Student season tickets can be a transformational experience

When senior Jariya Phanpaktra first bought student tickets four years ago, she had no idea the ride it would take her on throughout her academic career at the University of Colorado.

 

“I knew it was a big tradition at CU to go to the football games and Folsom Field is so amazing,” Phanpaktra said. “That’s why I bought student season tickets four years ago. I knew the football team was trying to rally around something exciting and I wanted to be a part of it.”

 

Tickets for students cost $140 for football games, a breakdown of $20 per game, and tickets include CSU and are still available to purchase at cubuffs.com/students. For just $35 more, students can get the CU Sports Pass which is good for every varsity sporting event, including men’s and women’s basketball.

 

“It’s all worth it in the end,” Phanpaktra said. “For what it costs, it doesn’t even register when you account for how much fun it is to be part of the student section.”

 

Last year, Phanpaktra was rewarded as one of the 50 C-Unit members (the student fan section) given a fully expensed trip to Los Angeles to cheer on the men’s and women’s basketball teams at the Pac-12 Tournament.

 

“When I found out I was going to LA with the basketball teams, I couldn’t believe it,” Phanpaktra said. “I couldn’t believe the athletic department was footing the bill. I made 50 new best friends and was part of something legendary.  It was beyond anything I could’ve imagined and it happened just because I bought season tickets.”

 

The C-Unit brought CU national attention as they cheered the men’s team on to the Pac-12 Championship, the school’s first league title in 43 years. The Buffs won four games in four days to take the title and crashed the Big Dance into the NCAA Tournament. At that point, the athletic department then added to the original gang of 50 and took 100 students to Albuquerque, N.M., where the Buffs upset UNLV in the second round and gave Baylor all they could handle in the third round.  

 

“Being a part of the C-Unit has transformed my experience as a student at CU,” Phanpaktra said. “I feel like we are all appreciated by the players. Everybody knows about the C-Unit now because we got national attention and everybody’s excited to see how we can help. In basketball, we were the sixth-man, we knew we were helping and they won a championship.”

 

The Buffs will again send student fans to Las Vegas, site of the 2013 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament, but selection is based on how many games you attend throughout the season, and you can’t qualify unless you purchase student season tickets.

 

For those students who have not yet purchased season tickets, they are still available.  Some basic info:

• $175 – CU Sports Pass (access to all varsity sporting events)

• $140 – Football only student season tickets

• Purchase student tickets at www.cubuffs.com/students

 

For those who do have student season tickets, remember the Buffs kick off the 2012 season Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Please be aware of the following:

 

Let’s open the 2012 season with a great showing! We expect students from the University of Colorado to compete with class.  Remember to represent the Buffs with integrity and show good sportsmanship towards our neighbors.

 

Your ticket is NOT on your Buff OneCard. You will receive an email from Ticketmaster and you must print your ticket out and bring it to the game. If you forget your ticket, be prepared to wait in line to get one printed and you may miss part of the game. Remember to print your ticket and bring it with you along with your Buff OneCard, and remind your friends to do the same.

 

If you need a ride to Denver, the CUSG and CU Athletic Department are teaming up to provide bus transportation to the game. Buses will board in front of the Coors Events Center beginning at 10 a.m.  You must bring your Buff OneCard to ride the buses. Alcohol will not be allowed on the buses. Parking at Sports Authority Field is on a permit basis, so we encourage you take the bus. If you have any questions call 303-492-7473. The buses leave from Sports Authority field 30 minutes after the conclusion of the football game. 

 

Students will need to enter Sports Authority through Gate 1. Your ticket will clearly state if you have lower or upper level access to the student section. This year, the student section is general admission, but it is based on upper or lower level assignments. Look at your ticket and see which area you have been assigned and follow signs and instructions to access those levels. 

 

The CU student section is located in the southwest portion the stadium.  Be respectful of security personnel as they are there for your safety.  Comply with their requests at all times.  If you are in a situation where you or a friend needs help, ask for it.

 

If you have any disciplinary issue at Sports Authority Field, it will be carried over and settled with Student Conduct at CU. Keep in mind that should you have a situation where you are sent to detox, you will be responsible for all costs incurred. These costs include $300 to go to detox, $180 for transport there, if you require an ambulance it costs $895 plus $14.95 a mile and other expenses, emergency room charges are in the ballpark of $5,000 and you will NOT be released from detox until you blow a 0.0, which can take up to 5-12 hours. You will lose access to games at Folsom Field until you are done with the Student Conduct office.

 

When you return to Boulder from the Rocky Mountain Showdown, remember to stop by the Coors Events Center as your CU Volleyball team will be hosting Fresno State at 7 PM.  Admission is free for all students with a valid Buff OneCard.