20TH ANNUAL

Star Awards

It's time to reach for the stars and dazzle the PAC Community!

The Star Awards are a cherished tradition, celebrating incredible achievements across all client markets. Thanks to everyone who submitted nominations—we were blown away by the stories of innovation and excellence. After careful review, we’ve narrowed it down to our amazing set of finalists.

Meet the Winners!

Newcomer of the Year

University of Utah

Innovation of the Year

Tulane University: Limited-Edition Uniforms

Star of the Year

Auburn University

Spotlight Event of the Year

“Dolly: A True Original Musical” at The Fisher Center

Showcase Event of the Year

“Army Honors Coach K” at Army West Point

Headliner Event of the Year

Metallica “M72 World Tour” at Virginia Tech

Meet the Finalists.

Let’s make this year’s Star Awards unforgettable!
Thank you for voting! Make plans to join us at PACnet '26 where we'll reveal this year's winners!

Voting Closed!

Nominations and finalists will be honored during the annual Star Awards on Tuesday, February 24th, where winners will be announced.

Louisiana Tech University

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Louisiana Tech launched its Paciolan partnership with record digital adoption, including an 88% increase in online football renewals. As an early Digital Access Pass participant, the department introduced the Student Blue Bloods loyalty program using PAC iO Fundraising for attendance‑based points. In year one, LA Tech also expanded its integrated partner lineup with FEVO, VetTix, SeatGeek, and Sidearm while running a wide range of PAC iO Fundraising giving campaigns.

Tarleton State University

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Tarleton State’s Paciolan partnership powered a record‑setting 2025, highlighted by a new $130M Arena, best‑practice adoption across both ticket offices, and first‑ever online renewals for its D1 Football program. The team set new sales records in football, basketball, and volleyball, and surpassed 18,000 tickets sold for concerts and fine arts since June 1.

University of Utah

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Utah Athletics onboarded during one of their busiest periods and still delivered a smooth, innovative rollout of key Paciolan products. They transitioned all football season ticket holders during payment plan processing, implemented NFC and Apple Binding with 90%+ passes added to wallet, and sustained their football sellout streak through coordinated SeatGeek messaging. Utah also leveraged PAC iO Fundraising to capture unique gifts and Crimson Club luncheon reservations.

Coastal Carolina University

All Games. All Fans. Feast for Free Initiative

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Coastal Carolina’s All Games. All Fans. Feast for Free initiative offered free concessions to every fan at every home football game, redefining gameday value and eliminating friction. The program drove major growth, including a 14% rise in season‑ticket renewals, a 55% increase in new season‑ticket revenue, and 83% of fans scanned in before kickoff. It also boosted digital engagement with 23,751 new mobile‑app users.

Texas A&M University

Student Pull Process

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The 12th Man Foundation team successfully transitioned the Student Pull process to a fully online system after eight months of cross‑campus collaboration, product innovation, and high‑sensitivity operational planning. The new model enabled same‑day allocation of 40,000+ tickets each game week, powering seven regular‑season pulls and a CFP pull, resulting in 309,532 tickets pulled, 73,123 groups created, and 100% NFC delivery. The first online pull—executed by the 12th Man Foundation team—became the largest student pull in school history.

Texas Performing Arts

Immersive Walk-Through Event

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Texas Performing Arts managed Tim Burton’s The Nighmare Before Christmas Light Trail, making Austin the first U.S. city outside New York to host this immersive nighttime walk‑through event featuring illuminated scenes, projections, lighting, music, and 3D‑printed sculptures. The two‑month run sold exclusively on PAC Live with NFC‑only delivery, remote scanning, and a fully customized PYO setup across more than 20 nightly timed‑entry slots. Across 47 events, the experience sold over 82,000 tickets and processed over $3 million in revenue.

Tulane University

Limited-Edition Merch Campaign

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Tulane University Athletics leveraged momentum around its limited‑edition City Edition uniforms by selling helmets and jerseys through eVenue and the Wave Warehouse store. The campaign sold out its City Edition inventory within a month and moved 249 items between October 21 and December 31. Altogether, Wave Warehouse sales generated $261,000 for the Green Wave Talent Fund to support NIL opportunities.

University of North Texas

Green Lights Fund

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North Texas Athletics launched the Green Lights Fund as a new giving priority to support revenue‑sharing efforts with student‑athletes. Momentum surged through a dedicated Sidearm page and by directing Green Lights Gala revenue through PAC iO Fundraising. A $50,000 match from head coach Eric Morris, boosted by an additional $25,000 donor pledge, generated $75,000 in matching commitments.

Auburn University

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Auburn Athletics drove innovation and revenue across ticketing by launching five concerts and special events on PAC Live, introducing a college-first, PSL-style experience for MBB season ticket holders, and quickly creating wins through the rollout of Paciolan iQ. They modernized the Ballena selection process with a new mobile-friendly platform, partnered cross-functionally to execute renewals and campaigns aligned with the football coach hire, and delivered measurable results, with new revenue opportunities accounting for 25% of FY26 ticketing revenue to date.

Bowling Green State University

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Bowling Green pushed the envelope in 2025, elevating Falcon football by fully leveraging best-in-class ticketing tools and strategies to maximize sales and revenue. By adopting PAC Live with seat-level pricing, premium markers, and parking and donation add-ons, implementing VetTix, Vozzi, preferred partner integrations, and open distribution, and launching creative promotions tied to key moments — including early-bird pricing around the hire of Coach Eddie George and a viral “Pudge the Cat” moment — Bowling Green turned innovation into sustained momentum and year-round ticket growth.

Oklahoma City Civic Center & Music Hall

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Over the past year, OCCCMH fully leveraged the PAC ecosystem across marketing automation, Salesforce, reporting, digital marketing, digital ticketing, and hosted merchant services to unlock new revenue opportunities and elevate the patron experience. By implementing more sophisticated automation and Salesforce campaigns, expanding high-performing digital marketing efforts, streamlining settlements through HMS, and successfully transitioning Lyric Theatre Plaza event ticketing and donations into PAC, they delivered stronger revenue performance while better supporting their Resident Companies.

University of Nebraska

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Nebraska Athletics set a new standard for data-driven innovation in 2025 by embedding analytics into every aspect of its revenue strategy—from team structure and ticket pricing to fundraising and fan engagement. By successfully reorganizing ticketing and development operations, piloting Paciolan’s first-ever Ballena postseason selection process that generated $1.1M, and launching targeted email and donor campaigns that delivered record engagement, the department translated insight into impact. From personalized marketing initiatives like “Hottest Ticket of the Week” to high-visibility concert on-sales and volleyball reseating powered by modern donation tools, Nebraska Athletics proved that when data leads, performance follows.

Virginia Athletics Foundation

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Amid executive leadership transition, competitive headwinds, and operational constraints, the Virginia Athletics Foundation delivered a transformational year with record-breaking philanthropic results. By modernizing fundraising through PAC iO Fundraising, launching the Sabre Society, and introducing innovative revenue initiatives such as a credit card offset and commemorative brick campaign, VAF deepened donor engagement and generated new support. In close partnership with UVA Athletics and Paciolan, VAF unified its vision for donor impact and emerged stronger, more aligned, and positioned for sustained success.

The Fisher Center at Belmont University:

Dolly Parton Musical

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The world‑premiere run of DOLLY: A True Original Musical at Belmont University’s Fisher Center showcased the venue’s ability to deliver a major, high‑profile production with a seamless patron experience. The 49‑show run sold 77,000 tickets on a one‑month on‑sale timeline, extending two weeks due to nationwide demand from all 50 states. The production also drove significant audience growth, including 2,300 new patron accounts and nearly one million patrons reached at on‑sale.

Classic Center:

Authority for Athens - Clarke County - Megan Moroney Concert

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Akins Ford Arena’s opening year featured two sold‑out Megan Moroney shows, with the first selling out in minutes and prompting a same‑day build and sellout of a second show. Demand surged with more than 22,000 fans in the queue during public on‑sale, and dynamic repricing maximized revenue across both nights. SeatGeek GTV hit over $300,000 in value, as fans from all 50 states helped create two standout debut‑year events in Athens.

Temple Gardens Centre:

World Men’s Curling

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The World Men’s Curling Championship brought nine days of international competition to Moose Jaw’s 4,700‑seat arena, producing multiple sellouts and 80–95% attendance throughout the event. It generated record ticketing and food‑and‑beverage revenue while filling local hotels and restaurants and drawing visitors from around the world. The event unified the community and venue staff, earning praise from the city’s mayor for delivering an exceptional experience for fans and athletes alike.

Fox Theatre Atlana - Spotlight Event.png

Fox Theatre Atlanta:

Jeezy Concert

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JEEZY’s TM101 20th Anniversary Concert at the Fox Theatre became a signature Atlanta moment, selling out with Standing Room Only and drawing the city’s Mayor to celebrate a hometown icon. The show delivered an elevated experience with JEEZY performing alongside a live orchestra and fans treating the night like a gala. With $1.2M in revenue, 4,400+ tickets sold, and record Marquee Club performance, it reaffirmed the Fox as Atlanta’s premier home for milestone cultural events.

Army West Point:

Men’s Basketball vs. Duke

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The Duke at Army Men’s Basketball game on Veterans Day 2025 marked West Point’s first major non‑Navy sellout in over 30 years and included a special recognition of Coach K’s Army roots. With access limited to Army A Club members and season ticket holders, the game set a Christl Arena attendance record of 5,236. It also became the highest‑revenue basketball game in Army history, with resale prices averaging $150 per ticket.

Numerica Veterans Arena & NCAA:

NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional

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In partnership with the NCAA, Spokane Arena successfully hosted the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional Round, delivering a complex, multi-database event featuring eight Paciolan clients. All ticketing was executed through the NCAA database while seamlessly coordinating scanning operations with Spokane Arena, resulting in more than 38,000 tickets sold and distributed and an exceptional 89% scan rate. Fan demand extended into the secondary market, with 2,600 tickets resold on SeatGeek, generating over $222,000 in resale value—making this event a standout example of collaboration, execution, and scale.

University of Iowa:

WNBA Indiana Fever Exhibition Game

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The WNBA preseason game between the Indiana Fever and the Brazilian National Team marked Caitlin Clark’s return to Carver‑Hawkeye Arena and sold out within minutes through an exclusive on‑sale to Iowa WBB season ticket holders and donors. As Iowa’s first fully NFC‑implemented event, it moved more than 14,000 tickets and generated over $1.25 million in revenue. Strong secondary‑market demand followed, with 1,300 resales on SeatGeek at an average price of $354.

University of Montana:

Shania Twain Concert

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The University of Montana’s July 2, 2025 Shania Twain stadium concert delivered a high‑impact headliner event, drawing 20,331 fans and generating $1.8 million in ticket revenue and more than $380,000 in fees. With 1,434 Protecht insurance policies issued and strong operational performance, the event reinforced the stadium’s growing reputation as a premier concert venue. Shania’s $25,000 donation to Montana food banks added a meaningful community impact to an already standout event.

Oklahoma State University:

Boys from Oklahoma Concert

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The Boys from Oklahoma series delivered four sold‑out shows at Boone Pickens Stadium from April 10–13, 2025, becoming the largest ticketed event in the state of Oklahoma’s history. What began as a single planned show expanded to four after overwhelming demand and an Eloqua interest form confirmed fan momentum, with all dates selling out in just 48 hours of presales. Proceeds from the series directly supported Oklahoma State University’s NIL initiatives, extending the event’s impact beyond entertainment.

University of Pittsburgh

Football vs. Notre Dame

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Pitt’s November 15, 2025 game vs. Notre Dame delivered a true Headliner Event, highlighted by a 68,000‑seat sellout, a 91% redemption rate, and 95% digital ticket usage driven by the Pitt Ticket Office’s strategy. ESPN College GameDay’s first campus visit in 20 years, ACC Huddle on-site, and Aaron Donald’s jersey retirement turned the game into a cultural moment. By fully leveraging Paciolan’s Open Distribution capabilities, the team maximized revenue for this historic event, generating more than $200,000 in incremental revenue and setting a new benchmark with the highest number of open distribution transactions to date and more than $5 million in total event impact, it became the highest‑grossing event in Pitt Athletics history.

University of Wisconsin:

Coldplay Concert

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The Coldplay concert at Camp Randall Stadium on July 19, 2025 marked the stadium’s first concert since 1997 and generated extraordinary demand, with over 416,000 fans in the queue at on‑sale. The event sold out within hours, allowing Wisconsin to immediately leverage the SeatGeek integration and establish the show as the university’s first NFC events. It also delivered exceptional financial performance, more than doubling the average GTV of Wisconsin home football games.

Virginia Tech:

Metallica Concert

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Virginia Tech’s Metallica concert at Lane Stadium became the fastest‑selling event in Paciolan history and the highest‑attended live event ever in Virginia. The announcement sparked massive digital engagement, generating over 2.1 million impressions, 174,000 engagements, and more than 12,000 new fans added to the CRM through coordinated lead‑generation efforts. The concert delivered over $2 million in net revenue and a $4.69 million total economic and brand impact, cementing Lane Stadium as a premier touring venue.

Newcomer of the Year

University of Utah

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Utah Athletics onboarded during one of their busiest periods and still delivered a smooth, innovative rollout of key Paciolan products. They transitioned all football season ticket holders during payment plan processing, implemented NFC and Apple Binding with 90%+ passes added to wallet, and sustained their football sellout streak through coordinated SeatGeek messaging. Utah also leveraged PAC iO Fundraising to capture unique gifts and Crimson Club luncheon reservations.

Innovation of the Year

Tulane University: Limited-Edition Uniforms

View Details

Tulane University Athletics leveraged momentum around its limited‑edition City Edition uniforms by selling helmets and jerseys through eVenue and the Wave Warehouse store. The campaign sold out its City Edition inventory within a month and moved 249 items between October 21 and December 31. Altogether, Wave Warehouse sales generated $261,000 for the Green Wave Talent Fund to support NIL opportunities.

Star of the Year

Auburn University

View Details

Auburn Athletics drove innovation and revenue across ticketing by launching five concerts and special events on PAC Live, introducing a college-first, PSL-style experience for MBB season ticket holders, and quickly creating wins through the rollout of Paciolan iQ. They modernized the Ballena selection process with a new mobile-friendly platform, partnered cross-functionally to execute renewals and campaigns aligned with the football coach hire, and delivered measurable results, with new revenue opportunities accounting for 25% of FY26 ticketing revenue to date.

Spotlight Event of the Year

“Dolly: A True Original Musical” at The Fisher Center

View Details

The world‑premiere run of DOLLY: A True Original Musical at Belmont University’s Fisher Center showcased the venue’s ability to deliver a major, high‑profile production with a seamless patron experience. The 49‑show run sold 77,000 tickets on a one‑month on‑sale timeline, extending two weeks due to nationwide demand from all 50 states. The production also drove significant audience growth, including 2,300 new patron accounts and nearly one million patrons reached at on‑sale.

Showcase Event of the Year

“Army Honors Coach K” at Army West Point

View Details

The Duke at Army Men’s Basketball game on Veterans Day 2025 marked West Point’s first major non‑Navy sellout in over 30 years and included a special recognition of Coach K’s Army roots. With access limited to Army A Club members and season ticket holders, the game set a Christl Arena attendance record of 5,236. It also became the highest‑revenue basketball game in Army history, with resale prices averaging $150 per ticket.

Headliner Event of the Year

Metallica “M72 World Tour” at Virginia Tech

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Virginia Tech’s Metallica concert at Lane Stadium became the fastest‑selling event in Paciolan history and the highest‑attended live event ever in Virginia. The announcement sparked massive digital engagement, generating over 2.1 million impressions, 174,000 engagements, and more than 12,000 new fans added to the CRM through coordinated lead‑generation efforts. The concert delivered over $2 million in net revenue and a $4.69 million total economic and brand impact, cementing Lane Stadium as a premier touring venue.

Voting Closed!

Thank you for all the nominations submitted.