RUMOUR: Grad Ball at OCEANA?

A SUSU insider has told The Tab it is “almost certain” that this year’s Graduation Ball will be held at Southampton’s largest nightclub, Oceana.

We asked Union President Sam Ling to confirm or deny this scurrilous speculation. He said:

Oceana is one of a number of venues being considered fairly seriously

There we have it, ish. Many students will be skeptical of the Leisure World mega-club, but Sam goes on to explain:

The venue itself surprisingly offers a much larger capacity than some of the alternative options (around 3200), and would offer the chance of a good quality venue, which would need far less budget going into basics (drapes, temporary bars, tech hire, toilets in the case of outdoor locations) and much more available to be spent on the things that make the night truly amazing, such as acts, entertainment, experiences etc

Like the AU Ball, the choice of venue is always contentious. In 2010, the Guildhall hosted the ball over two nights, causing issues for those who wanted to see all their friends in the same place in one night. Last year’s event was held in the cavernous City Cruise Terminal, which more resembled a warehouse than a party venue!

Sam tells us that details will be forthcoming by the end of term. I wouldn’t worry too much about the ball, this year’s sabbatical team appear to be a safe pair of hands when it comes to event planning. The Cube has been a massive success this year, so hopefully that will instill some confidence.