BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Western Kentucky University athletic department has teamed up with Hitcents to develop satellite ticket locations in the Bowling Green area.
"Thanks to Hitcents, we are reaching out to over 10 million Topper sports fans each year with off-site ticket buying options," said WKU athletic director Dr. Wood Selig. "This technology is revolutionary and will assist us in our efforts to expand our footprint of support for our athletic events. It makes ticket buying easier without the additional charge typically associated with purchasing tickets off site. Fans get the best seat without having to call, order online, or travel to the ticket office.
"We have basically expanded our hours of operation and will be able to serve our customers much better throughout the year. We can place these kiosks in surrounding counties as well to gain a greater presence of mind for WKU athletics."
Fans can purchase tickets to WKU athletic events from the kiosks — which are designed and function in a similar fashion to ATM machines — at Greenwood Mall, Houchen's Market in Glasgow, and the Rockfield IGA on Russellville Road.
The interactive program allows customers to select which games they would like to attend and the number of seats needed. They are then presented with a list of the best seats available based on the fan's selected price level. After selecting the seats and swiping their credit or debit card, the customer will instantly receive their printed tickets and receipt.
The kiosks also provide "e-fan" information from WKU athletics. Fans can submit their e-mail addresses at the terminals free of charge to receive updates from the athletic department. They will also be sent a coupon that can be redeemed at the kiosks for a free ticket to any Hilltopper or Lady Topper basketball game this season.
The kiosks, which were installed in October, have already become a success, according to WKU ticket manager Jim Cope. The machines actually had to be reloaded with additional seat locations after a flurry of purchases before the men's basketball games against Eastern Kentucky and Southern Illinois. Several other athletic departments have inquired about the logistics and possibilities of using the program as well.
