Wake up, it’s game day: The battle with Ticketmaster continues

Photo by Jocelyn Browne

Every Monday before a home game at 8 a.m. the war between Boise State students and Ticketmaster begins in hopes of securing a student football ticket.

Unfortunately, not all students are fighting this battle with intentions to attend the game, many are getting the free ticket with the sole purpose of reselling it.

The immense hype around Boise State football this season has left students paying absurd amounts of money for tickets.

“These are things that we’re trying to work out in real time because the demand is so high,” Cody Gougler, the associate athletic director for external affairs, said. “If something is reported to us as a student ticket being on the secondary market, we do have the right to shut that ticket down to where it doesn’t scan.”

In years past, students were easily able to purchase up to three guest tickets the day after student ticket sales but with how fast tickets have been selling out this year, students are demanding another solution. 

YikYak (an anonymous platform for college students) continues to flood with comments with Boise State students responding to the chaos. Here’s what’s being said as of last game day against Utah State University:

“As a senior I swear it’s never been this hard to get a ticket.” 

“If you are waiting to get a ticket just to resell it, you should be filling out a job application instead” 

“The people offering to buy FREE student tickets are just as much of a problem as the people who are selling them.”

“I think we can all agree we need a bigger stadium”

“You’re an actual piece of sh*t if you got a FREE ticket with the intention of selling it”

“Another Monday, another day I want to hit my computer with a bat trying to get football tickets”

“Just saw some girl selling her student ticket on marketplace for $125”

“Been in queue since 8 a.m.. I have moved 220 spots. Good luck”

“Secured my ticket after a million refreshes. Good luck soldiers” 

“Why isn’t the ticketmaster working???”

“ARE TICKETS ALREADY SOLD OUT WTF”

The question as to how to put a stop to students transferring and reselling their ticket remains. 

“There’s over 5000 student tickets that are out,” Gougler said. “99% of our students are doing the right things but I would definitely be frustrated if one of my classmates were just claiming their ticket to go make money on the secondary market, that’s really not right. And so we hope our students will not continue to operate like that but that’s also something that happens at just about every school. It’s just a tough thing, it’s hard to stop.”

Reporting those engaging in ticket scalping will ultimately minimize this problem.

Another reason this process has been so stressful for students is the fact that the majority join ticketmaster at exactly 8 a.m. 

By logging on just 1-2 hours later, chances of obtaining a ticket are higher and less chaotic. 

Albertsons Stadium beat its previous fan attendance record of 37,663 — set against Fresno State University in 2022 — with a crowd of 37,711 fans at the Washington State game on Sept. 28, 2024, the largest crowd in Boise State history.

“When you look at our ticket sales efforts, the experience that we built in Albertsons Stadium, and now the success that we’re seeing under Coach Danielson’s leadership with a guy like Ashton Jeanty, who’s a Heisman campaign contender,” Gougler said. “That’s why you’re seeing record crowds right now.”

The atmosphere at Albertsons Stadium is unlike any other and the students play a big part in making the gameday experience so special. 

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