Hundreds of Texas A&M University students camped in line for two nights to snag tickets to the school’s upcoming football game against the Texas Longhorns.
Social media videos show a horde of students waiting outside Kyle Field, equipped with tents, lawn chairs, and backpacks, as they waited for the event to begin on Monday morning.
The “ticket pull” is the university’s student ticket distribution method, allowing students with a sports pass to “pick the deck where they want to stand” at a home football game.
The order in which they can receive a ticket is based on their academic classification, meaning the number of years or hours a student has completed, according to the university’s website.
When it’s a student’s turn to receive a ticket, they are provided with a randomly generated seat based on the time they pull. While the “ticket pull” typically begins the Monday morning of each home game week, the Thanksgiving holiday led the event to start the week prior.
The Texas A&M Aggies are slated to compete against their rival, the University of Texas at Austin, on Nov. 30, marking the first time the teams have played each other since 2011.
According to a TikTok user, dozens of students were in line by 11 p.m. on Nov. 16.
The following morning, the scene was “pure chaos,” a Texas A&M University student stated on TikTok, as the line nearly stretched around the football stadium.
“If you’ve never been to College Station for the events leading up to an A&M v.s. TU game, you haven’t experienced a true football rivalry,” another user commented on the post.
Students remained in line on Monday as it began to pour around 12:30 p.m., with videos showing the amount of rain reached above the ankles of those gathered outside Kyle Field
A recent survey conducted by the Texas A&M University Student Government Association showed public opinion on the event’s longstanding tradition is mixed.
Out of 292 Sports Pass holders who said they were dissatisfied with the current ticket-pulling process, many reported it “rewards students who do not prioritize academics, students are forced to miss class,” and “the lines are long, unorganized, and move slowly.”
Spots Pass holders were also asked what aspects were important to them when pulling football tickets. Out of 34 who responded, many reported the in-person ticket pull process was a critical aspect of Texas A&M culture and traditions.
