The ticket allocation policy adopted by the Athletics Department in 2004 required that, beginning with the 2006 football season, all sideline seats would require a minimum donation to the Volunteer Student Athletic Fund (VASF), with the amount being set by the desirability of the seats. Effective for the 2004 football season, grandfathered sideline ticket holders could elect to make a contribution discounted from the contribution amount required of a new ticket holder, or they could purchase only two sideline seats, with the remainder being moved to the end zone for 2004 and 2005, and they would have to make a contribution to retain the two seats thereafter.
The Athletics Department indicated that the additional revenues from the ticket allocation system would fund operating expenses of the department and renovations of Neyland Stadium. State Senator Tim Burchett requested that the program that deals with grandfathered ticket holders be reviewed by the legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee.