleepover is resurrected.
George, I can't believe you're promoting sleeping indoors.

Whatever happen to lining up outdoors, overnight?

Those were the good old days.

I don't recall ever lining up outdoors before 4 am. I enjoyed the Barton Hall community. Where else can you play frisbee at 6 am? Yes, those were the days!

French Rage · September 04, 2026, 02:48:48 PM

Quote from: Dafatone on September 03, 2026, 05:56:24 PM(wtf was freshman or sophomore me doing)

Well if I'm doing the math right your freshman year was 03-04 so you probably got there, saw 2000 people were already in line, and said "fuck it".

So with this new process, if you're there on Saturday you basically get first priority, and then anything left over goes by class later in the week. I mean, yeah, that makes sense. That's more or less how it always used to be minus the online aspect I assume.