UA Band Members In Midst Of Ticket Flap

By Chris Pollone
Reporter
Published: August 18, 2008

TUSCALOOSA, Ala—Members of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band played Monday night to welcome new students to the Capstone, even though about half the 300 musicians had their tubas in a twist over a new University policy, which appeared to cancel season ticket plans purchased by students who already get into football games for free.

Parents and players alike called and emailed NBC13 HD to complain about the cancelled tickets.

Some saying they were the only way for parents and supporters to get into the games to watch their children perform.

Surely, at least some budding capitalists bought the tickets to sell for profit, as do many other students across the campus.

The band members—who were told not to speak to reporters—felt they were being unfairly singled out.

A University statement seemed to confirm it, reading: “Because members of the Million Dollar Band are admitted to football games free, tickets ordered by these students are being reallocated to allow more students to attend.“
 
But later, a University Spokesman clarified the situation saying the Student Government Association actually initiated the change.

Over the years more and more non-students were buying student tickets and sitting in the student section.

The University says all 150 people who had their student tickets cancelled, will be allowed to buy one-ticket per-game in Bryant Denny stadium’s non-student seating areas, so their family and friends can continue to attend the games.

The University says the seating swap will discourage adults from sitting in the student section, and will allow more students in.

Student season tickets are less expensive than tickets sold to general public, but if a student sells that ticket to a non-student, he must pay to have the ticket converted for non-student use which ends up costing the same as other tickets used by the general public.