As Indiana football prepares for its season under head coach Curt Cignetti, the roster and freshly renovated practice facility aren’t the only things changing, as the placement and cohesion of Indiana’s student section will also be new.
IU Athletics announced in a press release Monday that the entire student section will be moved to the north endzone between sections 13 and 24 inside Memorial Stadium. Students previously sat in the northeast corner, with the overflow section flipping to the other side of the bowl.
The change allows all students to sit together and be seated closer to the field, which IU athletic director Scott Dolson cited as an emphatic reason in making the move.
“The level of support that we have received from IU students in recent years has been tremendous, which is why we are able to make this exciting change,” Dolson said in the release. “This new student section promises to create an electric atmosphere on gamedays, particularly when visiting teams have the ball on that end of the field. In addition, by relocating our students to the north end, they’ll be the first to welcome our team onto the field moments before kickoff.”
IU Athletics first informed public season ticket holders last week of the decision, which prompts a change in seating for those previously in the north endzone. In turn, the Hoosiers offered a plethora of alternative options at the public ticket holders’ wish.
Indiana is scheduled to begin its season at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 29, when Florida International University visits Memorial Stadium — now armed with a new flare.
“We’ve enjoyed record attendance numbers in recent years for IU football, and a big reason for the surge has been the turnout of our students,” Dolson said in the release. “I think this change will make IU football gamedays that much better for those same students who are now excited for the coach Curt Cignetti era to get underway.”
Student tickets will remain general admission and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Season tickets can be purchased and charged to the Bursar account via IU Athletics.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) for updates throughout the Indiana football offseason.
