An example of collateral damage with the reseating...

[dawgstudent]

A friend of mine's family was ranked around 125 in the Bulldog Club. They did not give to the TTF initiative which means they didn't agree to the 25K over 5 years. So those that do agree to give to TTF were able to pick before him regardless of Bulldog Club rank. He had club Level seats on the 50 but it appears when it his time to pick, he will have seats on the 20.

I don't know if there was a good way to take into account previous donations alongside those new donors that wanted to do the TTF but you could upset some longtime donors. Just interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

Sounding more and more like the scoreboard club was the route to go.

 

[MedDawg]

I just picked and I'm moving from the 28-30 yard line to (inside of?) the 10 yard line. The middle 3 sections (120, 121, 122) are all taken and they are working on 119 and 123 now. I asked for back row first and they were all taken past the goal line.

 

[57stratdawg]

That's for grandstand sections or club level?

 

[MedDawg]

Club level...

I'm not happy about it, but I'll still enjoy being there.

Still ok seats, except now I'll be on the South end of the CL with the freaky people.





Heh, just kidding. I have spent the whole 13 years in the CL on the North end, though.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

Is that east side or west side med?

 

[MedDawg]

East*

nm

 

[Fighting Irish.sixpack]

Wow! I will get the screws put to me tomorrow............

They have taken out of the equation "what have you done for me in the past?" With the $25,000 requirement, it is "what have you done for me lately?"

I also know of 3 people in the Top 150 who have given way more than $25,000 over the course of their lifetime (one person has given upper 6 figures over the course of 40 years) who did not make a contribution to the campaign who went from section 121 to 119, and they were not happy about it at all. I know of someone in the 400's who is now sitting on the 10 yard line.

I still can not figure out why they did not come up with a way to incorporate past donations into this, but money is money.

f 300 people pledged $25,000, that's $7.5mm. With that $7.5mm, I expect to hire a basketball coach who can recruit and win, not a no named assistant from an ACC school. I also expect to be able to pay and keep good football assistants, instead of hiring these young 20 somethings from no name mid major schools.

Looks like I will be paying $3,500 a year to sit in Section 117 or 125, which is not worth that kind of money at all!!

 

[57stratdawg]

Have you heard anything on scoreboard club? How's it filling up? I was under the impression there was still inventory to sell up there.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

Still a few hundred left I believe. I think after it plays out, those of us who moved over to scoreboard will be pleased.

Im still not crazy about end zone premium seating but the free for all going on on the east side club level is what I was worried about.

 

[57stratdawg]

Yeah, we have a group of 8 or 10 trying to sit together. Was told it would be no big deal, but with 2 days of calling left - starting to have my doubts.

 

[121Josey]

A couple questions. I'm looking at ways to average out the cost of the pledge.
1) Does the 25K have a limit on the number of tickets one may purchase?

2) What happens after 5 years? If you tell me that I can go from below average seating to premium 50-yard line seating for the next 20-25 years on $25k, the costs start to look better - especially with inflation over the past decade.

However, if demand doesn't sustain itself throughout this decade...

 

[Wicked Pissah]

They dont start the scoreboard club seating until tomorrow at 2

 

[GoodPadLevel]

Just wait until they start on the west side where some of those people have had the same seats for generations. That's when the real fun starts. With that said, I really believe that many people in Section D will miraculously keep their same seats no matter what their ranking happens to be.

 

[tcdog70]

Just wait until they start on the west side where some of those people have had the same seats for generations. That's when the real fun starts. With that said, I really believe that many people in Section D will miraculously keep their same seats no matter what their ranking happens to be.

Basketball reseating part 2--you see what the basketball re-seating did to the HUMP. it is now real easy to sit at home and watch on TV and not put up with all the fan unfriendlyness of MSU.

 

[johnson86-1]

A friend of mine's family was ranked around 125 in the Bulldog Club. They did not give to the TTF initiative which means they didn't agree to the 25K over 5 years. So those that do agree to give to TTF were able to pick before him regardless of Bulldog Club rank. He had club Level seats on the 50 but it appears when it his time to pick, he will have seats on the 20.

I don't know if there was a good way to take into account previous donations alongside those new donors that wanted to do the TTF but you could upset some longtime donors. Just interesting to see how this all plays out.

I don't now why they didn't simply take into account all time donations. Have a realistic minimum annual gift to keep each set of tickets and then do priority based on all time giving. You'll still be giving an edge to people that donate more recently, because inflation will have made their gift less costly.

I understand the way they did it gives people an incentive to up their donation now, but it should also give pause to people that intend to give early and often. I'd like to think that in another 15 years, a $25k pledge over five years will be a much smaller sacrifice for me than it would be now. Rather than build up points now with steady donations, maybe I should save my money and hope they do something similar in the future, maybe with a South EZ expansion?

If people that have been making annual giving a priortiy for a long time stop giving because other people are not only allowed to make 'catch-up' contributions but past giving is practically ignored, I can't blame them. If MSU doesn't appreciate what they've done in the past, why should they keep giving? And again, this all assumes your annual giving requirement for each ticket is high enough that people can't simply sit on tickets because they gave money in the past.

 

[Freezus H. Christ]

I said 17 the Bulldog Club and decided not to buy tickets anymore. The money I spent on my BDC donation and tickets in one year will more than cover the cost of a new 80" TV, so I will just enjoy the games from home now and not have to worry about loading up and driving to Starkville through all those speed traps along Hwy 82

 

[whistlerdog]

I picked around 4:30 today. Rank is just over 1,000 and got our 4 seats in sec. 119 mid row. Not a $25,000 pledgor to the cause but did have to pledge about half of that last year to pick up a 4th CL ticket. They were working on 119 and 124 at the time. We've been in sec. 125 since 2005 so it is some improvement as we couldn't even see the jumbotron before from our seats. There are going to be a lot of hurt feelings when this is all over.

 

[MississippiHeavyMetalDog]

Didn't we all know the rules before this started?

If you want to pick first, pay $25K over 5 year period. I've sat on the 20 yard line for 10 years in old section E even though I had tried to move up for years. I didn't like that system. Now, I get a chance to move up. It costs money but at least I can. Basketball reseating has NOTHING to do with the lack of attendance. It is directly related to the product on the floor.

 

[00Dawg]

Unless someone specifically told him differently,all TTF folks did not get to pick CL before current CL holders. All CL seat holders were guaranteed the ability to keep seats somewhere in the CL, otherwise, you'd have some current CL holders forced out despite large annual commitments. Now, TTF donors already within the CL may be picking before him, but "regardless of rank" is a definite misnomer.

 

[RocketDawg]

That wasn't supposed to happen according to what they told me. They said existing CL members would have priority over everybody, but you would be ranked within other CL members based on BDC priority. Apparently that's not true. My selection is at 9:20 tomorrow morning. Looks like I might plan on not renewing (or pledging) next year.

 

[RocketDawg]

I buy two CL tickets. Since I give a little more than the CL minimum, total cost to MSU for me is about $5K. Hotels for 7 games in Tupelo run around $1K (much higher in Starkville). And driving at 50 cents/mile is around $200/game, or $1400/year. Total is about $8K/season when food is added. I will most likely join you next year.

 

[tcdog70]

Didn't we all know the rules before this started?

If you want to pick first, pay $25K over 5 year period. I've sat on the 20 yard line for 10 years in old section E even though I had tried to move up for years. I didn't like that system. Now, I get a chance to move up. It costs money but at least I can. Basketball reseating has NOTHING to do with the lack of attendance. It is directly related to the product on the floor.

nothing, in Caps--wow. So I guess you have facts to back up that strong NOTHING. Because I believe it did has something to do with not only attendance but atmosphere. How long have you been attending Basketball games? And do you have season tickets.

 

[RocketDawg]

I think it's kinda funny, and maybe even unethical, that we had to pledge before the seat selection. They could have "frozen" contributions before seat selections were made. But they knew they'd lose a lot of money that way. Next year's donation levels might be interesting.

 

[snoopdog]

I can guarantee this...

I think it's kinda funny, and maybe even unethical, that we had to pledge before the seat selection. They could have "frozen" contributions before seat selections were made. But they knew they'd lose a lot of money that way. Next year's donation levels might be interesting.

If my seats are worse in any way, then I am done with season tickets and giving. I will not be jerked around. They got me this year, but that will be it.

 

[Dawgbite]

This is making the Scoreboard Club look better and better. Mark it down, after this year the Scoreboard Club will require a long term commitment to get in the door. Not just the per seat requirement.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

This is making the Scoreboard Club look better and better. Mark it down, after this year the Scoreboard Club will require a long term commitment to get in the door. Not just the per seat requirement.

Reason I made the switch to the scoreboard club.

 

[MississippiHeavyMetalDog]

nothing, in Caps--wow. So I guess you have facts to back up that strong NOTHING. Because I believe it did has something to do with not only attendance but atmosphere. How long have you been attending Basketball games? And do you have season tickets.

Since the 80's.

Not anymore. (My seats were in the upper section prior to the reseating because my Grandpappy didn't get me seats when they built the Hump that I, and all my future legacies, would be ENTITLED
to after he left them to us.)
You can't change your entitled seats, but you can always give more. The negative is the 1%ers can't rock it like those "legacy squatters" could back in the good ole days.

 

[Tsunhater]

Whistler

I picked around 4:30 today. Rank is just over 1,000 and got our 4 seats in sec. 119 mid row. Not a $25,000 pledgor to the cause but did have to pledge about half of that last year to pick up a 4th CL ticket. They were working on 119 and 124 at the time. We've been in sec. 125 since 2005 so it is some improvement as we couldn't even see the jumbotron before from our seats. There are going to be a lot of hurt feelings when this is all over.

Are you sure you were seated in Section 119. My Rank is just over 900 and I picked around 3:40. I was told that 118 and 124 were the closest to the 50 left. I am just wondering how you got section 119 and I was forced to choose 118. If that is true somebody in the Bulldog Club has some explaining to do. Could you please confirm Rank and Section?

 

[RocketDawg]

What they should have done was make the pledge per seat different for each section, i.e., Section 121 (which straddles the 50) would cost the most, 120 & 122 next, etc. Or ... go by lifetime total donations, not a $25K pledge over 5 years.

The $5K per year for 5 years is only slightly more than a commitment required for 2 CL seats. Many have 3 or more seats (I know of one family who has at least 8 seats, counting infants. Are they automatically TTF?) so they meet the $5K/year criterion already.

 

[Dawg1976]

I said 17 the Bulldog Club and decided not to buy tickets anymore. The money I spent on my BDC donation and tickets in one year will more than cover the cost of a new 80" TV, so I will just enjoy the games from home now and not have to worry about loading up and driving to Starkville through all those speed traps along Hwy 82

I'm afraid I fall into this category too. I've gone to a lot of games over the years, but the cost and travel hassels have done me in. I still tag along with a friend and go to a game or two, but the cost of tickets and donations required to get good tickets have done me in. I'll just walk the beach in the morning and watch the game on tv later in the day. I still donate, just not enough to get good tickets.

 

[woozman]

A couple questions. I'm looking at ways to average out the cost of the pledge.
1) Does the 25K have a limit on the number of tickets one may purchase?

Pretty sure the answer to this one is no. A buddy of mine wanted more tickets than he had been buying in the past because his kids are older now. He gave the $25K pledge specifically because he was told that if he did so he could buy as many tickets together as he wanted.

 

[Freezus H. Christ]

It wasn't cost that got me. It was being told I couldn't add 2 tickets to cover my 2 youngest kids that made my mind up. I've got 4 young potential future MSU students that will probably never see the campus again now

 

[drail14me]

I picked around 4:30 today. Rank is just over 1,000 and got our 4 seats in sec. 119 mid row. Not a $25,000 pledgor to the cause but did have to pledge about half of that last year to pick up a 4th CL ticket. They were working on 119 and 124 at the time. We've been in sec. 125 since 2005 so it is some improvement as we couldn't even see the jumbotron before from our seats. There are going to be a lot of hurt feelings when this is all over.

If you are ranked in the 1000's of the BDC then how have you already picked? I'm in the low 800's and I've not received my time to pick?? Never mind, you are in the Scoreboard Club, East Side Club picking time. The rest starts next week.

 

[drail14me]

Delete

 

[Bigedawg]

I have been in the same seats in the club level since it's inception in 2001. Over the years, we have gotten to be great friends with most of the people in our section. Everyone I sit around has rankings in the top 600. I picked Tuesday at 11 and had to move from the 25 yard line into section 119 in the end zone. I haven't talked to one person who improved their seating. All got worse seats than previously. All of the people in our section have now been scattered from one end of the club level to the other.

I don't understand how this happened but what can you do at this point. For my 4 club seats my required pledge is $7,000 annually; so, the $25,000 TTF pledge would have not been an issue had I known this was even an option. I guess this is partially my fault for not doing the research, but I wish the BC would have done a better job of explaining our options as well. The bloodbath on the West side will be of epic proportions if it is anything similar to what has happened in the club level.

 

[RocketDawg]

I've also been there since the beginning, but changed seat locations once at my request. I've had the same seats for the past 10 years. I get my call in 5 minutes, allegedly.

And no, the BC never sent a thing to CL members (or at least to me) explaining the options, nor the TTF. I might have done things differently if they had. Now, I expect to be moved from about the 40 to inside the goal line.

I know what my options are for next year. You should have automatically been a TTF member, given your pledge history.

 

[Dawgbite]

If you liked your seats and made no effort to improve your ranking, you are likely going to be disappointed in the next few weeks. If you stood pat on donations, you lost ground because a lot of people took this oppourtunity to improve the points and seat location. For every person mad, there will be someone happy. The unhappy people will for the most part be the older generation who have been there for years and the happy people will be the younger generation who took advantage of the situation. Strick just automatically created a younger fan base , one who has more years to give. Reseat that sucker again in 5 years and see who gets off their wallet then!

 

[dhall2276]

What they should have done was make the pledge per seat different for each section, i.e., Section 121 (which straddles the 50) would cost the most, 120 & 122 next, etc. Or ... go by lifetime total donations, not a $25K pledge over 5 years.

The $5K per year for 5 years is only slightly more than a commitment required for 2 CL seats. Many have 3 or more seats (I know of one family who has at least 8 seats, counting infants. Are they automatically TTF?) so they meet the $5K/year criterion already.

The annual giving per seat fee does not count towards the TTF. So some one who has 8 seats now has an annual pledge of $14,000 plus the $5000 more per year for the next 5 years if they gave to the TTF campaign.

 

[Bigedawg]

I would have thought so to. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I've never had to make a multi year pledge since I have been up there since 2001. At this point, I really have no idea.