Since football student tickets went on sale in July, it’s an understatement to say that many have encountered technical issues with Ticketmaster or the Penn State Athletics app.

Last week, students continued this battle as these issues threatened their chances to get into the student section for the first time in over a year. This led many of them to desperately try and seek help at the Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Office outside of Gate A.

Having trouble accessing your football tickets? You’re not alone.

A *long* line of students has been outside the @jordancenter ticket office all week long. pic.twitter.com/Sdbf4l5yYQ

— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 10, 2021

The line at the BJC was long, and some students had to wait more than four hours for assistance. Calling 1-800-NITTANY typically serves as the phone hotline for those with issues, but those who called the number would hear the office hours and not be placed in a queue to speak with anyone since they were so busy.

Students in line primarily passed the time by talking about the unique issues they were having as they hoped someone would have the answer and they could get on with their day. “They were in my wallet but now they won’t open” and “The app won’t even let me sign in” were the two most common issues being discussed. Every now and then, someone would happily exclaim that they figured it out before they were mobbed by those hoping they could offer them some tech support.

Morale was low in the line, but not for those who received assistance from the two or three individuals working at the office. This letter is for them.

We realize that it must be tough to come into work and know that you will be tasked with helping many students who may not be in the best mood. We realize that you are understaffed and are trying your best to move the line as quickly as possible. We realize that having to answer questions and offer assistance for a service that you may have not been trained in or have extensive knowledge of is frustrating.

“The problem is with Ticketmaster right now, and we don’t really know how to fix that system,” said one worker. “So, what I’m going to do is text you a link with your ticket for the game.”

But we also know that without you, many students wouldn’t have been able to go to Beaver Stadium on Saturday for the first game in over a year. Freshmen and sophomores wouldn’t have been able to go to maybe their first Penn State game ever without your help.

From giving guidance and watching as those in front of you try three different emails and reset passwords to sign in to Ticketmaster to texting a link with a ticket to those who couldn’t even open the app, just know that you fine folks made a significant difference in the lives of several students this weekend.

Never once did we hear a student who received help at the front of the line say that it was not worth it, and we think you should know that. Hopefully, in the future, the system works enough to cut your line down and keep things in check. If that time comes again, we hope more resources are allocated to you so that each individual there isn’t tasked with helping so many for so long.

Until then, we just wanna say one thing: Thank you.

P.S. — We may meet again this week because Ticketmaster still says this week’s White Out is a “past event.”