CORRECTION: A previous version of this story provided an incorrect date of Nov. 2.
A free pair of USC football tickets is being offered to all Long Beach City College students, faculty and staff members for the upcoming home game against Michigan State on Saturday and Nov. 7, against Northwestern.
Students and staff can use the code “COLISEUM” on the website FEVO to redeem their tickets, but ticket fees will still apply.
The offer is the result of a new partnership between LBCC and Reach Capacity, a company that provides exclusive access for free and discounted events to large organizations.
“To my knowledge, there hasn’t been any partnership as high level as this,” said Kal Stewart, LBCC’s director of athletics.
The partnership with Reach Capacity helps to fund LBCC’s athletic department, giving students access to programs like AD All Star Night, which Stewart created in 2021.
AD All Star Night gives LBCC’s student athletes the opportunity to talk to former collegiate athletes who have now gone pro.
“They (the students) get to tour the stadiums, and get advice on how to break into the industry directly from someone working at the job they love,” Stewart said.
During a tour of the LA Galaxy stadium, Stewart met Reach Capacity’s founder, Evan Flagg, which ultimately led to the current partnership.
Stewart says the school’s connection to Reach Capacity benefits everyone on campus, not just those who like football.
“Partnerships like this raise the profile of our athletic department and our school as a whole. It’s a competitive advantage coming to LBCC,” Stewart said.
The first full year of the partnership has been successful, according to Brendan Cotti, Reach Capacity’s client success manager.
“We’ve seen around 300 tickets unlocked,” said Cotti. “We offer discounts you wouldn’t be able to gain from a third party site like Ticketmaster.”
Flagg’s goal with the USC ticket offer is to bring the full joy of college football to as many people as possible.
“No sport has more pageantry than college football, from tailgating to sponsorship events. I know people who only come to the pregame activities and never make it into the stadium because it’s so much fun,” said Flagg.
Flagg hopes that students will be inspired to achieve their own goals by seeing athletes compete in person.
“We want this offering to facilitate imagination at LBCC. We’re trying to give students a launching point for their own journey,” said Flagg.
Whether attendees are football fans or not, Flagg says the overall experience is the most important aspect.
“You’re gonna eat something you love, you’re gonna hear the excitement of the crowd. You’re gonna go with your son or your best friend, and remember going to that event with them,” said Flagg.
Stewart echoed this sentiment, adding that events like these boost morale on campus.
“It benefits the students, faculty, and staff. Going to an event with friends or colleagues creates a sense of belonging and a positive environment,” Stewart said.
