Two hundred and sixty students in dresses and suits attended Winter Formal Saturday night at The Plex, a large indoor sports complex in San Jose.
To many, the indoor sports complex venue failed to bring the ceremonial atmosphere expected of a formal event, a sentiment that was reflected in the steep drop in ticket sales. This year’s ticket sales were down substantially — 534 were sold last year when the event was held at Gilroy Gardens.
As soon as students were admitted, they scattered across The Plex’s lit activity areas. Some drifted around the rollerskating rink, while others competed in the arcade or raked food at the buffet.
Around 7 p.m., most made their way to the buffet for dinner. The buffet accumulated mixed reactions — although there was plenty of variety, many believed it was too casual for a formal event, with sushi, pizza, wings and churros being served.
“The churros were really dry and there were only three types of sushi,” sophomore Roger Xu said. “Overall, the food was a major letdown and didn’t match what many of us expected from a formal event.”
Besides the food buffet, there were arcade games, rollerskating and photo booth opportunities.
Many students had varied reactions to rollerskating. Its popularity had many waiting for nearly 15–30 minutes to check out skates. Students could choose between quad skates or inline skates, and many chose quad skates as it was easier to learn. The rink remained consistently crowded and was one of the most lively and well-received activities of the night.
The Plex’s arcade quickly became a popular spot. As the lines for skating grew longer, students made their way to the arcade. It was filled with classic games such as air hockey, basketball hoops and racing games that kept the space energetic.
Near the end of the night, many students were drawn to the photo booth, posing against the starry background. As it gained popularity later in the night, the wait grew very long, stretching up until the dance eventually came to a close at 10 p.m.
Student leaders anticipated selling around 400 tickets, but the abnormally low turnout means they now expect an expected loss of around $15,000, with prices ranging from $90 to $130 according to Liang.
To address this, junior class representative Eric Liang and others held a class meeting a few days before sales ended to discuss strategies for improvement.
“We couldn’t change the venue this late, so our biggest influence was how we, as Leadership, represented the event,” Liang said. “As our words affect how others perceive it, we spoke with enthusiasm — always encouraging people to go.”
Low ticket sales for this year’s winter formal will affect the ability to invest in next year’s formal, as the dance commission will need to make up the loss. Dance commission head Diya Ravi said this will influence future decisions about booking venues and budgeting for upcoming school social events.
Reflecting on the event, Liang believes while activities matter, choosing a venue with better atmosphere would make next year’s event more successful.
Said Liang: “The atmosphere is the most essential aspect of Winter Formal. The Plex may offer activities, but as an indoor sports complex, its environment didn’t suit a formal event. Next year, choosing a well-known venue with better scenery will better match the tone of a formal dance.”
