For the first time at Hilton Coliseum on Friday night before tipoff between the Iowa and Iowa State men’s basketball teams, ISU students with student tickets were turned away once capacity was reached. 

Students were allowed in two hours prior to the 8:30 p.m. tip. ISU Associate Athletic Director for Facilities, Planning and Management, Chris Jorgensen, said capacity was reached 90 minutes after students were allowed to enter Hilton.

Jorgensen said capacity for student tickets is “generally 2,400” and that is with the few students he allowed in for standing room around the lower bowl. 

“It’s the first time it’s happened,” Jorgensen said. “Ever since the Kansas game last year, we’ve been constantly re-evalutating how we’re going to get students in, how fast we’re going to get them in, how safely we can get them in.”

From here, Jorgensen said there isn’t an immediate fix Friday night, but the staff will meet in the near future to discuss changes that could be made moving forward. 

“I’m sure following tonight’s game, we’ll meet as a staff, continue to talk about what the best policies are with regards to student ticketing and getting students in safely,” Jorgensen said. “I’m sure there will be changes made, I’m not sure tonight what those are.”

ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard tweeted before the game regarding students with student tickets getting turned away.

“Althought we feel bad that all the students in line did not get in, it does show we are finally catching KY, they have that issue every game,” Pollard tweeted.