Student Government offers reserved seating at football games for RSOs

Published: The Charge

UCF fans cheering during a play againts BYU on Oct. 26 at the FBC Mortgage Stadium

Courtesy of UCF Athletics

Jan Perez

UCF Student Government launched a new ticketing system designed specifically for Registered Student Organizations to reserve seats prior to football games. 

“I think it’s a great opportunity for RSOs to kind of get their club together for a fun meet up, like at a football game, and just really get to know everyone in the club a lot more,” Tyler Frame, UCF Contemporary A Cappella Society secretary, said. 

The system has been in use for the past three home games and has already earned positive feedback from RSOs.

“I think the thought process behind this was, we're always looking at ways to better the university experience for students, and a big way of that is getting students to go out to game days, especially football games, cause that's where a lot of students can really feel connected to campus,” UCF Student Body Vice President Alexander Brawley said.

Brawley said Student Government sets aside around 250 to 500 reserved seats for RSOs per game, giving student associations the opportunity to experience football games together. 

“It’s very beneficial, especially for, like club organizations and events," UCF Astronomy Society Social Media Director Victoria Governale said. "Especially with our club, we really do like to go out and do things so that everyone can get more comfortable with the university, because a lot of the time, a good majority of our members are freshmen in college."

All 670-plus RSOs on campus can to apply for these tickets using the KnightConnect form through Student Government's executive branch. Each organization must submit the games they would prefer to go to, and the number of seats needed.

Brawley said while the system strives to accommodate each RSOs first choice, some games have a higher demand, so its first choices aren’t fully guaranteed.

UCF Associate Athletics Director Alexander Cesarano said organizations can request seating up to a week before the game, and once seats are reserved, members need to arrive at least 60 minutes before kickoff to keep their reservation. 

Cesarano said RSOs can cancel reservations prior to games without being penalized if they give advanced notice that they can’t attend. If an RSO confirms two times and fails to show up to the game, it will impact the organization's chance to reserve group tickets for future games, he said. 

“In the offseason, we'll continue to look at everything from a high level and see where we need to adjust, who we need to implement,” Cesarano said. “But you know, I think it’s our conversations with Student Government, with campus entities, to make sure whatever we do is going to benefit the student." 

Student Government promoted the reserved seating through a post on its Instagram in collaboration with UCF Knights.

UCF’s matchup against Cincinnati on Oct. 12 was the first time SG implemented the new system and Brawley said around 200 tickets were claimed.

Since UCF’s trial run, Brawley said there has been an increase in claimed tickets. In the Knights following home game against BYU on Oct. 26, Brawley said 350 tickets were claimed.

The new ticketing system shows UCF’s commitment to benefiting student's experience at football games, by making game days more accessible for RSOs. 

“I think it’s a wonderful idea, it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to also get more connected, you know, inside the community,” Santiago Romero, UCF Venezuelan Student Association outreach director, said.