About Us
With a new school year comes new rules. This fall, SuperFans can expect to see a drastic change in Shea Field’s policies and procedures.
That’s right, Shea Field---Boston College’s hottest tailgating spot---will be reconfigured for this upcoming football season.
How it will change:
Shea Field will convert into a “reserved parking area.” That is, those who hold a pass will receive a numbered parking spot. In years past, the parking was first-come, first-served.
Pass holders will also get 20 Shea Field tickets for their guests, which will grant access beyond the gate. According to Bryan Amos, assistant director of the Flynn Fund, the “implementation of ticketed access guarantees that guests of pass holders will always gain entry,” whereas walk-ons without a ticket will not be permitted to join Shea festivities.
The expected contribution to the Flynn Fund will be $5,000 for regular alumni and $2,500 for GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) alumni; however, parking is assigned first-come, first-served at the GOLD rate.
Lastly, donors who make a qualifying gift can provide their parking preferences to the Flynn Fund.
Why it matters:
This overhaul of BC’s policies and procedures will affect anybody planning to tailgate on Shea Field next year.
However, it is not the first change that students and alumni have seen in recent years.
Two years ago, students needed just a ticket to the game to get onto Shea Field. That system was far more relaxed than what it is today.
Last year, however, BC placed a quota on the amount of students that could enter Shea Field. Rather than just needing a ticket or Eagle ID, students actually needed a wristband to be granted entry.
This year, the policies and procedures are even more stringent, a stricter iteration of last year’s policy. Basically, if you have one of a parking pass holder’s 20 Shea Field tickets, you will be able to gain entry. No ticket? No luck.
The transition to more black-and-white policies and procedures will obviously reshape the way students go about tailgating.
What prompted such a change:
According to Bryan Amos, “the aim all along has been to maintain a family friendly atmosphere with the safety and enjoyment of our guests who hold Shea passes being paramount.”
But beyond this somewhat generic answer, the real answer lies in varying perspectives.
From the view of most students, these new policies seem harsh and far more rigorous than in years past.
For the average student—who isn’t a ticketholder—these procedures are simply unappealing because they reduce a student’s chance of gaining access to Shea Field. Thus, tailgating will become increasingly difficult.
However, from the perspective of those who create and enforce the policies and procedures, this year’s system is clearer, more organized, and gives the university more control.
Photo courtesy of bceagles.com
Unlike it was under the relaxed rules which existed two years ago, Shea Field will no longer be the Wild West of tailgating; and unlike with previous policies and procedures, BC can now oversee the assignment of parking spots, something it could not do with the first-come, first-served policy of previous years.
The new legislation also makes getting a spot on Shea Field all the more enticing. That is, if one has a spot, one gets an assigned and guaranteed parking spot with 20 coveted tickets for guests. Without a parking spot or ticket, gaining access to Shea will be nearly impossible.
Conclusion:
Boston College obviously believes that these policies and procedures are clearer, more regulated and better organized.
And though these changes will likely be met with opposition from students and alumni alike, the implementation of these policies absolutely makes sense from the university's perspective.
Follow @BCGavelSports on Twitter for the latest updates on Boston College athletics.
Nomad / Music Junkie / Super Smash Maestro / Future Second Husband of Teresa Palmer
