Welcome to Zona Zoo 101, where you’ll find out exactly what the Zona Zoo is, how to get in and, most importantly, how to get the most out of the experience.
Sit down and take notes, this one’s going to fun. (And there’s no outside reading required!)
First, you’re probably wondering what Zona Zoo is. Simply put, it’s the University of Arizona’s student section. There are more than 12,000 members, making it the largest student section in the Pacific 10 Conference, knocking off schools like USC, Washington and even ASU.
More importantly to you, it’s the only student-ticketing program. It offers you a way to gain access to the games you’ll want to see this season.
Getting in
There are two ways to get tickets to athletic events on campus. You have the option to choose between the “”Red”” Zona Zoo pass and the “”Blue”” Zona Zoo pass. The pass makes you eligible to get into sporting events.
They key word here, though, is eligible.
Just because you have a Zona Zoo pass — which by the way, is your CatCard, so there’s another incentive not to lose the most valuable piece of plastic you’ll get in college — doesn’t mean you’re able to just walk in.
Zona Zoo operates on a first come, first served basis. For football, the student section is limited to 10,000 fans. For basketball, the number is limited to approximately 2,290. All Zona Zoo passes can be purchased online at arizonawildcats.com under the Zona Zoo tab, by calling 520-621-CATS or by visiting the ticket office at McKale Center. You’ll need your CatCard number as well as your student ID number. They go on sale around the time freshmen orientation begins.
‘Red’ Zona Zoo
So why are there two options for Zona Zoo? The “”Red”” Zona Zoo pass makes you eligible to attend men’s basketball games, which accounts for the difference in price. Here’s a breakdown of the benefits from the “”Red”” pass:
• Eligibility to get into any regular season, home athletic event
• A free Zona Zoo T-shirt
• An online newsletter from Zona Zoo with information about upcoming events
• Invitations to special Zona Zoo events
• Priority for men’s basketball UA student Holiday Packs and post-season tournament tickets
‘Blue’ Zona Zoo
The only thing the Blue Zona Zoo pass doesn’t have is eligibility to get into men’s basketball games. Otherwise, “”Blue”” Zona Zoo members have the same benefits at “”Red”” Zona Zoo members.
Non-Zona Zoo sports
In case you’d like to go to sporting events that don’t require you to have a pass, take this little footnote: Admission to swimming and diving, track and field, cross country, tennis and golf matches are all free and open to anyone.
