Tech to use online system for 2013 football seat changes and parking choices
For the first time, Virginia Tech football season ticket holders will be required to make changes to their seat locations and to pick their parking locations electronically for an upcoming football season.
All seat improvements, new season ticket allocations and parking allocations for the upcoming season will be selected by using Ballena Technologies’ online system. The Virginia Tech Athletic Fund (e.g. the Hokie Club) and the Virginia Tech Ticket Office used this same system during the re-seating of Lane Stadium last year.
The system offers season ticket holders the opportunity to see what seats and what parking spots are available (for those who qualify), and then the opportunity to select either or both. The Hokie Club will use the point priority system to determine the order for the selection process.
“Most of our Hokie Club members and season ticket holders used this system during the re-seating process, and the feedback was positive,” said Lu Merritt, senior director of development for intercollegiate athletics. “Now we want to use this process to allow our members to see exactly what is available. In the past, they’ve had options, but may not have asked about them. Now, they’re going to be able to see everything.”
To participate in the process, all season ticket holders must have renewed or ordered by the March 15 deadline. In early April, those who have renewed or ordered will receive a letter with their selection times. The process will begin in late April. Patrons will receive an email reminder seven days prior to the selection time; three days prior to the selection time and then the day of the selection time.
New season ticket holders must pick their seats during their selection times, and all those who qualify for parking must choose their spots during their selection times. Those who have renewed will have the option to change their seat locations during their selection times should they wish, but if they choose to remain in their same seats, they will not need to do anything.
“This really gives control of the tickets and the location to the customer,” said Sandy Smith, Tech’s assistant AD for ticketing services. “In the past, they’d write down any changes on the order form, and we would accommodate them as best we could. But now, they’re not going to have to rely on us to interpret what they want. I think the majority of customers are going to appreciate that.”
Smith expects the process to take the entire month of May and to conclude by the end of the first week of June. Season tickets will be mailed the first week of August.
Green earns spot on AP All-America squad
The accolades continue to come in for Tech guard Erick Green, as the senior was named to The Associated Press’ All-America third team in early April. He joined Dell Curry, who was a second-team selection in 1986, as the only Hokies to make one of the first three AP All-America squads.
Green was named the ACC Player of the Year in March by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, a group of media members who cover ACC schools. Green scored in double figures in every game this past season and led the nation in scoring. He averaged 25.0 points per game and shot 47.5 percent from the field. Green set a new school record with 801 points scored this season, breaking the old mark of 785 set by Bimbo Coles in the 1989-90 season. In the regular-season finale at Wake Forest, he scored his 1,700th career point and moved past Ace Custis into 10th place in career scoring at Virginia Tech.
Byington takes Georgia Southern head job
Mark Byington, an assistant coach on Tech coach James Johnson’s staff, was named the head coach at Georgia Southern on April 1.
Byington, a native of nearby Salem, Va., came to Tech after working as an assistant at the College of Charleston for nine years. His time at the College of Charleston included seven seasons under Bobby Cremins, also the former Georgia Tech coach. Byington was 7-4 as Charleston's interim coach in the 2011-12 season when Cremins took a leave of absence.
Byington replaces Charlton "C.Y." Young, who was fired after posting a 43-84 record in four seasons. The Eagles were 14-19 overall and 7-11 in Southern Conference play this season.
