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SOLO Bill concert set list released

Preparations for the Student Organizations Life Opportunity concert hosted by SGA are in full swing, but do students actually know the details? Finally, there are answers.The concert will be held at 7 p.m. April 5 at The Hooper Eblen Center, which has a seating capacity of 10,200. The Hoop will be opening its doors at 6 p.m., and the concert should begin around 7 p.m.

“We’re expecting about 3,000 to 5,000 people,” said SGA president Sean Ochsenbein, “and faculty can come, but they will probably have seating in the back where students won’t be.”

He also said that floor seating will be first come, first serve.

East Tennessee State University has held similar concerts in the past. Most of Tech’s planning for the concert is based on the prior experience and success of ETSU’s concerts.

SGA has made a contract with American alternative rock band, the Goo Goo Dolls, and Vertical Horizon, a rock band from Washington, D.C. to perform at the Hooper Eblen Center. Earlier this semester, when students were asked to vote on which band they would most like to see perform, the Goo Goo Dolls was not the first choice.

“The number one band the students chose was actually Maroon 5,” Ochsenbein said, “We put in a bid for them, and it looked like we were going to get them. Then they decided to do a European tour, and we did not have the kind of money to fly the entire band over.”

SGA is paying for the concert with money from the Student Organizations Life Opportunity Fund. Last year, students on campus voted and passed a rule requiring each student to finance the SOLO fund by charging a $20 fee each semester. The fund enables SGA to sponsor one major event on campus each semester.

Vertical Horizon is expected to be on stage for at least an hour before the Goo Goo Dolls performs. Ochsenbein expects the concert to last until 11 p.m. or later.

Although the concert is quickly approaching, uncertainty about how tickets will be distributed still exists. SGA is currently considering two separate methods.

“Students will either have to have an active swipe card to get in the concert, or they may come show their student ID and get two tickets–one for themselves and one for a friend,” Ochsenbein explained.

If it is decided that students may pick up tickets before the concert by showing their Eagle Card, then the concert will be open to all students, one friend of each Tech student, and faculty and staff. Ochsenbein said that the decision should be made within the next two weeks.

With such a large event taking place on campus, safety immediately becomes a primary concern to most students and faculty members. SGA is planning to have 20-30 police officers on duty at the concert.

“There will be law enforcement on the scene, but it’s still a place for students to have fun,” Ochsenbein stated. “We have to make sure everyone is acting accordingly.”

There may possibly be several unexpected surprises at the concert.

SGA is considering passing out free refreshments at the concert, such as pizza and a drink or food that may be catered by Chartwells.

Ochsenbein’s reasons for attending the concert seem to be endless.

“Basically, the students just need to show up,” Ochsenbein said.

More information about the concert will be available in coming weeks.