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.
Basically my thought process as well! That is how they should do it if they're gonna regulate it.
Also since we're saying what they need to do, they really need to stop the swiping of cards campus wide. Install a few public transportation style gates (can even have the paper tickets that season ticket holders use to be able to work with these) and eliminates all the problems with those stupid scanners. You can hardwire them in to your network so it doesn't rely on Wi-Fi, freeing up bandwidth to give out better free wi-fi at the games, and doesn't matter what condition the card is in (had to get mine replaced a couple times because it got demagnetized).
They already use the NFC style for getting into the dorms so they backend is mostly set up already.
But wait! There's more! Since you're using NFC technologies to do that, you can just have your ID on your phone which eliminates the need for the card, saving the university on whatever costs they have for that. You can even put it on your Apple Watch or Samsung or Microsoft Band.
Use it on CyRide to get on, use it at dining halls to get in, tie in a bank or credit card or uBill or CyCash account if you want and pay for things in the bookstore, check in to classrooms for those pesky classes that require attendance, use it to pay for laundry in the dorms, have it unlock your actual dorm room and you could even give access to guests when they come, the possibilities are limitless.