By Andrew Pillow

UK vs. Alabama football updates weren’t the only topics found in student text messages during Saturday’s game.

GuestAssist is a service provided by UK Athletics that allows Commonwealth Stadium attendants to text message stadium operations personnel information about locations or call attention to unruly fans on gamedays.

Kevin Saal, an event manager with UK Athletics, said the interface should be familiar to fans.

“It’s one-to-one text communication just like you would use with your friends,” Saal said. “The difference is that it goes to a server monitored here at the stadium. Our operator will relay that information.”

By text messaging “CATS” to 78247, fans can use the program for a range of issues, from general gameday information to safety concerns.

Brittany Moses, a pre-pharmacy sophomore, said the program was a good idea.

“I’m glad to know it’s out there because it’s a really handy resource,” Moses said. “I think once people find out about it, it will really take off.”

Saal said GuestAssist allows fans to report security concerns such as smoking or behavior issues without fear of repercussions.

“There’s some anonymity to that, which is a good quality for (it),” Saal said.

The server will be operated by Commonwealth Stadium operations staff and will behave in a similar manner to a police dispatch, Saal said.

“It will be no different than monitoring calls for police,” Saal said. “We will have a GuestAssist dispatch (person).”

The new program has been put to the test twice this season with success: during the Florida and Alabama football games.

“We did a trial for the Louisville game, we started last week with Florida and we will continue on,” Saal said.

Fans can expect fairly speedy response times.  Confirmation texts have come at an average of 12 to 15 seconds from the time the text is sent from the fan. Saal said the average conversation may be three texts at most.

Most cell phones work with the new GuestAssist program.  The primary carriers have been boosting reception in and around the stadium, Saal said.

There are currently no plans to use the GuestAssist program in Rupp Arena or any other sporting events, Saal said.

“Right now strictly at Commonwealth Stadium,” he said. “We don’t anticipate it being used anywhere but football.”

GuestAssist was started to help fans on gamedays, not to spy on students, Saal said.

“We decided to do this so that we could have another layer of communication between our loyal fans and stadium operation,” he said.