THON has updated the procedure for entering the BJC tomorrow after news about an impending “polar vortex” was announced for the eastern United States. The low temperature predictions for THON weekend are between 1-6 degrees, with the estimated high peaking at 42 degrees.

This entrance plan has been modified from the system previously announced, in order to prevent spectators from standing outside in freezing temperatures. When spectators look to enter the BJC tomorrow, they will have to comply with the following procedure. From THON:

Wristband Line

1. Individuals should come to the All-Sports Museum at the time they have been assigned based on their original entrance plan confirmation.
2. To enter the line you will need to present your entrance ticket to a THON Captain, whether on your phone or printed out, and a photo ID to confirm your identity. This entrance ticket is the same ticket that you received last week.
3. Once your identity is verified, you will wait in line until you get to the tables where your name will be marked off.
4. You will then receive a spectator wristband from a THON Captain and you will be permitted to leave the All-Sports Museum area. Note: you will not be required to put on the wristband at the time you check in, but THON will not replace any wristbands for any reason.
5. After leaving the All-Sports Museum area, visit THON.org/BJC to verify the time you are permitted to return for the entrance line. The time is based off of your wristband’s barcode range.

Entrance Line

1. When you return to the All-Sports Museum for the entrance line, your wristband will be checked by a THON Captain to ensure that the barcode range falls within the accepted range at that time. Spectators will not be allowed into the line before their assigned time. Note: you are no longer required to arrive five minutes prior to your entry time.
2. The building will open at 4 p.m. at which point we will begin to move individuals into the building based on their standing in the entrance line.
3. Although the building will be open, if your check-in time is later than 4 p.m., you still must proceed to the All-Sports Museum at your designated time to be let into the entrance line and from there into the building.

Harsh weather and concerns about spectator safety are nothing new to THON. After long lines and sub-zero temperatures caused serious health concerns in 2013, THON was forced to develop a different system to handle the hundreds of spectators looking to gain entrance to the BJC. The digital line system was introduced in 2014, and the scanned bracelets, digital announcements of the BJC capacity, and warm waiting area in Pegula helped keep lines to a minimum.