NCAA adopts unique ticketing system, eyes SM Arena

MANILA, Philippines - The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) yesterday announced big plans ahead, coming up with an environment-friendly ticketing system for the 87th season and tapping a new, state-of-the-art venue for next year’s hostilities.

In keeping with the league’s “going green” thrust, NCAA policy board president Anthony Jose Tamayo and athletic director Michael del Mundo of host Perpetual Help signed an agreement with SM Ticketing’s Henry Lapis, West Avenue Theaters Corp’s Edgar Tejerero, San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora and The Arena general manager Lyn Manansala for a ticket-on-demand scheme for this year’s games.

“This is our answer to the issue on unsold tickets building up and kept in storage every year. With our new ticket-on-demand service, we can save on paper, help save trees, and make the NCAA a green league,” del Mundo said in the signing/press conference at the SM Mall of Asia IMAX Theater.

Aside from providing the ticketing service for the NCAA season that begins July 2, the SM Group will also help the country’s oldest collegiate league and the Arena market its activities at various SM malls.

“We are committed to help provide full marketing support for the NCAA and the San Juan Arena. We’ll help them promote their activities in our cinemas, website, and on-ground at the malls,” Tejerero said.

The NCAA, through Fr. Vic Valvo, athletic director of Season 88 host Letran, and the SM Group also made public a partnership that will bring the NCAA games to the soon-to-be-opened Mall of Asia Arena next year.

“We’d like to try something new and give both athletes and fans a good experience in the state of the art Mall of Asia Arena,” said Calvo, who considered the 20,000-seater venue a prime venue for the league’s major games.

“Its proximity is a prime consideration, being that most of our member schools are located in this area. And number two, we want fans and viewers to be comfortable.”

Mall of Asia Arena will open in May 2012, featuring prime equipment and amenities for both sports and entertainment.