University Southern California Trojans
USC Announces Improvements To Football Game Day Experience
August 23, 2011 | Football
Aug. 23, 2011
Dear Trojan Fans:
I hope you are all as excited as I am for the season opening football game on September 3rd and the first ever Pac-12 game on September 10th. Just as the players and coaches have been hard at work to prepare for the season, so has our Athletics staff in Heritage Hall. Our goal is to make the entire game day experience an enjoyable one for you; from the time you're driving in to the Coliseum listening to the pregame show on 710ESPN, all the way to departing the lot after another Trojan victory.
We have spent a considerable amount of time over the past six months reviewing, critiquing, and analyzing all the logistics, pressure points, and log jams in your game day experiences at the Coliseum. We really are trying to improve that experience in enjoyment, safety, and ease of use.
We believe we have made many improvements to the overall game day experience this year -- though you will be the ultimate judge and we want to hear from you. Some of these will be dramatic and easily recognized, such as the addition of the 2nd largest HD video board in all of college football. Others will be more subtle, such as improved training for our ticket-takers, parking attendants, and Coliseum staff.
We might not get everything right the first time around, and we apologize for any first game inconvenience, but we are committed to continual improvement throughout this season and in the years ahead. Be on the lookout for fan surveys throughout the year to let us know how we're doing.
Listed below are some of the new initiatives and improvements ready for this season's opening kickoff. There will be more to come during the year, plus similar improvement initiatives for our Galen Center sports later in the Fall.
1. Transportation
We have worked to improve traffic flow around Exposition Park and the USC campus on game day. In conjunction with city leaders, the Department of Transportation and a professional traffic consultant, we have developed an integrated traffic plan that will improve traffic flow and ease entry and exit from Coliseum parking lots. You will see more traffic control officers in the streets, improved and increased signage, and a united approach to traffic management.
2. Parking
All parking around the Coliseum is now reserved on a lot-by-lot basis. Each of our support group members have been assigned to a specific lot for the entire season. You will notice more visible parking permits, improved training of parking lot attendants and new lighting and re-surfacing in many of the Coliseum parking lots. For those fans without an assigned parking lot, we encourage you to park in any USC campus lot or structure.
3. Security
We want your experience at USC football games to be safe and enjoyable. We ask that all of our patrons follow the Trojan Spirit Code, which is based on the simple principle of treating all fans with respect. We will be increasing security patrols in Exposition Park, on campus and in the surrounding community. We also have improved integration between law enforcement agencies, and this year the Coliseum has installed cameras that allow security officers to better monitor the entire venue.
4. Guest Services
We have instituted a new staff training program for our ushers and ticket takers, purchased new uniforms for staff, added guest service booths around the Coliseum, and launched a program that will have game day Ambassadors in Exposition Park. There will be food vendor maps and new gate signs.
5. iPhone App
Prior to the first game we will launch a free iPhone game day application that will provide live stats, traffic feeds and updates, maps, concession information, and other great features. Look for it in the App Store before you head in for the first game.
6. Ticket Transfer
We know sometimes you have schedule conflicts that preclude you from attending every game. When that happens, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to get your tickets to friends or family. Our new Trojan Ticket Transfer program will allow you to electronically send your tickets to whomever will be using your seats that game. They print out new tickets, your old tickets are automatically canceled, and all with no fee. We want all our sold seats used to help create a better home field advantage.
7. Reduced Ticketing Fees and Improved Online Purchasing
We have reduced or eliminated many ticketing fees. Printing tickets at home has been reduced 50% to only $1.50 to encourage you to skip the will call lines. Our ticketing website has been improved with better seat maps, easier navigation, and personalized content based on your ticket purchasing history.
We hope all of these initiatives will lead to a better game day experience for our fans. We truly hope that you will continue to support all of our sports programs and share the experience with friends, family, and associates. A special thank you to Steve Lopes, our Senior Associate Athletic Director, and Hatcher Parnell, our new Director of Operations, for leading the effort!
We'll see you soon at the Coliseum. Thank you for your support.
Fight On!
Pat Haden, Athletic Director
