The Reilly Center basketball court awaits the wolf pack. The first glimpse of basketball season approaches with the Men’s scrimmage against Alfred University on Nov. 2.
Cassidey Kavathas/ The Bona Venture
kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
BY: CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, EDITOR- IN CHEIF
For the second time in less than four years, St. Bonaventure has changed student ticketing procedures for mens’ basketball games. The change comes after going paperless due to COVID-19 in 2021 through the Bonnies Connect App and problems claiming tickets throughout last season.
“The biggest reason (for the switch) is that we had some difficulties with going strictly through the app last year,” said Seth Johnson, senior associate athletic director for external operations. “We have a new ticketing platform this year, for all of our tickets including fans. Part of the reason we went with this particular platform is them being able to do student tickets.”
The ticket claiming process will go through the Bonnies Connect App which is under a different provider then last year. Though unlike last year, tickets will be processed through Bonaventure Athletics Ticketing partner, Vivenu, which is new for students and fans alike.
“It’s still the Bonnies Connect App, but it is an actual different company platform. It’s not even the same platform that they used last year,” said Johnson. “It just made sense if it was already changing that we could just bring it all in house. We would have to make big changes anyway.”
With the new app and ticketing process, Johnson is confident students won’t face the crashing and glitching of last year.
“That won’t happen again, because you’re not claiming tickets through the app. You’re actually claiming tickets to the ticketing system,” said Johnson. “We’re dealing with a ticketing platform. This is what they do. They’ve got stadiums that they ticket 82,000 people. They will be able to handle our 4,600 in the reds and 850 students.”
The new ticketing system will provide a easier and smoother experience, according to Johnson.
“You immediately get an email with your ticket and in the ticket you can download it and theres also a button to add in to your Apple wallet. It’s much easier, there’s no QR codes. It’s actual barcode. It’s an actual ticket,” Johnson said. “It’s no different than any other ticket that someone purchases. It’s just a ticket that claimed, doesn’t have to be paid for and is for the student section. Everything else is the same.”
Students will have to register an account for the first time with Vivenu using their school email address. To eliminate any charge, students must include their student id under “Redeem coupon / voucher”. Johnson stressed that even though students must select a specific seat in the ticket-claiming process, they can sit anywhere in the section they claimed.
A total of 850 tickets are available for underclassmen with sideline blue bleachers (sections: L, M and N) and the end zone bleachers (Sections O and P). Overflow seating in sections two and 13 will also be available.
“It’s still going to be a first come first serve basis for students,” Johnson said. “We averaged prior to the pandemic … 640 students in every game. We are offering every game over 200 more ticket seats than we have averaged in the past. We are accounting as many as we can.”
Student tickets will be available for games over winter break though at a more limited number.
“The Wolfpack and our students are really the heart and soul of what makes the Reilly Center special,” Johnson said. “ When we have break games and students are gone. It’s not the same. It’s not the same atmosphere. It’s not the same energy. It’s not the same home-court advantage.”
As the first glimpse of basketball season approaches with the Men’s scrimmage against Alfred University on Nov. 2, Johnson encourages students to participate.
“We’ve got a lot of new faces on our men’s and women’s teams this year. We’re looking forward not just for students to come to games and to claim all the tickets. We’re looking for students to really be a big difference with our home court advantage,” Johnson said. “Our new team is gonna come together. They’ll be good this year, but we need that support. We need as much as possible.”
kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
