I don't understand the logistics. How do they determine who gets to be in the line and at what point? Does the tent have to be occupied 24/7? Can they just leave it during the game?
So many questions as to how this works. I think it's awesome, I just don't understand the finer details.
From my experience, there is absolutely no policing by university or Hilton staff. Shortly before the doors open for students, a couple of staffers will come down the steps to be sure the entrance is orderly. In situations like this where there are a number of tents, a staffer will come out X amount of hours before the doors open to inform all of those with tents to have them picked up and removed from the sidewalk within a certain time frame.
As a result, the line itself is completely policed by the students in it. There is always typically at least 1 person there to claim their tent or "territory", and depending on the size of the group a lot of people may be coming and going for multiple reasons. Unfortunately as you get closer to doors opening, budging tends to happen at an increasing pace. Mostly "bros" or girls. For example, this may have changed since my experiences, but there would often be a frat with a tent towards the front who would have a handful of guys staying overnight. By the time doors open, that group would grow to 15-20. Obviously very frustrating for someone who has been there for hours or days. That said, it's very difficult to control this without staffers because what can another student really do other than argue?
The system they use now though is without a doubt the way to go. Budging will happen no matter what system is used. The old way of every student gathering on the steps with a mad dash of every door opening at the same time always led to someone being their first getting stuck with a ticket scanner who doesn't know how to operate the device. Then the move to a zig-zag line at the bottom of the steps was an absolute disaster and lasted for a handful of games.