To invest in the expansion of the Green Wave’s fan base, the Tulane Athletics Department is reaching out to a larger community of college students in New Orleans. Students enrolled in Dillard University, Holy Cross College, Loyola University, Southern University of New Orleans, University of New Orleans and Xavier University can obtain free tickets to home football games for the 2016-17 season.

Tulane students will be able to obtain their complimentary tickets first, and then students from eligible New Orleans colleges and universities will be able to pick up tickets from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning the Wednesday prior to home games at the Athletics Ticket Office on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center.

A limited amount of these free tickets will be available. Students must bring a valid school ID, and are allowed one ticket per ID but can also purchase a guest pass for $15. For the Green Wave versus Ragin’ Cajuns game this weekend, general admission tickets are currently posted online ranging from $14 to $54.

In the past, Tulane has invited students from other city colleges to its fall break football games, as many Tulane students are away during that time and the stadium is emptier.

According to Brandon MacNeill, executive associate athletics director for External Affairs, one of the athletic department’s biggest marketing goals each year is to get as many students to the home games as possible. The students’ presence in the stands creates a fun, festive environment in which other people in the community will want to participate.

“If the students come out, it changes the entire dynamic of the experience,” MacNeill said.

While Tulane is the only Division I football school in the city, Tulane is a private institution that recruits students from all over country, and even all over the world. Therefore, many Tulane students leave the city of New Orleans upon graduation and are no longer attending Green Wave games as alumni.

This initiative will give young football fans and local students a greater opportunity to become invested in the Green Wave community, and hopefully continue to cheer on Tulane’s teams after they have graduated college and chosen to remain in the greater New Orleans area.

“We have the seats;” MacNeill said. “If we don’t sell out our seats I’d rather give them away to another young person who may all of a sudden want to start cheering for Tulane, and if they stay in the city they may want to buy season tickets after.”

Athletics currently offers Young Alumni season passes for $100 per football season. These passes are designed for graduates of other colleges who live in the area and want a Division I team to cheer for.

By welcoming college students beyond Tulane into the Green Wave family, Athletics is investing in its future success as a brand and further unifying the city.