CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Fans show their support for departed Wildcats Jason Gardner, Luke Walton and Rick Anderson during the trio's last home game against Oregon.

The first round of UA men's basketball ticket recipients has been announced, and this time nobody had to call the police.

The new system awarded 1,552 students who bought Zona Zoo passes before Sept. 12 the option to purchase a pair of lower-level tickets.

"The new system takes away the opportunity for people to be stupid," said Lisa Anderson, a language and culture senior at Arizona International College.

Ticket sales were delayed several days last year after 16 police officers broke up a crowd of 2,000 people who were pushing and shoving while waiting to receive vouchers for season tickets in front of the McKale ticket office.

Lindsey Licher, a public management senior, said that she likes the new system a lot better.

"I'm so excited I got tickets. It takes the hassle out of having to wait in a mob," she said.

Licher also praised the Zona Zoo system because she thinks that it is fair and that it gives everyone a more equal chance.

Some students, however, disagree.

"I think the system is a little awkward, being that you have to pay extra for games that you could have gotten into for free before," Bryan Le Moine, a communication senior said. "But it's still a good feeling to get tickets."

Last year, some sporting events ÷ namely baseball, women's volleyball and basketball ÷ were free to anyone. This year the only way to go to these events without paying at the gate is with a Zona Zoo pass.

Marketing junior Brian Kroopf was upset that he didn't get tickets for the third year in a row.

"I think it's unfair that people who don't care enough but spent $40 are able to go to the games," Kroopf said. "Last year, somebody brought up the idea of a point system. If they said to me that in order to get UA basketball tickets, I'd have to go to volleyball or softball, I know that me and a bunch of my friends would go to as many of those events as possible."

Stanford's student ticket policy awards points to students for attending sporting events other than men's basketball. Those students with the most points are given the opportunity to go to men's basketball games.

Some students think a more important change would be the addition of more student seating.

"There should be more student seating," said Maureen O'Leary, a pre-business sophomore. "It should be more student-oriented rather than alumni(-oriented)."

Others think going back to a system of first come, first served is the best way to go, as long as it is safe.

"If they're going to have people wait in line and have it civilized, then that's fine. But not if it's going to turn out like that. It was pointless that anyone got hurt," Licher said.

Laurence Longwell, a pre-business freshman, said the Zona Zoo system is still better than what has been used in the past.

"With the number of people that want tickets, I don't think that there is a better way," he said.

Fifty alternates were also selected from the list of 7,400 Zona Zoo pass owners, just in case those selected in the first round forfeit their tickets, said Darren Graessle, director of ticket operations and customer relations at McKale.

Kroopf said he hopes he is picked in the upper-level lottery, but says that if not, he will do whatever it takes to see the team play.

"Every other year, I've spent $100 (to) $400 to get tickets, and I'll probably do it again this year."

The names of alternates who have received lower-level tickets will be posted Oct. 21 at www.arizonaathletics.com.

Winners for upper-level tickets, 800 in all, will be posted online Oct. 23.

Brett Fera contributed to this report