The Brown Concert Agency is test-driving a new ticket distribution system for Spring Weekend today in hopes of avoiding the long lines and lost tickets of years past. With the new system, students will purchase all Spring Weekend tickets online, including the extra tickets released if the concerts are held outdoors. Students will then be able to print scannable tickets from their computers instead of picking them up from the Brown Student Agency office.
The idea for the new system came about this summer, according to Sandy Ryza '12, BCA's director of ticketing. The new system was developed partially in response to last year's line, which stretched for hours around George, Brown, Benevolent and Benefit streets.
Starting at 8 a.m. today, students will be able to log on to bsa.brown.edu and order a free waiver from the Brown Marketplace to test the online system. The waiver will be sent to students' Brown e-mail addresses. Students can then bring printed e-mail confirmations to the Main Green entrance on George St. between 3 and 5 p.m. March 1 to be scanned for entry in a raffle.
For every 200 waivers ordered, BCA is planning to give away a free two-day ticket package. The number of waivers is not limited — any student who signs onto the website will be eligible.
The Brown Student Agency website crashed last year during the ticket-purchasing period. "One would hope that we won't have the same problem this year, but there's always unexpected difficulties," Ryza said.
Though BCA is not yet able to confirm when tickets will actually go on sale, the system is being tested now to ensure it will run smoothly in the coming weeks, he said. BCA also plans to implement the system at its upcoming "Get-Off-The-Hill Party."
"The goal is not to have it fail majorly on Spring Weekend," he said.
