Student section at Jack Trice Stadium moved

Iowa+State+fans+pack+the+stands+at+Jack+Trice+Stadium+for+the+Cyclones+2021+season+opener+against+Northern+Iowa+on+Sept.+4.

Jacob Rice/Iowa State Daily

Iowa State fans pack the stands at Jack Trice Stadium for the Cyclones’ 2021 season opener against Northern Iowa on Sept. 4.

Matt Belinson

Iowa State students will be watching the Cyclones from a new vantage point starting next season.

Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard announced Thursday the student section at Jack Trice Stadium will move from the northeast side of the stadium to the southeast side, citing safety concerns related to field-storming.

Here’s a look at the changes from Pollard’s announcement:

The new student section will be located in sections T through O and 23 through 27.

Pollard said in his email to students, “The safety of all individuals (players, coaches, officials, fans) is our top priority. History has shown us that assisting the visiting team’s exit is often the most problematic.”

Pollard made specific mention to an incident that took place after the Cyclones’ upset win over No. 8 Oklahoma State Oct. 23 where Oklahoma State players and staff had trouble getting off the field and had an apparent incident with a fan.

“The current location of the student sections in Jack Trice Stadium creates a conflict point between the paths of the visiting team leaving the field with the path of the students rushing the field,” Pollard said in his statement.

“We can no longer accept the risk associated with our current set-up,” Pollard added.

In a statement to the Daily, Pollard said fans who had tickets in the sections where students will be moving will have the option to find another seat in the open inventory.

“Fans that are in the sections the students are moving in will be given the option to choose from the other open seating inventory throughout the stadium,” Pollard said in his statement. “Ultimately, if they do not like the other options, than a full refund will be provided.”

Students will still enter the stadium at Gate 2, where students can access the new pedestrian bridge as a mingling area prior to entering the stadium.

Pollard added the change in student section area will allow the athletics department to increase the number of seats provided to the student body by five percent.

Students and fans will still be able to enter the stadium an hour and a half before kickoff.