Indiana University Athletics
IU Athletics Adopts IUSA Recommendations to Improve the Student Experience at IU Men’s Basketball Games
10/28/2015 10:40:00 AM | General, Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University Athletics announced that it is adopting a series of recommendations from the Indiana University Student Association (IUSA) Executive Board to improve the student experience at Assembly Hall for home men's basketball games. IU Athletics worked extensively with the IUSA Executive Board throughout the summer and early fall to revamp the Crimson Guard loyalty rewards program, general admission seating at IU men's basketball games, and student parking options.
These recommendations include a new student loyalty rewards program that rewards students who not only purchase tickets, but who arrive early and attend a high percentage of games. The IUSA Executive Board also recommended greatly expanding student general admission seating areas on the east side of Assembly Hall.
"The new program rewards students that rally around Indiana Basketball every season," said IUSA Chief of Staff Sarah Zaheer. "Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Ingoglia and I researched comparable programs to find a solution that would create a great men's basketball atmosphere here in Assembly Hall. We're grateful that IU Athletics has taken the student voice into consideration and we look forward to the upcoming season."
Prior to IU Athletics adopting IUSA's Executive Board's recommendations, students were only awarded priority points for purchasing men's basketball tickets. With the new Crimson Guard loyalty rewards program, students still earn priority points for purchasing tickets, but they will also earn additional points for attending a high percentage of games and arriving early to games. Students with the most points will not only be rewarded by receiving a higher percentage of tickets to "premium" games, but high point totals will positively impact seat location. Accruing points over the course of the season will also make students eligible to win prizes and unique experiences.
The IUSA Executive Board also recommended expanding general admission seating on the east side of Assembly Hall. Previously, students were given 1,049 general admission seats on the main level. Now students will receive 3,249 general admission seats to fill not only the 1,049 seats on the main level, but the previously assigned 2,200 seats on the east side balcony. This new arrangement will allow more students to sit in the main level and those in the east side balcony will fill in the lowest rows of the balcony first. IU Athletics is also adopting the IUSA recommendation to improve the student fan experience in the balcony through more giveaways, prizes and engagement in that section of Assembly Hall.
"We cannot thank President Anne Tinder and the IUSA Executive Board enough for offering us their suggestions on how to improve the student experience at our basketball games," said Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "Their recommendations will make it easier and more fun for more students to have a great time attending Indiana University basketball games. Kudos to IUSA for its outstanding job representing the interests of the largest and best student basketball section in the country."
To improve the student experience at Assembly Hall, IU Athletics is allowing students to park at Assembly Hall on gamedays for free. Students showing a valid men's basketball game ticket will be granted complimentary parking in Zone K. Students are asked to show their game ticket to the gate attendant to access this parking lot and will need to enter through gate 10 off the 45/46 bypass.
The IUSA Executive Board's recommendations coincide with the findings of the Six Sigma research project conducted by IU Athletics and professional Six Sigma consultants over the past year. The project was designed to find ways to improve the student experience at home men's basketball games. Through a comprehensive series of surveys and focus groups of student season ticket holders over several months, research concluded that students wanted a new loyalty rewards program that rewards both ticket purchase and attendance, improved parking options, more engagement in the balcony, and giving more students the chance to sit in general admission areas with their friends.
"After conducting this Six Sigma project, we quickly discovered that parking and transportation were top-of-mind concerns for students attending our games," said Associate Athletic Director Jeremy Gray. "With many students living in condos, apartments, and houses further away from campus than ever before, it made perfect sense to adopt the IUSA's recommendation and give students complimentary parking at Assembly Hall on gamedays."
Indiana men's basketball opens their season against Ottawa on Nov. 3 at 7p.m. ET at Assembly Hall.
These recommendations include a new student loyalty rewards program that rewards students who not only purchase tickets, but who arrive early and attend a high percentage of games. The IUSA Executive Board also recommended greatly expanding student general admission seating areas on the east side of Assembly Hall.
"The new program rewards students that rally around Indiana Basketball every season," said IUSA Chief of Staff Sarah Zaheer. "Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Ingoglia and I researched comparable programs to find a solution that would create a great men's basketball atmosphere here in Assembly Hall. We're grateful that IU Athletics has taken the student voice into consideration and we look forward to the upcoming season."
Prior to IU Athletics adopting IUSA's Executive Board's recommendations, students were only awarded priority points for purchasing men's basketball tickets. With the new Crimson Guard loyalty rewards program, students still earn priority points for purchasing tickets, but they will also earn additional points for attending a high percentage of games and arriving early to games. Students with the most points will not only be rewarded by receiving a higher percentage of tickets to "premium" games, but high point totals will positively impact seat location. Accruing points over the course of the season will also make students eligible to win prizes and unique experiences.
The IUSA Executive Board also recommended expanding general admission seating on the east side of Assembly Hall. Previously, students were given 1,049 general admission seats on the main level. Now students will receive 3,249 general admission seats to fill not only the 1,049 seats on the main level, but the previously assigned 2,200 seats on the east side balcony. This new arrangement will allow more students to sit in the main level and those in the east side balcony will fill in the lowest rows of the balcony first. IU Athletics is also adopting the IUSA recommendation to improve the student fan experience in the balcony through more giveaways, prizes and engagement in that section of Assembly Hall.
"We cannot thank President Anne Tinder and the IUSA Executive Board enough for offering us their suggestions on how to improve the student experience at our basketball games," said Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "Their recommendations will make it easier and more fun for more students to have a great time attending Indiana University basketball games. Kudos to IUSA for its outstanding job representing the interests of the largest and best student basketball section in the country."
To improve the student experience at Assembly Hall, IU Athletics is allowing students to park at Assembly Hall on gamedays for free. Students showing a valid men's basketball game ticket will be granted complimentary parking in Zone K. Students are asked to show their game ticket to the gate attendant to access this parking lot and will need to enter through gate 10 off the 45/46 bypass.
The IUSA Executive Board's recommendations coincide with the findings of the Six Sigma research project conducted by IU Athletics and professional Six Sigma consultants over the past year. The project was designed to find ways to improve the student experience at home men's basketball games. Through a comprehensive series of surveys and focus groups of student season ticket holders over several months, research concluded that students wanted a new loyalty rewards program that rewards both ticket purchase and attendance, improved parking options, more engagement in the balcony, and giving more students the chance to sit in general admission areas with their friends.
"After conducting this Six Sigma project, we quickly discovered that parking and transportation were top-of-mind concerns for students attending our games," said Associate Athletic Director Jeremy Gray. "With many students living in condos, apartments, and houses further away from campus than ever before, it made perfect sense to adopt the IUSA's recommendation and give students complimentary parking at Assembly Hall on gamedays."
Indiana men's basketball opens their season against Ottawa on Nov. 3 at 7p.m. ET at Assembly Hall.
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