A SLU Debate: The Ticker vs The Hoot (and Why The Hoot Might Be a Better Choice)

While it’s easy to favor one more than the other, SLU’s two main locations of party scenes are not necessarily debatable. It’s not a matter of The Ticker is better than The Hoot or vice versa, but how they are simply showing that they are incomparable. Both provide different atmospheres is based off of personal preference. It simply cannot be proven that one is better than the other because it depends on what you as a student are looking for.  

The Ticker offers more of a dancing or intense party scene. I don’t know about you guys, but unfortunately, I don’t have the stamina for that all the time. The Hoot provides a different option, or should I say multiple different options. The Hoot is well known for its chill vibes and game scene. The variety of games include pool, corn hole, and even sports games played on their multiple TVs.  

Students go to the Hoot to catch up with friends without having to get drunk out of their minds or even drink at all. This can promote responsible drinking and growth towards maturity. The first thing I was told when I came to SLU was that I could not go to The Ticker sober. I was confused, I asked why. The answer was that it would traumatize me because students at the Ticker are not human. This shows that the atmosphere at The Hoot is more of a family friendly place where yes, you would encourage your parents to come for parents’ weekend. At the Ticker, not so much. And while The Hoot may not be a full dancing scene, I have seen students at the Hoot dance to their own song requests made at the juke box. Unfortunately, the old Ticker DJ won’t let you go near his table to make song requests without barking at you. To be honest, I don’t blame him.  

Both the Ticker and the Hoot seem to both be quite historic to Canton. However, this is better shown at the Hoot with its cool environment being an old train station. Additionally, there is donated art throughout the years from sororities, theme houses, sports teams, and fraternities plastered on the walls. Unfortunately, The Ticker walls are pretty empty because like I’ve said before, the students in there are like caged animals and might tear down anything posted up.  

Because the whole point of the affirmatives is about atmosphere, The Hoot provides a more logical floor layout to keep for their open and relaxed ambience. The Ticker, on the other hand, has multiple rooms with very narrow hallways that we have all tried to push through when at full capacity making it a tad claustrophobic. However, like I said, it depends what atmosphere you’re looking for!  

With this layout comes the whole bathroom stitch at The Ticker, which, I’m sorry to say, is just a major disadvantage for all ladies desperately needing to go with only one toilet provided. Just wait till you’re 21 ladies, two bathrooms is a game changer at The Hoot! 

Overall, both very different atmospheres are exciting and fun in their own ways, it all just depends on what your needs are as a student for a night out in town. But if you really had to decide between The Hoot or The Ticker… just know that you will never get your personal belongings stolen at the Hoot!