West Virginia University students can begin picking up their reserved game tickets to the Sept. 2 home opener against Boston College Monday (Aug. 28), according to University officials.

Tickets will be distributed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices (except on official University holidays, when the box offices are closed).

Tickets will also be available on game-day Saturdays at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices three hours before kickoff. However, no student tickets will be available on game day at the stadium.

Tickets are issued at no charge on a game-by-game and week-by-week basis to WVU students with valid ID cards, said Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray. So, for the Sept. 16 WVU -Maryland game, for instance, tickets will be available beginning Sept. 11.

This years ticketing will be done through Ticketmaster, a company that handles WVU concerts and other staged events.

“This fall, in addition to getting tickets during the week, students will also be able to pick up tickets on game days at the Mountainlair and the CAC ,”said Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray.”Previously, game day tickets were only available at the Coliseum, so were hoping that students will find this change more convenient.”

He also noted that students are not required to sit in their assigned seats.”This is because behavior has not been a problem since we began ticketing, and therefore students have been able to move about in the section and visit with friends,”Gray said.”We do not anticipate needing to enforce the assigned seats, but would have to do so if behavior became an issue.”

Heres the ticketing procedure:

• Tickets will be issued at no charge on a game-by-game basis to WVU students with valid Mountaineer (ID) Card on a first-come basis (on the days and times outlined above).

• Mountaineer Cards will be swiped on a card reader and a reserved seat ticket issued; lost or destroyed tickets will not be replaced.

• A WVU student may bring a maximum of 10 valid Mountaineer Cards, including his/her own.

• A limited number of guest tickets will be available for $25 each. Limit 2 per valid ID; maximum of 4 per transaction.

• Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff.

• Both reserved tickets and valid Mountaineer Cards are required for admittance.

• Students should enter the specified student gate(s) on the east side of Mountaineer Field.

“We are encouraging students to begin filtering through the student gates early so that there is not a bottleneck at game time,”Gray added.”We must swipe cards and check IDs and that takes a little time, so if students start coming early, we shouldnt have the problems weve experienced in the past.”

In addition, members of the Mountaineer Maniacs, WVUs student boosters club, are eligible to obtain season tickets in a designated area of Section 206 (expandable to Sections 205 and 207). Registration forms are available in the Student Organization Office in the Mountainlair.

Game day tailgating at the New Pit, near Ronald McDonald House, begins three hours before game time (four hours before night games) and ends at kickoff of the third quarter.

For the Sept. 2 noon game, the Pit opens at 9 a.m. and will feature the group The Distorted Penguins in concert at 10 a.m.

The Pit is for students and their guests only, and lights will be provided for evening games, plus security at all times. Students should know the following information about the tailgating area:

• Free hotdogs and soft drinks are available through halftime.

• Only charcoal grills are permitted; no other types of fires allowed.

• Parking permits (limit 50) are available to students with valid Mountaineer ID card on a first-come basis at the Mountainlair box office beginning at 9 a.m. the Monday before each home game. No parking permits will be sold after 6 p.m. Friday.

• Vehicles should enter the lot before kickoff; vehicles that leave may not re-enter.

• Permit holders of legal age, with valid drivers license and valid ID card, may bring one keg of beer (or 6 cases) into the lot per vehicle; cans of beer (no bottles) are permitted; 1 six-pack of beer per person of legal age (walk-ins) is allowed; plastic cups and recycling bins will be provided; alcoholic beverages and wines are not permitted.

• Beer sales from kegs, etc. are prohibited; distribution of beer in plastic cups to underage students is not permitted; those in violation will have New Pit and game privileges revoked and be subject to disciplinary action.

• Instruments (beer bongs, keg stands) that encourage excessive consumption are not permitted.

• Throwing of Frisbees, footballs, etc. is not permitted for safety reasons.

• No pets permitted.

• Limited accessible parking available.

• Walk-ins welcome.

Student Affairs officials say the New Pit rules will be clearly posted and enforced for the safety of all students.