Something I was always curious about, how does it work for students trying to get tickets for that game? Is it strictly luck of the draw?
It sucks, plain and simple. And when I say it "sucks," I mean it's nerve-racking and frustrating. Unless it's changed since 2012 which I doubt it has, here's the process:
- The sign-up period for a specific game or range of games (2-3) opens up and all you do is go on the GoHeels website, put in your student ID, and request a ticket. This sign-up period is almost never announced though. You just gotta keep up and pay attention (demand is so high as it is, they don't advertise it).
- You wait.
- You get an email like 3-5 days before the game saying if you did or did not get a ticket. Say you did get a ticket.........woohoo! But wait, there's more....
- PHASES! Yes, phases. Because the Dean Dome is a library and doesn't even pretend to aid students in creating a raucous atmosphere, this is how the tickets are divvy'd up. There's 5 phases, Phase 1, Phase 2, all the way to Phase 5. Phase 1, and only Phase 1 is "Riser seats" -- the bleachers directly behind the basket on the left-side of the screen as you're watching on TV. I think that 300 students get those. It may be less. I only got riser seats for like 5 games my entire three years at UNC, and no the Duke game wasn't one of them). Phase 2 is still pretty good....it's that raised section behind the risers (and behind press row), and also a side section near the band. Phase 3 I'm unsure of, but I know Phase 4 and 5 are upperdeck.
- Let's say you get tickets AND get a Phase 1. Awesome!!!! Right? Well, yes, it is awesome. But.....now you have to wait. For Phase 1, you have to line up outside the Smith Center 2.5 hours early. And you just sit there. If it's 20 degrees? Too bad, bring a jacket. Phase 2 is 2 hours early, Phase 3 is 1.5 hours early, etc. I ended up getting to the point where I'd buy a bottle of Coke from the student union, drink half, and fill the other half with bourbon while I waited for 2~ hours doing nothing.
So that's the process. What was also kinda frustrating was you basically never got to sit with your friends at games because they always got different phases than you.
