Due to the growing number of visitors attending the Chico State commencement ceremony each year, the university will limit the amount of people allowed to enter the stadium in order to avoid safety hazards.

President Paul Zingg announced today that the university will be ticketing visitors attending the graduation ceremony this year.

The tickets won’t cost money, but only five visitors per one graduate will be allowed to enter the stadium. Additional tickets will be available on a first-come basis to watch the commencement broadcast live at either Laxson Auditorium or Harlen Adams Theatre.

Emergency evacuation was the main concern for the new regulation, according to the campus-wide email sent out today.

“Simply put, there are now too many people at these events for the size and dimensions of the stadium,” Zingg said.

Each year, approximately 10,000 people attend the ceremony on Saturday and Sunday and the stadium holds about 8,000 seats. Those who can’t find seats, stand or sit on the tracks.

In order to eliminate the number of graduates and visitors at the stadium, the College of Agriculture will be having their own ceremony in Laxson Auditorium, Sat. May 17, 2014, prior to the ceremony starting at the stadium.

President Zingg said there will be TV screens at a campus outdoor site for others who want to watch the commencement. No tickets will be necessary for this.

Graduates can request stadium and other venue tickets on April 1.

Christine Lee can be reached at [email protected] or leechris017 on Twitter