Fans can now select their football seats online
Jan. 27, 2010
Indiana University Athletics and the IU Varsity Club are pleased to announce an exciting new tool to allow season ticket holders to select their seats online and give them the ability to see interactive views from locations within IU's two largest athletic facilities.
The implementation of this new online seating system was driven by the efforts of the Varsity Club National Board of Directors in collaboration with the IU Athletic Ticket Office and Varsity Club staff. For several years, each of these groups has gathered donor feedback on how to make the season ticket renewal process easier. The result of their research focused on an online system that would allow season ticket holders to select their seats themselves.
Photo by Mike Dickbernd/IU Athletics
IU's Memorial Stadium
The online tool replaces the current method for assigning season tickets, which has traditionally been done by Ticket Office personnel based on an individual's Priority Points and any special seating requests written on ticket applications.
Ballena Technolgies' Seats3D product allows users to see a virtual rendering from any section and row inside Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall. Fans can rotate the view in all directions and zoom in and out from that location. See Ballena's Seats3D product by viewing IU's Memorial Stadium virtual tour or the Assembly Hall virtual tour.
Beginning in May, football season ticket holders will be able to utilize Ballena's advanced seat management system to view season seat availability and select seats. Based on their Priority Points, ticket holders will be assigned a specific date and time to log into the system to choose their desired seat selection -- all from the convenience of their home or office. Specially trained staff will also be available to assist season ticket holders without Internet access who wish to call or visit Memorial Stadium in person to select their seats on their assigned selection date.
"The new seat selection system honors the integrity of the Priority Points System while giving ticket holders more control over their assigned seat location," Joe Ford, president of the IU Varsity Club National Board of Directors said. "Hoosier fans can view real-time availability and select the best seats based on their own personal location preferences."
To accommodate the new online seat selection system, the deadline for 2010 football season ticket application has been moved to March this year. IU fans interested in season tickets will be required to submit a ticket application no later than March 5, 2010. Online seat selection will occur May through June.
"The adoption of this new online seat allocation system is the result of two years of dedicated work by the IU Varsity Club, its board of directors and Athletic Ticket Office staff," said Fred Glass, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. "They have done a tremendous job listening to donor feedback and pursuing new technology that puts our fans first in the selection of their seats."
Ballena's online tools have dramatically improved customer service and the purchasing experience for ticket holders at sports arenas across the United States. More than 200 collegiate and professional stadiums and facilities have used Ballena's online suite of products.
"In addition to streamlining our seating assignment process, this online tool reinforces our commitment to elevating the fan experience," added Deputy Director of Athletics Scott Dolson. "With this innovative technology, Hoosier fans will be able to conveniently select seats in a similar way that they select airline seats today -- all from the comfort of their personal computer."
Ticket holders and Hoosier fans are encouraged to view virtual tours of Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall and test out IU's new online seat selection system prior to their assigned selection time.
For more information, please contact the Indiana University Athletic Ticket Office at 1-866-IUSPORTS (866-487-7678) or go here. To learn more about Ballena's Seats3D product or IU's seat selection system, read the online FAQ.
Ballena Technologies offers a unique sales and marketing tool for sports teams, venue owners / operators, and Internet based ticketing solutions. Ballena's Seats3D product is the market leader in sports venue 3D visualization. Ballena Technologies creates realistic seating visuals to improve the on-line ticketing experience by familiarizing potential customers with a facility, creating excitement, sales and customer satisfaction. Seats3D is currently used on facility Web sites including Live Nation, NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA, and NASCAR. Ballena's innovative Seat Relocation Management System (SRMS) was developed to aid in the re-seating process of new and existing venues.
