In keeping with Southeastern Conference policy, Thompson-Boling Arena will be entirely smoke-free for all athletic events this season.

In the past people who wished to smoke could exit the arena to a designated smoking area and re-enter for the rest of the event.

The new policy requires anyone who has to exit the arena during an SEC athletic event to purchase a new ticket in order to re-enter, regardless of their reason for leaving. UT is the seventh SEC school to implement such measures.

"It is a policy of the Southeastern Conference to not allow pass-outs," Elizabeth Davis of UT media relations, said, adding that having a smoking area outside the arena "would not fall into what is allowed by that rule."

It is a policy of the Southeastern Conference to not allow pass-outs.
Elizabeth Davis, UT public relations

"We're hoping that this rule will not prevent people from wanting to come to a game," Davis said. Most basketball games last about two hours.

The new policy does not affect smoking rules during special events and concerts, so long as they are not SEC-sanctioned events. It will affect all basketball and volleyball games, which have moved from the Stokely Athletic Center to Thompson-Boling Arena this year.

The new policy makes Thompson-Boling the seventh athletic center on campus to ban smoking, joining Neyland Stadium, Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Regal Stadium, Lee Stadium, Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center and Varsity Courts.