Students forced outside of lobby

During the past four months, students hoping to get into Pitt men’s basketball games have… During the past four months, students hoping to get into Pitt men’s basketball games have done a lot of waiting in line. It began with the line of students cascading down DeSoto Street on Oct. 11, 2002, as they waited for their numbered wristband, hoping to win season tickets in the lottery.

It continued six days later as students lined up and camped overnight in the William Pitt Union, fervently trying to be one of 97 students to claim the leftover tickets. And in the weeks and months to follow, more students found themselves waiting in line to buy individual game tickets.

And once again, students are in that all too familiar situation of waiting in line. Only this time, they already have their tickets and the line spilling down the hill toward Fifth Avenue is full of those who have arrived hours before tip-off and are simply waiting to get inside the Petersen Events Center.

The last home game, the Jan. 25 matchup against Georgetown, was a Saturday contest beginning at noon. Students began arriving approximately 3 1/2 hours before tip-off, filing into a portion of the lobby that was roped off in a snake-like fashion.

But within an hour, the line extended right out the doors of the building, leaving numerous students standing out in temperatures well below freezing with at least half an hour before students would be allowed into the seating area. The remainder of the lobby was mainly empty except for a scattering of nonstudent ticket holders and security guards.

According to Scott Michaels, general manager of SMG, the company that operates the Pete, the student line was extended outside because of the necessity to create a balance between students and members of the general public that are allowed into the building.

“It’s difficult to balance but half of the lobby is for students and about 400 get into the lobby, taking care of the early birds,” Michaels said. “Physically, we have to accommodate for the other 10,000 fans.”

But Michaels also contradicted himself by saying that for weekend games, the general public “didn’t show up as early” as they do on weeknights since many are coming from work, therefore negating the fact that the lobby needs to hold a large quantity of nonstudent fans.

For the students not permitted to enter the building, there was some confusion and anger over the way the situation was handled.

“They make fun of us and laugh at us,” said freshman Jackie Farrell, referring to those inside the lobby prior to the Georgetown game as she stood in line outside. “They just want to make it look good for the season ticket holders.”

Others felt that heaters should be placed outside alongside those waiting or that the tickets should be handed out earlier, reducing the time spent in line. But students have been admitted to the seating area approximately one hour and 45 minutes prior to the start of the game, and Michaels said allowing students into that area any earlier is not a feasible solution.

He said for televised games, “there is a lot of stuff being set up,” and because the announcers are right in front of where students initially want to sit, everything needs to be prepared before the students enter the seating area.

Michaels also said the majority of students arrive between 9:50 and 10:10 a.m., meaning that their time spent outside is minimal. But last Saturday, the line of students extended well beyond the steps of the Pete by 9:50 a.m., ensuring that the duration of their wait was in excess of 25 minutes, a substantial amount of time to be outside given the conditions.

“We pay tuition, not the people inside,” said freshman Katie Hayes, as she attempted to keep warm while waiting in line.

Interim athletics director Marc Boehm was not cognizant of the problem until he arrived at the game, and has said in two separate interviews since then that the situation needs to be changed.

“We’re trying to correct the problem and hopefully everyone will be in the lobby for [tonight’s] game,” Boehm said.

Michaels also acknowledged that a change should be in effect for tonight’s matchup against Providence, which is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. He said the snake setup may be extended to allow more students into the lobby.

“But we still have to balance a lot of people,” Michaels said.