Tent outside Hilton catches fire....

[cstrunk]

Merit is probably the best way, but I also think no different than lottery you will end up having boring people get in the first row. Just because you are senior and been to a ton of games, doesn't mean you are the best fan to be in the front row. You could also say, just because you are able to camp out for days to get front row seats, doesn't mean you'll be the loudest, best fan to be in the front row. At least with the merit system, you won't end up with people you go to all games being left out or getting a nosebleed seat. Other than personal interviews, there is no way to determine who is the best to have sitting in the front row, but at least if they have put forth the effort to go to a ton of games, they are at least deserving of the seat.

I have thought for years, that ISU would be smart to put together a supporters group like the American Outlaws for US Soccer. And then you would have chant and song leaders that essentially police the group to ensure everyone is enthusiastic. The atmosphere in Hilton is so much better since the end of the lottery that I know that shouldn't be enacted again. This is pretty much what Cyclone Alley Central tries to do. People use to ***** about them all the time, but I've noticed that ever since we've been winning, they never get talked about anymore. There used to be weekly threads commenting on how Cyclone Alley sucks and that CAC is the cause of it. Well, it turns out that as usual, winning cures everything.

I know a few places where they do the point system and all that happens is people show up, swipe, and leave. Especially the Womens and Olympic sports. This is a potential issue, but at least if they are going through with all of that, it would seem that you still wouldn't end up with an empty seat or freshmen with tickets who doesn't care in the front row.

As someone who went to a ton of games and even did front row for every FB, MBB, and WBB game freshman year, I hated the need to camp for a game. There is a ton of drama up there in those lines and the usual doubling of groups a few hours before tip off. I would have hated to deal with this.

 

[CycloneBBFan]

Let's all be grateful a propane tank didn't blow. That would be a disaster. Ban the tents? Nope. We have a tradition for the die hard students. I think this university can afford to open up Hilton and provide adult supervision/security for these kids prior to game day. I imagine they would get the thrill of their life camping out in the Magic Kingdom prior to big game.

 

[cstrunk]

I love the enthusiasm, but why not limit the lining up to 48 or 72 before the game. Anyone "camped" out before that time will be removed.

Limiting camping to 24 hours or 48, 72, or eleventy billion hours before the game won't eliminate the need to stay overnight in frigid weather. My guess is that you'll end up with a line forming somewhere just off campus that can't be controlled by the university.

 

[Cycsk]

Bad weather and not winning are the only deterrents.

 

[Hoiball92]

Just drove by Hilton. There are tents all the way around to the Ticket Office on the SW corner! Crazy kids. Must like to play with fire.

Wow, the line will probably be around the stadium by Sunday night

 

[CycoCyclone]

I think the fire is less problematic than having STUDENTS apparently not in school for 7 days

 

[CascadeClone]

The key here on what happens will be liability.

If ISU thinks they have any liability in case of a tragedy (and they surely do) then they will look at their insurance. If it would be covered, what's the deductible, how would impact future premiums. Depending on how bad that looks, they will make 1 of 3 choices:

1) Leave it as is
2) Make rules to limit their liability and/or risk of a bad event
3) Ban it completely to eliminate liability

Hopefully they will do something smart like balance the positive PR and student fun/freedom vs the true liability risks.



Personally, I say let them camp. Make sure they are safe somehow and limit your liability, but let them camp.

 

[chuckd4735]

Im 100% positive they are not going to eliminate tent camping...the AD has to love the press it gets, and Prohm and staff probably use it in recruiting. There are a number of solutions that can be implemented that will help an event like last night not happen again.

 

[Cycsk]

Gotta register the group in some way and a certain percentage have to be there at all times (random checks by the Athletic Department) or they go to the back of the line. Or Iowans and Minnesotans need to stop being so passive aggressive and call people out on it and shame them.

How about this?

Set times to check the line. On the first day (or first check of the first day), you register in order whoever is line associated with the tents. Have a limit per tent. And register according to student ID. Then, do random checks to make sure that a minimum of that group is there. On later checks, register whoever has joined the line. Again with limits on the number of people per tent. And again using student IDs.

Because registration is tied to student IDs, then you have a way to control the line. You might even tie the registration into the ticket/ID scanning process.

 

[WastedTalent]

I think the fire is less problematic than having STUDENTS apparently not in school for 7 days

They still go to classes.

 

[Hoiball92]

I think the fire is less problematic than having STUDENTS apparently not in school for 7 days

You can still go to class. You just have to have someone stay back in the tent.

 

[CyFan61]

They still go to classes.

I am amazed how many people not just on CF but commenting on DMR articles, etc. do not understand this.

 

[CycoCyclone]

They still go to classes.

You can still go to class. You just have to have someone stay back in the tent.

I am amazed how many people not just on CF but commenting on DMR articles, etc. do not understand this.

Are you really trying to say that scholastic studies are the main focus for tent city?

 

[carvers4math]

I am amazed how many people not just on CF but commenting on DMR articles, etc. do not understand this.

I'm sure for many of them, they are closer to classroom buildings at Hilton than they are in their apartments.

 

[Spam]

Very un-Leath and un-JP like to have allowed this to continue for as long as it has.

 

[NickTheGreat]

Could have been a realyl bad situation. Glad it wasn't worse.

Hopefully the administration doesn't knee jerk react to this too much

 

[Hoiball92]

Are you really trying to say that scholastic studies are the main focus for tent city?

Does it really matter?

 

[Cycsk]

Coaches have been encouraging it for years by bringing food to the campers . . . and getting some nice PR for themselves.

 

[00clone]

Let's all be grateful a propane tank didn't blow. That would be a disaster. Ban the tents? Nope. We have a tradition for the die hard students. I think this university can afford to open up Hilton and provide adult supervision/security for these kids prior to game day. I imagine they would get the thrill of their life camping out in the Magic Kingdom prior to big game.

While, yes, that's a good thing....it seems a bit dramatic. Yes, it's possible, but several safety features would have to fail to actually have a propane tank explode...let's not whip up a frenzy here.

 

[theshadow]

a merit-based system based on the number of total sports events that a student has attended is the best way to avoid camping and reward the most faithful student fans with the best seats for big games. A student's ID is scanned for each event attended and is rewarded with points. The week before a big game (KU), students with the highest point totals are allowed to select their seats (and maybe even letting them choose 2-3 extra seats next to them to be assigned to their friends so you don't have to sit alone).

Pitt does (or did) just about exactly this for MBB. Students could accrue points by going to Olympic sports and WBB. There would be a set period where you could "register" for a ticket for the next MBB game. If the number registered was less than the number available, everybody got a ticket. If demand outpaced supply, it went to a combined points system/lottery (# of points = # of entries for a ticket), with set times for the winners to claim tickets. Anything left over after the claim period went back into the pool for the waiting list people from the original registration period. After that, the remainder were sold on-demand. Students could also lose points for claiming tickets and not using them.