Going for just $10 a piece through the Box Office and Expeditions, tickets to the Vikings versus Packers game had been generating quite the buzz.
Not only did the Box Office have 30 Vikings tickets for the Oct. 5 game against arch-rival Green Bay but an additional 30 tickets for Minnesota’s home-opener Sept. 27 against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Packers game tickets are especially desirable ever since the former Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre was signed by the Vikings in mid-August.
“I think he’s kind of an old man, and a drama queen, but he can do better things than Jackson,” said junior Matt Krueger.
Some students were so anxious to get discounted tickets that they planned to camp out early Thursday morning in Murray-Herrick Campus Center to beat the crowds.
“Oh yeah, I was probably going to get here at 6 a.m.,” said junior Josh Anderson.
But Anderson was disappointed to learn that earlier this week, the Box Office decided to implement a raffle system for the tickets.
“It’s equalizing but it kind of stinks because the people that were devoted enough to wait for hours this morning don’t necessarily get a ticket now,” he said.
The system was instituted to appease worried professors, as well as prevent students from waiting unnecessarily long lengths of time for tickets they may not even win.
“It’s a good idea because it’s less hectic and people aren’t in the way,” said Box Office worker Al McCoy, a fifth-year senior. “We don’t want people camping out in the basement of Murray-Herrick because it’s bad for the building if they’re here at six in the morning.”
But some students saw the system as unfavorable. And because the tickets were sold individually, the winners would have to watch the game alone.
“I would sell my ticket for $1,200,” said Charlie Hilligoss. The junior added he would have passed on the ticket rather than sitting alone in the Metrodome stands.
Hilligoss said he thinks the system is unfair to enthusiastic fans.
“I would have rather waited in line because the hardcore fans aren’t going to get the chance they deserve,” he said.
Other students said that the lottery was practical, and were glad the staff thought of the circumstances and needs of each student.
“It’s a good idea because a lot of people have classes that would have impaired them,” freshman Britni Tolkheim said. “It gives everyone a fair chance.”
Ellie Galgano can be reached at agalgano@stthomas.edu