JMU That’s So Jmu
WHAT’S INSIDE
Dukes just wanna have fun
By LIBBY ADDISON The Breeze
This Family Weekend, there are many events hosted by the university that offer moments of bonding. Here are activities that are either free or low cost for all guests and families on campus. Additional information can be found on JMU’s website:
Friday, Sept. 27
UREC Open House
9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: University Recreation Center University Recreation Center (UREC) family hours will allow Family Weekend guests to experience wellness activities throughout UREC and UPARK. Students must accompany their guests, and everyone must have a photo ID. This event carries on throughout the weekend.
Gen Ed Student Conference 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Festival Conference and Student Center Connect with students and professors while exploring JMU’s general education program through student projects. Presenters are invited to bring guests to the banquet in the Festival Ballroom after the event.
“Let’s Play D-U-U-K-E-E-S” 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Location: 131 W. Grace Street
JMU Occupational Therapy Clinical Education Services (JMU-OTCES) will host an event featuring activities for the whole family that explore occupational therapy services. OTCES will provide a photo opportunity at its #JMUFamilyWeekend booth as well as purple and gold
College of Business Open House
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Hartman Hall Visit and tour JMU’s College of Business (CoB). Those who RSVP by Friday at 8 a.m. enter to win four club seat football tickets to Saturday’s game. In order to win, the recipient must be present at the ticket drawing at 5:30 p.m. in Hartman Hall.
Under the Wolf’s Cloak Dance Screening 7 p.m.
Location: John C. Wells Planetarium
A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood from a feminist perspective will be shown at John C. Wells Planetarium. Admission is free.
UPB MOVIE: “Inside Out 2”
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Grafton-Stovall Theatre “Inside Out 2” will be shown at Grafton-Stovall Theatre, put on by the University Program Board (UPB). Admission is free, and popcorn will be provided.
Friday Night Flights
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Bridgeforth stadium Gather under Bridgeforth’s lights to taste alcoholic beverages from local breweries and wineries across the Shenandoah Valley. This Duke Club event requires pre-registration and is open to JMU alumni, students and their families.
Study Abroad Reception
of Presidents
It will be held with study abroad staff, where students and their families can meet and chat with Global Dukes and semester program directors. Breakfast and coffee will be provided, along with study abroad merchandise.
InternationalHarrisonburgFestival
Noon to 6 p.m.
Location: Downtown Harrisonburg Harrisonburg’s annual International Festival’s slogan is “Educate, Entertain, and Eat!” The festival is held in downtown Harrisonburg square and features entertainment and activities, as well as food trucks and art booths.
The Doo Wop Project 8 p.m.
Location: Wilson Hall stage,BroadwayperformerswilltakeWilsonHall’s taking the audience on a journeyTicketthroughthe’50stotoday’smodernhits. pricesrangefrom$34to$45.
Dining halls
Location: E-Hall and D-Hall
Select dining halls will host a family brunch for $12 a person, with a wide variety of breakfast and lunch selections available.
Accapellathon 2 p.m.
Location: Memorial Hall Auditorium JMU will hold its annual a cappella concert. Tickets are $5 per person.
Sunday, Sept. 29
Hidden gems for golden Dukes
By EVAN MOODY
The Breeze
Amid the Family Weekend chaos, a tour around campus is exactly what a JMU family needs to immerse themselves in the ’Burg and envision their Duke engrossed in university life.
While strolls to the Quad and bookstore visits are a must, showing off your favorite lesser-known spots allows siblings, parents and other relatives to see what makes Harrisonburg so special to you. Here’s a list of hidden gems to guide your family through.
Duke Hall/Sculpture Garden
Beginning on the outskirts of main campus, Duke Hall is the perfect kick-off for an intimate look at campus. Embedded in the modernly sculpted building is the Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art, which is currently showcasing “dlo a rasin” — a solo art exhibition by artist Minia Biabiany exploring the links between Hopewell, VA and Biabiany’s home island of Guadeloupe.
The Duke Hall Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. After checking out the exhibition, families can view the artwork cascaded across the academic halls and venture out into the front lawn to see the Duke Sculpture Garden. Currently, the garden features a light pavilion on loan to JMU, provided by two alumni. The sculpture was designed by Edwin Baruch (’13) and fabricated by Michael Draeger (’13).
John C. Wells Planetarium
Next to Duke Hall and connected to Miller Hall is the John C. Wells Planetarium.
Completed with an Evans & Sutherland Digistar system and Goto CHRONOS optomechanical star projection system, the planetarium displays full dome videos for its visitors. Whether for a show or a quick look around the facility, bringing your family here will leave an impression.
On Family Weekend Saturday, the planetarium will present “One World One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for younger children. At 2:15 and 3 p.m., “Black Holes: To Infinity and Beyond” is presented for older visitors.
grace+main cafe
If the prior two attractions have your family in need of a caffeine boost, you can find your fix at grace+main cafe, located inside of Hotel Madison. With a multitude of coffee options in Harrisonburg, this spot maintains a campus feeling whilst being a step above a routine Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts. After grabbing a sweet treat and sipping down a selection from an assortment of beverage options, you can sit at a window and watch students travel to and fro.
see HIDDEN GEMS, page 9
Located across from the Bluestone area, Newman Lake is one of the most picturesque spots on campus. Photos by Kailey Garner / The Breeze
Best of both worlds: more to do off campus and around the 'Burg
By NIMRAT KAUR contributing writer
While JMU provides many exciting on-campus activities during Family Weekend, there are additional options scattered around and outside Harrisonburg for families that don’t want to get caught in the buzzing crowds.
Pumpkin Festival at Back Home on the Farm
Only 11 minutes from campus, Back Home on the Farm is holding its annual Virginia Pumpkin Festival, which will be open through Nov. 3.
The festival is open on weekdays and weekends with ticket prices depending on the day. On weekdays — Tuesday to Friday — tickets purchased online cost $10, and tickets purchased in person are $12. On the weekends, prices rise to $13 online and $16 in person. The festival is open from 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
This event is home to a multitude of fun, family-friendly activities. Some include puttputt golf, a vintage-style carousel, a petting zoo with farm animals, a pumpkin patch and a corn maze. The pumpkin patch is home to all sizes and colors of the autumn favorite — from green to white to the classic orange.
Its corn maze pays homage to the Peanuts’ 75th anniversary, with the maze in the shape of one of the comic’s beloved characters, Snoopy.
“I think the festival is a great place to go with family,” sophomore accounting major Jack Campbell said. “[The festival] has a relaxing environment and feels nostalgic in a way.”
Apart from a kaleidoscope of activities, the festival also provides an assortment of food and drinks sold to please everyone’s sweet tooth or savory cravings. Its website says that the whoopie pies and apple cider doughnuts are must-haves, along with the homegrown burgers and bonfireside s’mores. It also offers freshly squeezed lemonade — a classic for any festival.
“I tried a whoopie pie,” Campbell said. “I would go back again just for that.”
From jams and jellies to toys for young children, there are many souvenirs to choose from.
By the Fire Fridays
If you’re looking for a more relaxing and chill way to spend the weekend with your family, By the Fire Fridays could be just that.
Located at Brothers Craft Brewing on Liberty Street, By the Fire Fridays include local bands and musicians, beer for those of age and several food trucks. This event is on select Fridays until Oct. 11. The food trucks — ranging from Maine lobster to classic barbeque — and live music acts change every Friday. The event and food truck schedule can be found on the Harrisonburg Tourism website.
Admission is free, but make sure to bring your own lawn chairs to enjoy the live music.
For those who would rather spend time inside, Brothers Craft Brewing also hosts game nights on Thursdays. It has options
ranging from the Nintendo Switch catalogue to classics like Jenga. Its range of drinks can fit everyone’s taste, with a pumpkin spice drink for fall lovers and a raspberry vanilla flavor for those who want something a little more sweet. The brewery also offers non-alcoholic drinks, such as soda and flavored teas, so those under 21 won’t feel left out. With warm lighting and cozy seating, it’s a great environment for family bonding and entertainment.
Brothers Craft Brewing is a family-owned business and strives to “focus on both the community that [they] live in and the community that [they] have created,” according to its website.
Apple picking at Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse
For those looking for a more classic fall activity, look no further than Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse. 30 minutes from Harrisonburg, Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse is home to a beautiful orchard that’s perfect for apple and peach picking, depending on the season. It’s also a family-owned business that’s been passed down through generations.
While its peaches are only in season during August, it has over 30 types of apples that you can choose from. From Galas to Granny Smiths, each variation has its own harvest times which can be found on the orchard’s website. Family Weekend falls around the time to pick its Golden Delicious and Jonagold apples. The harvest season for its apples ends around late October to
early November. The orchard is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week except Sunday, when it opens at 1 p.m.
Visitors can either directly harvest from the orchard or choose from crates of pre-harvested apples. The orchard measures the apples in bushels and pecks, and its pricing for each can be found on the website and in person.
Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse is home to much more than just its orchard full of apples and peaches. You can also visit Old Hill Cidery and try more than 10 crafted hard ciders. The cidery is always experimenting with and developing new flavors, which can be taste-tested exclusively on the farm when available. The flavors of cider include Virginia strawberry, Virginia peach, Virginia blackberry and Virginia cherry. Each cider is available during its respective season and can be bought in a pack of cans or a bottle.
A tasting room is located in the orchard’s heart, so you’ll be surrounded by the source of its rich ciders as you taste them. It also has nonalcoholic cider for a more family-friendly option. The website says its sweet cider is “sought-after and well-loved” among visitors and is available from early September through Christmas.
The orchard overlooks the Shenandoah Valley and “promises breathtaking views each day,” according to its website, as it wants customers to not only enjoy its products but also the environment that surrounds them. The orchard itself stretches 60 acres, including its cidery, greenhouse — which doubles as a wedding venue — and three vacation rentals.
There is a wide array of activities around Harrisonburg to fill your weekend such as hiking through the mountains, celebrating the cooler weather with autumn-themed events and taking advantage of apple season at an orchard. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
Hiking trails
There are plenty of activities for those who love nature in and around Harrisonburg. A popular choice is the many hiking trails near Harrisonburg — and some that are a further drive away. Hightop Mountain, Reddish Knob and Fridley Gap are just a few of the available options.
The hike up to Hightop takes about two to three hours to complete. It’s roughly 2.8 miles long and is about 40 minutes east of Harrisonburg. There’s a parking fee of $30, as it’s located in the Shenandoah National Park. According to Harrisonburg’s tourism website, the trail’s difficulty is moderate and the peak “stands at 3,296 feet, making it the highest peak in the South District of Shenandoah National Park,” with a full view of the skyline and other mountains.
Fridley Gap is a beginner-friendly trail that only takes about an hour to complete. It’s 25 minutes east of Harrisonburg and is located on the Massanutten Mountain in the George Washington National Forest; it requires no fee to enter or trek. The peak’s elevation is 153 feet, and the hike is only one mile long, making it an easier trail for hikers of all ages. There’s a swimming hole and a small waterfall located a half mile into the hike, providing refreshments to hikers on a hot, humid day.
Reddish Knob is another beautiful mountain to trek. It’s slightly farther than Hightop — about an hour away from the ’Burg. There’s no parking or entrance fee. Reddish Knob is also great for bird watching, as hawks, turkeys and a variety of different bird species are known to fly above the peak — or cut you off as you make your way up.
“I definitely think going to Reddish Knob is a perfect activity to do with friends and family,” sophomore media arts and design major Sophie Patch said, as she has visited the peak twice. “Every JMU student should go at least once to experience it.”
The highest elevation of the mountain is roughly 4,400 feet, and directions for trails and where to park can be found on Reddish Knob’s website. The high elevation offers a pictureesque view of sunrises and sunsets.
“Watching the sunrise at Reddish Knob was magical,” Patch said. “When going up everyone always thinks it’ll be a cloudy sunrise, but it always ends up clearing up right when the sun comes up and it’s super pretty.”
Fee-Free Day at Shenandoah National Park
If you’ve ever wanted to visit Shenandoah National Park but didn’t want to pay the $15 to $30 fee, Sept. 28 is your lucky day. It’s National Public Lands Day, which the park will celebrate with free admission.
National Public Lands Day focuses on preserving and restoring National Parks around the country. You can sign up to volunteer at any participating National Park if it’s hosting volunteering events. This doesn’t mean you have to volunteer to enter, however — entering the park is free for everyone, volunteer or not. You can hike, fish, bike and stargaze if the night sky is clear enough.
“Being near the Shenandoah Valley [and National Park], there are tons of amazing hikes with incredible views to see all the beautiful fall colors,” Patch said.
Harrisonburg and its surrounding cities offer a little bit of everything to please the entire family for the fall season. There are pumpkin patches and apple picking for those who are looking for something more classic, hikes for those itching for the outdoors, and live music and fire pits for those who just want to relax. Harrisonburg’s fall isn’t only beautiful, but also entertaining.
“When the trees turn different colors in Harrisonburg it becomes so pretty,” Campbell said. “It feels different than fall back home since it’s colder here. I feel there are enough fall-related activities here. I really like going to the corn maze, hiking and going to the amazing coffee shops in the area.”
CONTACT Nimrat Kaur at balgk@dukes.jmu.edu For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @BreezeJMU
from HIDDEN GEMS, page 6
Once replenished, Hotel Madison is more than worth peeking into, especially with live music events featuring Josh Davidson and the Ben Scott Trio planned for Family Weekend. If your family was lucky enough to secure a room for their Harrisonburg excursion, grace+main is worth making into a morning routine.
Newman Lake
Across the Bluestone area and through the Bridgeforth Stadium Breezeway lies one of the most picturesque spots on campus: Newman Lake. The roughly 10-acre body of water is an ideal spot to lay beneath the shadiness of trees and observe wildlife as a grand fountain spouts down in the distance. While swimming
is prohibited, any enthusiastic fisher family member can try their luck — with the proper licensing, of course.
If your family is looking for a picnic spot halfway through your tour, grabbing Chick-fil-A from the bottom floor of D-Hall or Panera from the ground floor of Dukes Dining and sitting by the water is an essential JMU move. Complete with views of Bridgeforth, this campus gem is great for secluding from the crowds and slipping into serenity.
ISAT Patio
Once trekking from one end of main campus to the other, you can continue your ascension across the bridge to east campus and King Hall. After grabbing a quick photo opportunity with Big Jimmy, you’ll reach the inside of King hall. While an academic building might not sound
like the most exciting stop on your hidden gems tour, upon the third floor of the building rests the ISAT Patio, a small oasis among the modern architecture of east campus.
A true jewel, the spot is home to a garden tended to by faculty and features 50 types of plants. Tables are also set for a rest from the tour and to field more questions from family. When making the transition into east campus, this spot is a must hit to show your student insight.
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
Truly going from one end of campus to the next, the final destination at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum is the grand finale. Located near the Atlantic Union Bank Center and Paul Jennings Residence Hall, the arboretum provides a forest escape whilst still being on JMU’s campus. The grounds are open every day from dawn to dusk
and inhabit trails throughout the entire property. Apart from trails is a pond and labeled foliage throughout the arboretum.
Currently, The Frances Plecker Education Center, open from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and near the pond, is presenting photography from Virginia-based photographer Caitlin Garvey. Throughout the weekend, the arboretum is also hosting a Fall Plant & Bulb sale. After a few trail loops, your family is sure to be leaving with a better insight into university life.
CONTACT Evan Moody at moodyte@dukes. jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @BreezeJMU
Harrisonburg has many hiking trails of various duration and rigor. Photos by Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum is open every day from dawn to dusk, providing a forest escape for students. Breeze file photo
Since U Been Gone
What the Dukes have been up to so far
Harrisonburg tourism economy continues upward momentum after 2023 peak
By K. MAUSER, MARY TOMAN & ISABELLA DUNN
The Breeze
While JMU has brought in quite a large amount of money for Harrisonburg, tourism isn’t solely due to Dukes.
Tourism Manager Jennifer Bell said the summer tourism is just as economically strong as the fall, winter and spring seasons. Harrisonburg’s mention in Southern Living Magazine, JMU’s time on ESPN Game Day and marketing on the rest stop off of I-81 are all contributors to the city’s expanding tourism industry, Bell said.
Last year alone, Bell said Harrisonburg made over $242 million from tourism which resulted in over $13 million in local taxes collected just from visitor spending. She added that Harrisonburg would love to continue growing outdoor recreation businesses such as the Shenandoah Bicycle Company located downtown.
In particular, Bell said this increase in tourism directly helps businesses financially, such as Harrisonburg’s 25 hotels, who find themselves housing these visitors.
“Hotel Madison’s Shenandoah Valley Conference Center is one of the hotels and businesses we work with and we try to promote,” Bell said. “If we can talk to one person and they bring a group of 200 people, that’s a great economic value to our community.”
Daniel Hayes, reservationist for Hotel Madison, said the hotel gets a “huge influx” of visitors during weekends, as well as JMU events such as Family Weekend and football games.
“Being this close to campus is a main reason for, I’d say, probably 60-70% of our clientele, whether it’s doing tours on JMU’s campus or just having accessibility for football games and things like that,” Hayes said.
After a drop in tourism since COVID, Hayes said he believes Harrisonburg’s economy will continue its climb.
Harrisonburg restaurants also benefit “enormously” from tourism, Bell said. She added that travelers who don’t stay overnight in Harrisonburg will still often stop in the Friendly City for a meal.
In order to keep bringing this income into the city and its citizens, she said Harrisonburg’s tourism committee used marketing techniques like partnering with social media influencers such as the Virginia Outdoor Adventures
podcast, as well as downloadable apps and brochures with information about local events for anyone — including locals — to use.
“A typical household pays about $950 less in taxes to get the same services because of the visitors coming here and spending money,” she said.
During COVID, Bell said the city also created Visit Harrisonburg VA! — an app designed to provide visitors and Harrisonburg residents with information about the community and its events — as a way to access information without stopping at the Visitor Center.
“Our calendar is focused on tourism, but we find locals just like to search on our app to see what’s going on in any given weekend because we put so much information up there,” Bell said.
Of course, JMU has also played a role in growing Harrisonburg’s tourism; in 2022, JMU attracted almost 300-thousand visitors throughout the course of the year, according to an economic impact study conducted by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
“While OECD (Office of Economic and Community Development) does not directly perform tourism marketing activities, we support localities throughout the Shenandoah Valley and the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) in connecting and coordinating with JMU,” Keith Holland, associate vice provost for research and innovation, wrote in an email to The Breeze.
OECD also worked with the University Economic Development Council (UEDC) in creating an “internal and external” survey that provided accounts for JMU specific strengths and opportunities for improvements, Holland wrote. This was done so in consideration with potential “economic development partners” in Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley Region.
“OECD is continuing to develop strategies and partnerships … that support economic vitality in the region,” he wrote.
Part of the university’s draw for tourists is the “types of things JMU has to offer,” Bell said, such as its amusements facilities and campus events.
“It isn’t just the dollars that visitors spend here,” Bell said. “It’s also what happens to those dollars in our local community.”
CONTACT K. Mauser at breezenews@gmail. com, Mary Toman at toman3ma@dukes.jmu.edu and Isabella Dunn at dunnie@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU.
Daniel Hayes, reservationist for Hotel Madison, said the hotel has an increase of visitors during weekends and JMU events, including football games and Family Weekend. Breeze file photo
New safety app puts campus security ‘at your fingertips’
By SIXUAN WU The Breeze
In addition to blue lights and safety escorts, the JMU Police Department (JMU PD) introduced a new safety app, JMU Shield, to its campus safety toolbox this semester.
The new app consolidates access to resources such as an area to contact emergency personnel, quick links to support resources like the Title IX office and OSARP, “take action” guidelines regarding different emergencies and a campus map. It’s “the only app that integrates with James Madison University’s safety and security systems,” according to the JMU Shield webpage.
“It’s an enhanced personal safety application that we have made available to all of our community members, our stakeholders, the people who have an interest in James Madison University,” JMU Chief of Police Anthony Matos said.
Shield is replacing JMU’s former app, LiveSafe, which JMU used for a decade. Matos said the police department wanted to develop an app that will “better inform” the JMU community and “provide what’s important to JMU students and to Dukes.”
After looking at safety apps used by universities nationwide, JMU PD assembled a team to “tailor [an app] specifically for JMU,” Matos said.
“I think the LiveSafe app has kind of run its course, especially [for] those [who] remember the days of COVID, when they used to call it ‘COVID Safe,’” Matos said. “So trying to shake off that stigma from LiveSafe, we switched over to JMU Shield. Not only is it a more robust platform, it’s a more user-friendly platform and offers more conveniences for our students and our community members to use.”
Safety resources for students and community
One of JMU Shield’s new features is the “friend walk.” This allows users to send their location to a friend through email or text message, and the friend can keep track of the user’s location.
Another new feature is called “social escape,” which allows users to get out of a tough social situation by receiving a phone call from JMU Shield. Users can enter their phone numbers and when they want to receive the phone call. They will then receive an audio message replayed multiple times that allows them to leave the situation.
The audio message says, “Thank you for using the Social Escape Function in JMU SHIELD by James Madison University. This feature allows you to escape from an awkward or dangerous social situation. We will now pause so you can acknowledge this call and inform those around you that you are leaving. You should now exit the social situation. Please leave the area,” according to the JMU Shield app.
The app also includes an “I’m OK” function in
its safety toolbox. Should an emergency occur, users can send their location and an “I’m OK” message to a recipient of their choice to inform friends and family they’re safe.
“I think that’s more of a comfort knowing that you have an all-in-one safety application at your fingertips,” Matos said. “I think the community will be much more satisfied knowing that the police department, the university, JMU administration is looking at their interests and their safety and prioritizing that.”
Graduate student and JMU PD’s Operations Manager of Communications Shauna Moore — who worked on JMU Shield alongside the app’s developer company and University Marketing & Branding — said one of the app’s biggest benefits is getting messages out quickly.
Moore said the app is integrated into JMU’s RAVE alert system, which allows the app to send out a push notification when emergencies occur, along with voice, email and text notifications that were already incorporated in the system.
“Whether it’s someone in the neighborhood, a student, a faculty member, a parent … they’re all going to get that notification at the same time, right away,” Moore said.
Moore said she believes it’s important not only for students to have JMU Shield, but their parents as well.
“For parents to have JMU Shield, that’s the way they can get all the notifications that their students are getting here, so they’re up to date on school closures, emergency notifications and anything else that’s going on around campus,” Moore said. “And then also for the community, because JMU works so closely with the local community, that they could also get those notifications because it might affect them as well.”
Sophomore Katherine Wamboldt said while she likes how JMU Shield has many safety features in one place, she isn’t sure how many students would actively use the app without promotion.
“I do think that [JMU Shield] could be very beneficial for students, especially with commuters,” Wamboldt said. “However, I don’t know how much it will be utilized if people aren’t super aware of it.”
Matos hopes that once students start downloading and using the app, JMU PD can better gauge how students are using its safety features. He also hopes the app will bring about an increased knowledge of safety and prevention for the JMU community.
“Safety can never be measured in quantity; safety has to be measured by quality,” Matos said. “We believe that JMU Shield provides our community members with the best possible way to help prevent crime, help keep them safe.”
Olivia Williams contributed to this report.
CONTACT Sixuan Wu at thebreezeculture@gmail. com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Ella Austin / The Breeze
If you seek tickets
The trials of getting a seat for Family Weekend game day
By LIBBY ADDISON
The Breeze
It’s football season, meaning students are back to confronting an issue they’re all too familiar with: the fight for football tickets.
“A lot of our peers would love to have the problem of getting 8000 students to a game and still having students who can’t get a ticket,” said Kevin Warner, associate athletics director for communications and strategic initiatives.
Approximately eight thousand tickets out of 25-thousand total seats in JMU’s football stadium are reserved for students, Warner said, which accounts for over one-third of the student body.
Despite this, students still struggle to get tickets. According to a poll conducted on The Breeze’s Instagram, 66% of 64 respondents did not obtain a free student ticket for the Ball State Family Weekend game. 64% of students also said it was hard for their families to purchase a ticket. Specifically, 94% of these respondents believed the football tickets went out of stock too quickly.
@Brusher.42 said the student tickets sold out too fast, and @Aliyahdavie said JMU’s ticket site “crashed” while trying to purchase a ticket.
In the poll, The Breeze also asked how Dukes felt JMU Athletics could change its ticketing system. @Juggybabas wrote that it should
“give priority to people who didn’t get tickets to the previous game,” and @Brusher.42 wrote that JMU needs more student seats.
Before JMU entered the Sun Belt Conference, tickets would only sell out to “really high-demand games” like the home opener and Homecoming, Warner said.
“The move to the sunbelt, and especially as quickly as we started winning at the FBS level, really quickly increased that demand for student tickets, which is great,” he said, adding that commitment from the student body is essential in creating an exciting atmosphere for the games.
As the demand for student tickets skyrocketed, Warner said the number of students who joined the Student Duke Club (SDC) also grew. He said Dukes who join the SDC get 24-hour advance access to student tickets and only have to pay $25 to join.
“Prior to the family weekend tickets being available last Monday, the 16th, we were up to 3500 Student Duke Club members,” Warner said, explaining this is the reason why Tuesday morning tickets were gone in “five minutes.”
Warner said he encourages students to join the SDC, as it helps students get priority after graduation. After a JMU SDC member graduates, they will still be prioritized for tickets as an alum.
“Where that matters is whether it’s the locations that are available to them to buy
season tickets once they graduate, or even a bowl game,” Warner said. “If we had a bowl game this year, access to purchase tickets to a bowl game starts with donors, before anybody who’s not a donor. And if you join the Student Duke Club, technically you’re a donor and those points count.”
Family members can also join the Duke Club to get earlier access to any tickets, Warner said, as it guarantees access ahead of anyone who isn’t an adult.
Warner said Dukes who want to get tickets for the game should purchase them the day they go on sale. He added that it’s important to plan ahead of time.
The next best opportunity for any family still looking for tickets for this year’s games is on SeatGeek, he said, as JMU has an official relationship with the site.
“Now SeatGeek being a secondary ticket broker, it’s all supply and demand. So if a game they feel is in high demand, so the people selling tickets for that game are going to list their tickets for a higher price,” Warner said. “JMU Athletics doesn’t control the price point.”
He said he doesn’t suggest families or students use places like Facebook resellers because those tickets aren’t guaranteed while SeatGeek’s are.
Warner said he believes the Thursday night Coastal Carolina game will have more ticket availability for students compared to other games since it’s more difficult for adults to travel from out of town to Harrisonburg on a weekday.
As demand increases, Warner said, “we’re having conversations about stadium expansion, but any kind of project of that magnitude takes time.”
Overall, he’s excited to see the rising demand for tickets and games increasing, “as we’ve moved up and as we’re having good success and seeing the people who want to be part of JMU football.”
CONTACT Libby Addison at breezenews @ gmail.com . For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Tickets for home football games are always on high demand, especially during Family Weekend. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
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The secret is out – CommonWealth One is here to help you thrive financially at JMU.
To open an account or learn more about JMU Student Perks, which include special events, free food and prizes, visit cofcu.org/DUKES or stop by our branch in The Union (next to the post office)
The Union (Next to the Post Office) Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm