Vanguard’s First Virtual Ticket Launch

On Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, Vanguard University launched its very first virtual ticketing system.

Vanguard decided to launch virtual ticketing for a safer environment because of COVID. 

Athletic Director, Jeff Bussell, stated, “About a year we have been in communication about virtual tickets since COVID took away all of our fans last year. That’s really when HomeTown ticketing came up.” 

Vanguard tested HomeTown virtual ticket system by running an event at the school for the baseball playoffs. 

Bussell said it was very efficient, awesome, and worked well. 

“People can get their tickets ahead of time and they can get season passes, at a discounted rate,” stated Bussell. 

Buying tickets is easy with how advanced the system’s technology is.

Bussell states, “There is a QR code to access the tickets and we have people scan that code. Then it brings them to our homepage to buy tickets, so they scan it.”

Although many people believe switching to virtual tickets is the most effective and safe way of not spreading COVID, others believe that this is a less efficient way.

Men’s soccer coach, Randy Dodge, believes that there will be fewer people at games.

Dodge stated, “I think you’ll have fewer people come to the games. I think it’s a situation that not a lot of people are again that savvy technically wise, some may not want to go through all of that trouble, and do those types of things to see a game.”

“So I think we’ll lose fans for that. I don’t think they are going to want to deal with the frustration of that,” said Dodge.  

Even though it may be a difficult technical process for some. Dodge believes the biggest issue with paperless tickets is the lack of real social interaction. 

Dodge states, “Our society is starting to lack that personal touch and again it just comes down to the social media of everything that we do, that you can do everything on your phone and you don’t have to communicate with people.”

“So instead of walking up, asking for a ticket, showing a ticket, and saying hey how are you, you go up and show your phone and walk-in.”

Vanguard does not see the university going back to paper tickets because of COVID. Especially with how efficient everything has been within the first few weeks of using the new system.

For more information about paperless tickets, you can check out Vanguard’s athletic website.