Virginia Tech Student Lottery: Understanding Eligibility and Accessing Athletic Events

Virginia Tech offers its students various opportunities to attend athletic events, fostering a vibrant campus community. This article outlines the eligibility requirements for student ticket lotteries, particularly focusing on football and basketball games, while also providing insights into on-campus housing options for returning students.

Athletic Event Access for Virginia Tech Students

All undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking students who have paid the University’s Regular Session Comprehensive Fee are granted free admission to all regular-season home athletic events, excluding men’s basketball. Students paying special session fees, who want access to ticket opportunities, may pay the Athletics portion of the Mandatory Fees or purchase tickets at the Athletics Ticket Office.

Football Games

To gain admission to football games, students present a physical valid student ID card at any of the gates for the ticket takers to scan upon entry.

Men's Basketball Games

Students utilize their SHOTS student ticket account to request tickets for men’s basketball games. Specific ticket request periods are set for students to have the opportunity to obtain tickets to home games. Each student may request 1 ticket for their own personal use. Should the demand for any game exceed the supply of available tickets, a lottery will be held to determine which students will have the opportunity to claim tickets to that game. Each student requesting a ticket during the specified request period will receive 1 entry into the lottery. Tickets not awarded to students (if available) will be made available during an On Demand period to students who were not awarded a ticket.

Student Ticket Lottery Details

For events with limited seating, such as the wrestling matches at the Moss Arts Center, a lottery system is used to distribute tickets. Here's a breakdown of the process:

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Lottery Sign-Ups: Lottery sign-ups begin at a specified time.
Eligibility: All undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking students who have paid the University’s Regular Session Comprehensive Fee are eligible to participate.
Sign-Up Process: Students log into the lottery page to select the matches they wish to attend.
Modification: Each match may be edited until the lottery cut-off date. So as long as the lottery hasn’t closed yet, you can remove yourself from consideration by logging back into the lottery page and unselecting the match you need to change.
Cut-off: Once the lottery cut-off has passed, no additional students will be allowed into the lottery.
Attendance Encouraged: Due to the limited number of student tickets, students are encouraged to only sign-up for matches they intend to attend.
Ticket Distribution: A lottery will be held to determine which students will have the opportunity to claim tickets to that game. Each student requesting a ticket during the specified request period will receive 1 entry into the lottery.

Important Considerations

Selling Tickets: Individuals that sell or attempt to sell a student ticket for profit are in violation of Virginia Tech Athletics’ student ticket use guidelines.
Student ID Requirement: Students must present a valid physical student ID that is in their name for entry. Students that do not posses in hand a valid physical student ID upon entry will be directed to the box office. Screenshots of student ID cards or providing the nine digit ID number to the ticket taker will not be accepted for entry.
Guest Tickets: Student guests may only enter with the student.

On-Campus Housing for Returning Students

Unlike incoming freshmen, on-campus housing is not guaranteed to returning or transfer students. Returning undergraduate students who would like to live on campus have several options. Students should log into the StarRez housing portal with their VT Username/password and 2-factor authentication.

Housing Options

Living Learning Programs (LLP): Students may apply to join a Living Learning Program for the following year. Each LLP has certain admission requirements, but all students are welcome to apply.
Housing Application Process (HAP): Students who are not interested in an LLP should use in the Housing Application Process (HAP).

The Housing Application Process (HAP)

The Housing Application Process opens in January for the following academic year. Entering the HAP does not obligate a student to live on campus. Once students complete their Housing/Dining Contract, they are committed to live on-campus. Students who want to live on campus should join the HAP. Students are strongly encouraged to read the myths and HAP Student Guide before entering the process. The Housing Application Process will occur during the first week of classes in January, and the results will be announced around February 1st. Students will be notified about whether or not they will be receiving an offer for on-campus housing. In the past several years, 30-75% percent of returning students who participated in the returning Housing Application Process received a contract offer. Later in February, if space permits, a second round of contract offers may be made using the HAP applicant pool. If students do not receive a contract offer by the end of February, they are encouraged to seek off-campus accommodations. Students who did not enter the application process may place their names on a waiting list.

On-Campus vs. Off-Campus Housing

It is true that some students choose to live off-campus after their freshman year. For others, the convenience on-campus housing provides with location, utilities, simplified billing, Residential Well-being Student Leader support, and other amenities have them choosing to live on-campus past their freshmen year. Students who decide to move off-campus are still eligible to purchase a dining plan. Some students also find it helpful to return to on-campus living after spending a year or two off-campus. Students do not have to live on campus consecutive years. It can be a great learning experience to live off-campus, but students may find that the benefits of on-campus living can outweigh the stressors and inconveniences of living away. Although special offers can seem more attractive, parents and students are encouraged to compare costs from several local apartment communities with on-campus housing costs and compare not only the rent but utilities and the convenience of on-campus housing and dining options.

Off-Campus Housing Considerations

The housing market in Blacksburg follows the "college town" academic year cycle. Many off-campus leases run from August to August to maximize occupancy in the off-campus market. Unlike the on-campus academic-year-only leases, most off-campus facilities require a 12-month lease. Some off campus students will decide to stay in Blacksburg over the summer while others will attempt to find a sublease, if allowed, for their apartment. We encourage students who are interested in pursuing a co-op or study abroad opportunity to live on-campus, as on-campus contracts can be suspended during their absence. While premium locations, based on amenities or proximity to campus, do fill earlier than others, off-campus student housing has traditionally continued to be available in Blacksburg into the spring and summer months.

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