FAMU introduced new rules and procedures involving the ticket issuance system and game-day parking for the first football game of the season on Sept. 3.
Newly formed “Pay-to-Park” lots emerged during the first game and many former game-day parking areas are now off-limits.
According to an article in the Tallahassee Democrat, the school has teamed with the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) to enforce the parking changes and cars of violators will be towed.
Norman Rollins, a member of the TPD told the Democrat that the school wants to keep game attendees safe and lower the amount of vendors in certain areas. FAMU PD said vendors are encouraged to contact the athletic department before setting up in the designated vendor area.
“Cars and vendors are not allowed to park on Perry Street between Floral and Okaloosa streets because cars clog the road that runs parallel to the stadium and vendors create pedestrian traffic that hinders vehicle traffic,” Tallahassee Police Department’s Lt. Ken Sumpter said.
Curbside parking will be available on one side of Floral, Liberty, Nassau, Manatee and Pasco streets.
Several lots such as the band practice field, SBI, Gibbs and two lots located by the technology buildings have now been turned into “Pay-to-Park” lots on game day.
The lots will be available for a fee of $10.
Many students were outraged at the high cost to park.
“Ten dollars is outrageous to have to pay to park and I can buy at least 2 gallons of gas with that $10 dollars,” said Samantha Christian, a senior fine arts major from Miami.
The new parking rules have led many students to find parking options further away.
Many students walked longer distances to the stadium for the first game to avoid high parking fees and the off-limit areas.
Representatives of the athletic department and the ROTC, who were acting as parking lot attendants, said the parking costs will go towards the athletic department.
The school has also changed the procedure for ticket issuance to students.
The system has been changed many times in the past few years. The latest procedure requires all students to pick up their tickets during the week of the game.
The tickets are available between Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the stadium box office. A student must present his or her Rattler Card in order to receive a ticket.
In an effort to inform students of this information, the athletic department is currently working with the Student Government Association to place this information on the main FAMU message board.
Students will also receive emails containing this information via FAMMail.
Interim Athletic Director, E. Newton Jackson said the new system was implemented in an effort “to provide the best customer service possible.”
Jackson believes this new weekly ticket issuance system will work much better for students than the former system, which issued students all of their football season tickets at one time.
He said the new system will help eliminate fraudulent duplication of tickets, as well as eliminate the possibility of students losing their tickets resulting in them being unable to attend the games.
Since there are only approximately 6,000 student tickets allocated per game, the new system will give more students the opportunity to attend the games.
contact Gheni Platenburg at famuannews@hotmail.com.