LSU is tightening things up at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center - and it’s not about defense. In an effort to keep student fans in their seats and not just swinging by for freebies, LSU Athletics has rolled out a new policy aimed squarely at curbing a growing trend: students showing up early to snag giveaway items, then heading for the exits before tip-off.
Here’s the deal: if a student leaves the PMAC before the game starts, they’ll be exit-scanned - and that scan comes with a price. Their student ticket privileges for the rest of the basketball season?
Gone. That’s the message LSU Athletics sent loud and clear in a January 12 email, just ahead of the Tigers’ January 14 home game against Kentucky.
That night, the first 500 students through the doors were handed free T-shirts. But if anyone thought they could grab the merch and ghost, they were in for a surprise.
“The policy is intended to ensure giveaways are rewarded to students and fans who are genuinely there to support the team,” said Kelsey Dulinski, LSU’s director of fan experience. In short, LSU wants to make sure the energy in the building is as real as the gear being handed out. It’s about creating an atmosphere - not a revolving door.
The policy is specific: exit scanning only happens before tip-off, and only at games where giveaways are involved. And it’s not just a one-off for the men’s team. Dulinski confirmed the rule applies to women’s basketball games too, and hinted that other LSU sports could see similar measures down the line.
So far this season, LSU has rolled out some eye-catching giveaways. Before the January 17 matchup against Missouri, the first 500 students scored GEAUX hats.
And at the most recent game - a tough 80-66 loss to Mississippi State - the first 1,500 fans were treated to mini replicas of the Shaquille O’Neal statue that stands outside the basketball facility. That’s not just a keepsake - that’s a piece of LSU lore in your hands.
But with better giveaways comes a new problem: more fans trying to game the system. Dulinski noted that while fans leaving early has been an issue in the past, the spike in demand for these newer, more popular items has made the trend more noticeable - and more disruptive.
This new policy is LSU’s way of flipping the script. It’s not just about handing out cool gear - it’s about rewarding the fans who show up, stay loud, and support the Tigers from tip-off to final buzzer. Because in Baton Rouge, it’s not just about what you wear in the stands - it’s about being part of the roar inside the PMAC.