Basketball Seat gouging

PhredPhantom · Sep 20, 2010

OK, I just got an order form from the MSU ticket office for basketball seats. Here are the latest gouges for MSU basketball fans and supporters, and I quote,

New for 2010-11 men's basketball season, Bulldog Club members who select seats in the lower bowl of the coliseum will be required to make an additional contribution - above and beyond their regular annual Bulldog Club contribution - for each seat they select, the monies will be designated to the Basketball Enhancement Fund. This fund will be restricted for use in the coliseum and the new practice facility. It will allow us the opportunity to have funds available for maintenance and upgrade of our basketball facilities.

1. Permanent seats on the floor level (gray seats) are $500 per seat.
2. Mid-court sections on both sides of the court (sections 106 and 116) are $250 per seat.
3. All remaining priority seats in the lower level are $150 per seat. This fee is in addition to the season ticket price.

Seats were already $260 each and so now (in the lower level) they will be anywhere from $410 to $760 per seat.

This should gouge the fans for somewhere between an additional five-hundred-thousand to one million dollars per year by my calculations. This is above and beyond the normal revenue they already take in each year from ticket sales and other Bulldog Club contributions which, up to now, has been sufficient. There are currently 17 total players listed on the roster. Then we have about 3 coaches and a few other miscellaneous trainers and assistants, travel expenses for away games (for which we receive revenue), and other incidental expenses. Are we about to have to start paying a lot more for a coach? Stans has been pretty fair up to now but can't make it over the hump to win the big games or get the big recruits. Is this supposed to make that happen? Where's the guarantee?

I know the university wants more money but this is just plain and simple gouging of the people who have loyally supported the university athletic program for years, if not decades. It is not right. 
We are used to having sellout crowds in the Hump but, with these prices, we stand to lose our advantage having those kinds of crowds and being a tough place for visiting teams to play. And if you think the crowds have been slim for non-SEC games in the past, they will now be microscopic by comparison because people can't afford the tickets.

It must be nice to be a part of a university setting and be blissfully ignorant of real world conditions in these times of national economic hardship. I personally have taken a huge cut in pay and benefits just to even keep my job but I can guarantee you that nobody on staff at MSU has had to deal with such realities. I guess that's why they see absolutely nothing of wrong with sticking it to the fans and supporters once again. And, yes, I am a supporter at the Maroon and White level so I'm not just making a small contribution each year but it gets tougher and tougher in the real world as time goes on. It must be nice being part of the elite clique that is insulated from real world economic conditions like the staff at the Bulldog Club and the rest of the university seems to be.

Maybe they want to have small crowds but, most likely, they simply couldn't care less about the fans.

PhredPhantom · Sep 20, 2010

OK, I just got an order form from the MSU ticket office for basketball seats. Here are the latest gouges for MSU basketball fans and supporters, and I quote,

New for 2010-11 men's basketball season, Bulldog Club members who select seats in the lower bowl of the coliseum will be required to make an additional contribution - above and beyond their regular annual Bulldog Club contribution - for each seat they select, the monies will be designated to the Basketball Enhancement Fund. This fund will be restricted for use in the coliseum and the new practice facility. It will allow us the opportunity to have funds available for maintenance and upgrade of our basketball facilities.

1. Permanent seats on the floor level (gray seats) are $500 per seat.
2. Mid-court sections on both sides of the court (sections 106 and 116) are $250 per seat.
3. All remaining priority seats in the lower level are $150 per seat. This fee is in addition to the season ticket price.

Seats were already $260 each and so now (in the lower level) they will be anywhere from $410 to $760 per seat.

This should gouge the fans for somewhere between an additional five-hundred-thousand to one million dollars per year by my calculations. This is above and beyond the normal revenue they already take in each year from ticket sales and other Bulldog Club contributions which, up to now, has been sufficient. There are currently 17 total players listed on the roster. Then we have about 3 coaches and a few other miscellaneous trainers and assistants, travel expenses for away games (for which we receive revenue), and other incidental expenses. Are we about to have to start paying a lot more for a coach? Stans has been pretty fair up to now but can't make it over the hump to win the big games or get the big recruits. Is this supposed to make that happen? Where's the guarantee?

I know the university wants more money but this is just plain and simple gouging of the people who have loyally supported the university athletic program for years, if not decades. It is not right. 
We are used to having sellout crowds in the Hump but, with these prices, we stand to lose our advantage having those kinds of crowds and being a tough place for visiting teams to play. And if you think the crowds have been slim for non-SEC games in the past, they will now be microscopic by comparison because people can't afford the tickets.

It must be nice to be a part of a university setting and be blissfully ignorant of real world conditions in these times of national economic hardship. I personally have taken a huge cut in pay and benefits just to even keep my job but I can guarantee you that nobody on staff at MSU has had to deal with such realities. I guess that's why they see absolutely nothing of wrong with sticking it to the fans and supporters once again. And, yes, I am a supporter at the Maroon and White level so I'm not just making a small contribution each year but it gets tougher and tougher in the real world as time goes on. It must be nice being part of the elite clique that is insulated from real world economic conditions like the staff at the Bulldog Club and the rest of the university seems to be.

Maybe they want to have small crowds but, most likely, they simply couldn't care less about the fans.

8dog · Sep 20, 2010

"This should gouge the fans for somewhere between an additional five-hundred-thousand to one million dollars per year by my calculations."

Yes, that's the point.

We have to find revenue streams. This is a good one. We are not building huts in Equador.

JacksonDevilDog · Sep 20, 2010

Us selling out of season tickets for the past few years and seeing 4,500 on a midweek game at the Hump. Our fans have no idea how to use the internet or be proactive to get tickets into the hands of Bulldog fans that want to go to the games. They need to keep record of who goes and doesn't go when the ticket is scanned and punish those for not coming. If someone is paying a little less and is coming more, they should get better seats. 70% of the fans that sit in the lower levels are probably 65 and older.

patdog · Sep 20, 2010

Just choose seats in the upper level. Most any upper level seat in between the baskets is a good seat.

MeridianDog · Sep 20, 2010

Is someone wanting that floor seat and not jumping in and buying it out from under that 65 yearold blue hair who is paying good money for it. If they buy a ticket and don't use it, they still pay for it.

The ticket program is not about putting people in the good seats. It's about generating money. Fairness went out the door when we decided to have a program that stands a chance of competing with schools who have lots of money.

Peace to you, but I'm sorry. Its hard to get good seats without spending big bucks.

I say bravo to those blue hairs who pay the lion's share of ticket revenue to get their floor seats.

DawgatAuburn · Sep 20, 2010

I tell you what else bothers me about this, the comma splice.

TheGhostofJordyVerrill · Sep 20, 2010

I wonder what portion of the lower level (higher dollar) seats are bought by businesses? I would imagine that makes up a pretty healthy portion of those seats, and would explain lack of actual fans in the seats. You'll get company officers and guests, but often they'll go unused, especially for mid-week games.

Hanmudog · Sep 20, 2010

It won't affect me any because I already sit in the upper deck but there is no way I would pay that for a ticket in the lower level. I don't blame State for trying to raise more revenue but Joe fan cannot afford seats at that price. Best case scenario is the ones in the lower deck that don't come anyway decide not to buy tickets and free up some seats for folks that will come to the games. Worst case.....no one buys tickets at all.

8dog · Sep 20, 2010

those games don't have big attendance b/c our schedule is not very attractive.

JacksonDevilDog · Sep 20, 2010

You watch a game on tv on a midweek and fans are scattered across the hump. If you watch the game being played on tv, it would look more full if all of the fans were pushed down low when we are playing Alcorn State. MSU fans are always behind the times with technology and would rather sit on a ticket than sell it or give it away to someone that goes to games. I am fortunate because my father in law buys tickets and I get mine from him. Raising ticket prices is a normal function of an athletic department in an extremely competitive conference.

Harry Doyle · Sep 20, 2010

Personally I am please with our fans' attendance for mid week Conference games. After you consider how many people live in the Golden Triangle area, I think we do a pretty damn good job.

MeridianDog · Sep 20, 2010

The economy sucks, even for rich old blue hairs (God Bless them every one).

And my hair is not Blue. It's a lovely age induced white that only looks blue because the blue wavelengths reflect off of it while the reds and yellow warm tones are absorbed - if I remember my forth semester physics notes.

RobbieRandolph · Sep 20, 2010

We should continue finding new revenue streams for the 3 sports that actually make money on our campus, so that we can continue to strive to be competitive in the SEC. You obviously lack understanding of this and wish to be able to sit courtside for 100 bucks a year. Sorry, LT isn't the AD anymore.

Oh, and I'll gladly take your seats, so thanks.

dashriprock · Sep 20, 2010

While picking out my seats at the Hump i asked Strat how many folks below me (in other words, better seats than mine or closer to the floor) gave less money than i did/do. He laughed and said most. Templeton didn't want to piss off his old starkville friends who have been sitting in those seats for years. Thank God things have changed!

clintstone · Sep 20, 2010

The people who sit in those courtside seats already probably give $10,000 or more a year easy. What is another $1,000 or $2,000 to them?
Section 106 and 116, again those are prime seats. If you have given enough to have a chance to pick those seats what is another $500-$1,000?

The only people I can see this really having an affect on is possibly some of those in the $150 range who are wanting to bring a family of 4. That is $600 more. So budget $50 more a month to put into your savings for tickets and quit complaining. If your budget is so tight you can't find $50 a month then you don't need to be buying season tickets as it is, and you don't need to be giving so much that you are high enough up the bulldog club list to buy lower deck seats.

Practice facilities cost money, tv's at consession stands cost money, urinals cost money.

topdawg.sixpack · Sep 20, 2010

"This fund will be restricted for use in the coliseum and the new practice facility."<div>
</div><div>This fund isnt going to pay for a coach, manager, players scholarships, travel costs, etc as you think....It is going to upgrade The Hump and new practice facility, and while the arena part is an OK SEC facility, the concourse and behind the scenes area are way behind the times and need plenty of work. Basketball is the one sport where we do compete, and I think we should have the best facilities possible. </div>

PhredPhantom · Sep 20, 2010

DawgatAuburn said:
I tell you what else bothers me about this, the comma splice.

Thank you for pointing this out to me. I looked it up so I'll know better next time. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to grammar but I do try. At least I didn't talk about "loosing" the game or "there" lack of ability.

Porkchop.sixpack · Sep 20, 2010

What are you a member of Trial Lawyers for End of Enterprise?

How is it gouging if they get that price. Gee whiz. You offer something for sale. If people buy at that price, that's what it's worth. If they can't sell them at that price, they have a problem. Supply and demand. Damn. You price fixing socialist.

PhredPhantom · Sep 20, 2010

RobbieRandolph said:
We should continue finding new revenue streams for the 3 sports that actually make money on our campus, so that we can continue to strive to be competitive in the SEC. You obviously lack understanding of this and wish to be able to sit courtside for 100 bucks a year. Sorry, LT isn't the AD anymore.

Oh, and I'll gladly take your seats, so thanks.

If you had been giving as much as I do for as many years as I've been giving you'd already have my lower level seats, dubmass. That's how it works. You see, I actually do understand priorities and giving. You're welcome.

MidTNDawg · Sep 20, 2010

deleted

MidTNDawg · Sep 20, 2010

and on this board especially, complained because the BC did not market the product. Well, this is marketing. You know the saying, "Be careful what you ask for . . ."

MSUDawg25 · Sep 20, 2010

That's where Meo sits/stands.

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