Exhibition game not included in students' Zona Zoo season

Angry students waited anxiously outside Hillenbrand Stadium Friday afternoon hoping to score tickets after discovering that their Zona Zoo passes would not be honored at the UA vs. Team USA softball game.

The game was labeled an "exhibition game" and did not qualify as a regular season game, one that is usually free for Zona Zoo members. A sign taped up near the stadium entrance read "Zona Zoo and Wildcard Sports Passes Not Accepted."

"We're pissed," said David Ybarra, an electrical engineering sophomore. "We didn't know; we assumed we could get in."

The confusion occurred because "exhibition games" are not included in the list of games where the $40 Zona Zoo pass would not be accepted.

On the back of the Zona Zoo card, it states the pass is good for all regular season home UA intercollegiate athletic events.

Students said the situation made them think the Associated Students of the University of Arizona had not thought about the possibility of midseason exhibition games because they were not clarified on the Zona Zoo card.

"It almost seems like false advertising on the card's part," said Jeff Grynkewich, a pre-business sophomore.

Peter Wand, ASUA spirit director, said he thought it was clear that an exhibition is not a regular season intercollegiate game.

Neither the athletic department nor ASUA communicated to students before the game that the entrance would require Zona Zoo members to purchase regular student tickets, students said.

Seats for the game sold out Tuesday, said Darren Graessle, the McKale Center ticket manager.

"This is not a regular season game. For this game, we are not honoring all sports passes," Graessle said Friday afternoon.

Some students found out they needed to buy tickets by calling the McKale Center Ticket Office, but most found out when they arrived to the game Friday.

By the time they arrived, they were able to get into the game by waiting in line for obstructed-view, standing-room only tickets for $5, or by finding someone selling other tickets.

The standing-room only tickets went on sale at 4:30 p.m. and initially sold out half an hour later. Once the game started at 6 p.m. and it was clear there was more standing room, everyone still in line was able to buy a ticket.

Paula Van Oostendorp, a recent UA graduate, was one of the Zona Zoo members who had to wait in line.

"I looked at the Web site last week and it didn't say anything. I didn't find out until I came down here," Van Oostendorp said. "These Zona Zoo passes are worthless if I can't get in."

Last year, Van Oostendorp followed the UA softball team to the college world series in Oklahoma City and even made it on ESPN holding her UA sign.

The Zona Zoo program was initiated last year by ASUA . Prior to the program, students could get into the less popular sporting events, like softball, by just flashing their CatCards.

This year, students who don't have the Zona Zoo pass have to pay $4.

Amber Harryman, ASUA assistant spirit director, was unaware of the problem getting into the Team USA game until students complained while waiting outside Hillenbrand Stadium.

"I didn't know about the situation until now," Harryman said. "Athletics never approached us with (the) issue. I am really sorry. We are willing to look into this."

"We definitely will think about adding the word "exhibition" to (the) card," Wand said. "If (students) are wondering about events that are tricky, they can contact me or the ASUA office at any time."

But for die-hard softball fans like Van Oostendorp who knew that the game against Team USA was a rare opportunity, the ASUA response didn't sooth the frustration.

"(ASUA) will probably say, 'We'll work on that for next year,'" Van Oostendorp said. "Well, there won't be a next time."

Students said the problem could have been avoided if they had been notified ahead of time that their Zona Zoo passes wouldn't grant admission.

"They should have let us know earlier," said Gilbert Brown, an education graduate student. "At least give us a chance to get regular tickets."

By 6:15 p.m., most Zona Zoo members who had been waiting outside the stadium got into the game by buying extra tickets from others at face value or purchasing one of the 180 obstructed-view, standing-room only tickets.

The 3,541 people in attendance broke the Hillenbrand Stadium attendance record. The Wildcats fell to Team USA 6-1.