LSU is tightening things up when it comes to student attendance at basketball games - especially when free giveaways are involved.
In a move aimed at keeping the Pete Maravich Assembly Center buzzing with energy from tip-off onward, LSU Athletics has rolled out a new policy: if a student leaves the arena before the game starts, they’ll be exit scanned and risk losing their student ticket privileges for the rest of the season. The policy was first communicated in a January 12 email and put into effect ahead of the men’s home game against Kentucky on January 14, where the first 500 students through the doors scored free T-shirts.
The message from LSU is clear - giveaways are for fans who show up and stick around.
Kelsey Dulinski, LSU’s director of fan experience, explained the reasoning behind the change. “This policy is intended to ensure giveaways are rewarded to students and fans who are genuinely there to support the team,” she said. “The goal is to prevent individuals from collecting giveaway items and leaving before the game begins, and instead reward fans who arrive early, stay and actively cheer on the Tigers.”
It’s a targeted response to a growing trend: students showing up early for free gear, only to head for the exits before the opening tip. And with the quality of the giveaways on the rise - think GEAUX hats and mini Shaquille O’Neal statue replicas - LSU is seeing more of that behavior than in seasons past.
The policy isn’t just a one-off. It’s now part of the game-day protocol for both men’s and women’s basketball games that feature giveaways.
Students will be exit scanned only before tip-off, so if you’re planning to grab your gear and dip early, you might want to think twice. The penalty?
Losing access to student tickets for the rest of the basketball season.
LSU isn’t stopping with hoops, either. Dulinski noted that this policy could eventually extend to other sports if the trend continues. The goal is simple: keep the stands full and the energy high - not just for the giveaways, but for the game itself.
It’s a reminder that the giveaways are meant to be a bonus, not the main event. And for a program that thrives on home-court energy, making sure the crowd is there when the ball goes up is more than just good optics - it’s part of building a real home-court advantage.