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CU looking into why students were barred from Florida State game
Anyone who was turned away from the game or had trouble getting in, please contact Vanessa Miller at 303-473-1329 or millerv@dailycamera.com.
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University of Colorado officials are meeting today to discuss reports that dozens of students who arrived late to Saturday’s football game at Folsom Field were turned away, CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said.
Denise O’Rourke said her daughter, Rachel O’Rourke, was among the people who were denied entrance near the end of the first quarter of the CU-Florida State game.
O’Rourke said that when her daughter asked why she couldn’t get in, she was told by one person that there were too many drunk students. Another person explained that there were “simply too many people inside,” O’Rourke said.
CU police Cmdr. Brad Wiesley said some people were turned away during the first half of the night game against Florida State University because the stadium was over capacity.
“All the available seating was taken,” Wiesley said. “We couldn’t let people in. There were more people than it could hold.”
After some fans left during halftime, Weisley said the stadium returned to “normal operations.”
Other game-goers reported different problems entering the stadium: Some people said there was a crush of people trying to jam through an entry gate, and still other students said people being let in without having their student ID cards swiped.
One person described entry to the event as “a joke.”
The game, which CU lost 16-6, was officially reported as being about 800 seats short of a sellout. Folsom Field holds 53,750 fans.
Wiesley said workers have had to turn people away from the stadium in the past — not just at CU games, but during Fourth of July fireworks events.
“But it has been a few years since it happened,” Wiesley said.
It’s unclear whether people who were turned away Saturday will be compensated for the tickets they purchased.
“We are looking at what happened,” CU spokesman Hilliard said. “We hope in the next two hours to talk about it and hear everyone’s side of everything.”
Posted by mtnboykev35 on September 17, 2007 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Another sorry excuse by the CU nazi police! If they were real police they could handle this!
I was at the game and the crowd was GREAT! The students acted good. May be CU admin need to go look at other schools and get a Clue as how to admit people correct........
Posted by mamasboy on September 17, 2007 at 6:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would you rush the gates for this football team?
Posted by phatmack on September 17, 2007 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would you waste your time posting on a message board specifically for this football team?
Posted by buffalo_flyer on September 17, 2007 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Baloney, there were too many cops with nothing to do since everyone was behaving as they should. The "crush" of people was created by shutting down one of the tunnels on the east side. CU should be embarrassed again that they still can't figure out how to make football games fan friendly.
WOW a few extra fans get in for free?!?!? Funny that CU still thinks there no reason for alums who can't make the game to buy tickets for students who perhaps can't afford $50 for the cheapest seat. 800 seats short? that game absolutley should have sold out. I guess CU will never figure it out
Posted by trubuff on September 17, 2007 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why wouldn't they just space it out and let them in 15-20 minutes later? CU can't take the students' right to go to the game away because its too crowded at that particular time. Yes the students should get there earlier, but they just can't say go home. We need MORE students at the games, not piss them off so they'll be less. There should be some major apologies and PR fixing this week.
Posted by buff75 on September 17, 2007 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GETTING INTO MILE HIGH WAS A JOKE FOR THE CU-CSU GAME AND SO I GUESS CU STAFF IS JUST TRYING TO BE LIKE THEIR BIG BOY COUSIN EVENT STAFF AT INVESCO. WAY TO GO!!!! I'M GLAD THE TEAM HAS A BETTER DIRECTION THEN THE EVENT CREW.
Posted by LJBUFFS on September 17, 2007 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just show up earlier. It was nice to actually see a ton of students in the stands when the team came out. let's keep it going again this weekend.
Posted by NickArch on September 17, 2007 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CU Police are a joke, I remember when I was a student I got tossed from the game because they thought I was "sneaking" somebody into the game. I didn't even know the person I was allegedly "sneaking" into the stadium!
I think they are pissed because they can't hack it for a real police department, and are jealous of all the students that will go on to be successful professionals in their lives while they will be stuck as a glorified rent-a-cop for the rest of their lives.
The public information officer for the department is ucpdinfo@Colorado.EDU, you people should email them and let them know how rediculous this was.
Posted by phibuffa on September 17, 2007 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I came in on the Northeast side. It was dangerously overflowing with people and by the time I got to the turnstyles, it looked like they had less than half the ticket checkers they needed. I believe they had the "surge" shortly after I got through. I cannot imagine how bitter I would be if they turned me away with ticket in hand. This is a management issue. Whoever was in charge of this debacle should be reprimanded, forced to explain how they will do it correctly next time and then, if it happens again, dimissed or demoted. I am not looking to balme anyone, but if you do not have the skill set to handle this job, step back out of the management role. If we do not get this right, CU is setting itself up for another lawsuit. This could have turned very ugly and seemingly only because of a lack of planning and being short-staffed. Absurd.
Posted by mamasboy on September 18, 2007 at 12:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I want a new coach
Posted by mtnboykev35 on September 18, 2007 at 6:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How could "all available seating" be taken when people at the gate had tickets? how could there also be 800 or more tickets unsold? CU event staff making lame excusses again!
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