My letter to Scott

[Seinfeld]

For those of you that are highly frustrated about the bowl ticket situation like myself, feel free to cut and paste from this or write your own. Whatever you do, let Scott know somehow. Anyway, here's what I sent to him...

Dear Mr Stricklin,
Before I go into any detail surrounding the extremely disappointing situation that I now find myself in, I'd like to first preface this note by saying that I'm appreciative of the difficult position that universities are in when it comes to postseason bowl tickets. I know that your hands are tied in more ways than one with much of this, so just as I mentioned to the ticket office staff this morning, I hope you don't take any of this as me trying to direct anger towards yourself or the university. That is far from my intent.

With that said, back in November, I made the choice to pre-order 10 postseason tickets for the Orange Bowl along with several other options. My wife and I had planned to follow the team wherever it landed, and I felt certain that my BC ranking would provide us with good seats for a fair price. Well, needless to say, I am now finding out the same thing as many others have figured out in that I've paid a very large amount of money for what I'll just refer to as "less than premium" seats and even worse, the fair market value for these seats is currently running at about 20% of what I paid. Due to that, I called the ticket office this morning to explain my situation and to ask what options existed. Quite bluntly, I was told that there were no options and that the department has invoked a zero refund policy.

Scott, as I've already mentioned, I fully understand the difficult spot that the athletic department is in when it comes to what is allotted. However, while my understanding is that the university would be be assisted with any unsold tickets by either the conference office or the multi-million dollar payout of this bowl game, rest assured that no one will be coming to my aid when I have to eat about $900 in tickets that no one is going to want for anything less than pennies on the dollar. On top of that, I paid roughly 5X market value for the tickets that I will be using. So I bring all this up to say this... First, while I sincerely wish that I was in a position to be able to write off this loss without any concern, I am unfortunately not and the loss that I'm about to endure will be factored into my 2015 BC contribution plans. In addition to that, while I 100% assure you that I say this without any spite in mind, I am almost certain that I will not be going through the university for future bowl game tickets. It's a shame that there's such a discrepancy between the pre-order costs and fair market value, but the fact of the matter is that an extremely large gap does exist and until that gap is closed, I cannot afford to be unnecessarily throwing money away. Lastly, if there are any plans to work towards resolving this serious issue, I along with many Bulldog faithful would be highly interested in hearing them. You've always been great about listening to the people, so if there's anything that can possibly be done, I am confident that you'll do it.

With that, I'll close by just saying that I appreciate your time and I greatly appreciate what you do for Mississippi State. When I think about where we were just ten years ago as compared to today, it brings a smile to my face and you have my thanks for that.

 

[57stratdawg]

Nailed it. What sucks about it is now if I want to sit lower level, I'm extra screwed. I'm going to take a $100+ loss on all my current tickets, and then have to buy $300 dollar tickets lower level. That's going to be $1,500-$2,000.

Sorry Scott, Bowl tickets through the University just don't make sense in anyway. If they're an albatross for the university, I don't want them around mine.

 

[DerHntr]

I hope a lot more people take the time to write something similar. I am baffled that so many were totally hosed by purchasing through the university.

 

[snoopdog]

The one thing the University DOES control...

Is compensating faithful ticket buyers with a hefty Bulldog Club reward. If I know my ticket purchase is going to bump me up in some way when choosing season tickets, I will feel a little better.

 

[121Josey]

Lower level tickets are listed @ $300 by a few unaware sellers. But not by many.

 

[dawgstudent]

It's unfortunate but Stricklin has no control of what tickets we get and where the prices are set. Writing a letter might make you feel better but he can't change anything except what someone alluded to in another reply - offer more reward for buying bowl tickets through the university.

 

[121Josey]

He does have control over what he sells. The order form had no mention of sideline, EZ seats, or upper deck. Miss State will play in the game if he sells 1 ticket or the whole allotment. State gets only marginal benefit for buying those tickets.

If the Orange Bowl does not have quality control over their sales, that's their fault.

 

[Topgundawg]

I've been to many bowls over my life and just about every bowls tickets drop except the NC. Even last years NC went in the toilet the last
couple of days. MSU is going to have to bump Bulldog points or their sales will drop drastically in the coming years. The best bowl seats are always taken by annual bowl ticket holders and sponsors of said bowl.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

dear scott,

next year, if we are fortunate enough to earn a bowl invite, ask the bowl to provide our fans the primo seats. if the bowl refuses this simple and modest request then feel free to decline the invite.

keep on keepin on. bring us a final four next.

thanks

 

[Seinfeld]

No doubt that this year, what's done is done. All I can say, though, is that the conference ADs and the SEC office better start figuring out some way to change things or else they're going to be eating a lot of tickets in future years. They do have the power to change things. They've just had no reason to do so yet

 

[maroonmania]

Good letter although I'm not sure that Scott wouldn't have already been aware of most all that you told him. I do think it was good that you put in there that this extra money spent could directly impact your contribution to the BC next year. Might actually be better if MSU folks DIDN'T buy their bowl game tickets from the universty if they would take the money difference from buying from a secondary site and pledge it to the Bulldog Club.

 

[RocketDawg]

Basically, when we order tickets through the university by the priority deadline, about all we know is that we're paying a premium price for basically unknown seats. They could at least give us a seating diagram for each stadium in our options so we'll have an idea of where we'll be sitting. I know the last bowl I went to, I paid extra for club level seats and was still well inside the goal line.

I don't know if there's a solution ... probably not ... but they could at least give us an idea of what seats we'll have before we pre-order and commit.

 

[esplanade91]

My buddy has never been to the Cotton Bowl but he's been a ticket holder for 10+ years. It's those 17ers that ruin it for everyone.

 

[gdogg]

Last couple of Orange Bowls that I have watched on TV looked poorly attended in that massive stadium. It seems the Orange
Bowl would work to fill the lower level as best they could by getting the University tickets sold in the lower levels, even
if it is just the endzones to 30 yard line or so. For the optics alone.

 

[uptowndawg]

the loss that I'm about to endure will be factored into my 2015 BC contribution plans

This made me think that it could be a good idea to have a portion of the price we paid for these tickets count towards the next year's BDC contribution.

I know that would essentially be reducing the amount of money that the BDC collects in contributions, but it would be more than offset by the bowl payout, and a hell of a lot cheaper than everyone deciding to never buy bowl tickets through the BDC again.

 

[aTotal360]

That doesn't give him a pass. He's the athletic director and should have an answer for this. And we deserve more than a 140 character tweet apologizing about it. I won't buy another ticket until there is a seating diagram showing you EXACTLY where your seats are BEFORE you pay for them. It's not impossible. We just landed a 17n satellite on a 17n asteroid. A seating chart and opt-out policy shouldn't be that hard. A good database manager and an accountant should be able to figure this out in an afternoon.

 

[kired]

Remind him of this - straight from his Nov 5th Wednesday update.

The information you receive will include all of the possibilities, and I should tell you now they vary some in price and availability. The upside to such a great season is earning a spot in better bowls and possibly even championship games, though the result of that is higher-priced tickets. As part of the new bowl agreements, we are allotted fewer tickets, but the ones we are given are in better locations, which ought to help in your experience.


This is what pisses me off. I don't mind paying $100+ for a ticket. But we were led to believe they would be better tickets than what we've gotten before. Sitting 7 rows from the top of the stadium is not my what I would call a "better location." They also projected only the top 1800 BDC member would get tickets... because we were supposedly given a lower quantity, but better quality tickets. So much for that seeing as we still have not sold out of tickets. From http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/1680...B_OEM_ID=16800

…If Mississippi State is selected to participate in one of the other 4 CFP Bowls (Orange, Cotton, Peach or Fiesta), the Bulldog Club anticipates being able to accommodate members with ranks in the top 1,800*.

 

[57stratdawg]

Upper deck in the corner of the Endzone is higher quality.. Said no one ever.

 

[esplanade91]

Buying through the university only makes sense if it's a small venue and near the fan base (ie Liberty). If you think we're going back to Nashville or Memphis or heading to Charlotte any time soon, you should probably just accept this as part of the price of success.

Out of curiosity I'd be interested to see the #'s on a school like UGA (historically successful, probably a lower amount of bandwagon inbreds than Auburn, Alabama, and LSU) and what percent buy tickets through the school for these games. I guess we can include South Carolina.

 

[uptowndawg]

Listined to WWL radio on the ride home

Out of curiosity I'd be interested to see the #'s on a school like UGA (historically successful, probably a lower amount of bandwagon inbreds than Auburn, Alabama, and LSU) and what percent buy tickets through the school for these games. I guess we can include South Carolina.

And they said that LSU sold their bowl allotment fast and was asking the MCB for more tickets.

 

[Hammer Down]

Look, the problem is that nobody goes to the Orange Bowl. The demand just is not there, and it will continue to get worse with the exception of maybe the playoff games. If the Orange Bowl was sold out, you'd be glad you got the tickets you did. But since it is probably going to be sparsely attended like always, it appears that you got hosed. It is all about the perspective you see this through.

This is a nationwide trend. I have thought for years the college football bubble was going to burst, and it appears that it is about to. People just do not want to pay big money for these bowls that are so far away from home. Their value is diminishing.

Scott Stricklin really cannot control this whole deal, bro. I understand being ticked off but there is really no one to blame except supply and demand.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

*like UGA (historically successful, probably a lower amount of bandwagon inbreds...

Clearly, you've not spent much time in the state of Georgia.

 

[Center Z]

I just checked VividSeats

and there's sideline passes available for less than what I paid for upper level end zone seats through the BDC. Oh well, I'm just gonna have to yell louder for the team to hear me.

 

[dawgphd]

[/S]

Is compensating faithful ticket buyers with a hefty Bulldog Club reward. If I know my ticket purchase is going to bump me up in some way when choosing season tickets, I will feel a little better.

An exorbitant point total credit for each dollar spent on tickets is the only real solution.

More than dollar for dollar or folks can buy better seats cheap on Stubhub and donate the difference and they come out about the same.

 

[Bucky Dog]

Not to be a douche but as many are saying, most teams tickets are in the corners or end zones when you go through the schools. And going through the schools helps your BDC standing but you should know that most bowls aren't near sellouts except the really top tier. The Orange is usually very low attended. The Gator Bowl thing was the same deal. We got our 40 yard line tickets and a prime room downtown through a travel company.
The school cannot refund our tickets to us because the market went down for them. That's just not going to happen and it shouldn't. Before you select ALL bowls for tickets you need to consider which ones you really want to pay face value for. It's kind of like playing the stock market. I buy season tickets every year and pay face value. When I had extras for the UT Martin game I "gave" them away. I didn't ask Scott to refund me $100!

 

[esplanade91]

Clearly, you've not spent much time in the state of Georgia.

Only in Atlanta, where the toothless hookers wear one of the pro teams' gear. Maybe I'm just used to all the meth addicts in south Mississippi wearing LSU gear. I'm sure it exists elsewhere.

I highly doubt it's to the degree of LSU, Alabama, and Auburn.

 

[paindonthurt_]

This isn't new. Its the same thing every year.

You have several options.

1. buy from the bulldog club and be guaranteed tickets regardless of location
2. take your chances and don't buy from BDC and try and find better seats for a lesser amount when bowls are selected
3. *****.

I'm choosing option 1 every time b/c a.) i want a guaranteed ticket and b.) i want to support the BDC and my university

 

[ronpolk]

I didn't see anything wrong with the email to Scott. I thought it was well written and just more of making a statement that we got screwed, even though it's not your fault.

But some of you on this thread are trying to place too much blame on Scott. I realize with certain people he can't do anything right but what exactly could he have done? He does what every other AD in America does.

 

[drt7891]

Look at it this way: SunLife Stadium holds 76,000 people. Quite comparable to Everbank Field in Jacksonville, actually. Jacksonville is a good 300 miles closer than Starkville and BDC tickets were not as expensive as the Orange Bowl. I had zero doubt I could find a good seat for way less than $165 a head. It's just common sense. Until I see some real incentive from the BDC to pay all that extra money for tickets through them (especially not knowing where I would be seated), I'm going to hold out and buy a ticket from a third party at a fraction of what I would have given to the BDC.

The fact of the matter is that this has left a sour taste in everyone's mouth, and rightfully so.... However, (not to be insulting) a little common sense might have gone a long way here. Taking a step back and really analyzing a preorder commitment would have saved many people the trouble. The basic question you should ask yourself before preordering is this: "if I buy this ticket and I have to resell it, what could I expect to get for it?" In this instance, the Gator Bowl is quite a fair comparison. Neither game was close to a sellout. In '12, premium tickets were going as low as $15-$20 on gameday. That's all I needed to know to make my decision because I knew by watching past Orange Bowls, as well as attending both Gator Bowls, I would be completely and totally shocked if this game came close to selling out (or fair market value for tickets even got close to face value).

Now the Peach bowl or Sugar bowl (I'm gonna throw Liberty in there... but Face Value for those tickets is only $50)... those are different stories altogether. I'd absolutely preorder for those games.

 

[paindonthurt_]

It was polite enough, but what did he think was going to happen? Does he really think the university should issue refunds or discounts?

He bought the tickets knowing the risks. If he didn't know the risks, he should have. Its called life.

Quite frankly if the Ath Department offered refunds, I'd start to question leadership. Their job is to generate growth and revenue. Pre-selling high volumes of bowl tickets is good for both.

 

[121Josey]

Quite frankly if the Ath Department offered refunds, I'd start to question leadership. Their job is to generate growth and revenue. Pre-selling high volumes of bowl tickets is good for both.

Dubmass of the Year.

 

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Sometimes, you just gotta be heard, whether it results in immediate action or not. I don't think anybody's expecting refunds, but when you get screwed, you at least gotta say whether you liked it or not, just for future reference.

 

[patdog]

I'm not sure what you expect Stricklin to do. Tickets you buy to anything are never refundable. The orange bile generally has poor attendance, so naturally tickets will be available on the secondary market for less than face value. At least face value for the orange bowl is less than any other SEC bowl except the Liberty.

 

[paindonthurt_]

So you think we should offer refunds? And I'm the dumbass?

 

[Requiem For A Dawg]

You won't have to pay $300 for lower level tickets. My roommate bought some on stubhub in the lower level for $40 a piece.

 

[121Josey]

So you think we should offer refunds? And I'm the dumbass?

You're a dumbass because you would question his leadership if he offered refunds. How you figure that I don't know.

You're a dubmass because you don't know how bowl revenue system works. The AD is selling the tickets for the SEC office, not the athletic department. The department gets its check whether it sells 1 ticket or 50K tickets.

Quite frankly if the Ath Department offered refunds, I'd start to question leadership. Their job is to generate growth and revenue. Pre-selling high volumes of bowl tickets is good for both.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

i bought on secondary market, and it may be the only reasonably priced thing all week in miami.

when the ****** chain hotels charge near 200 a night and rental cars are obscene....im wondering if i will afford food for the time i am there. thats why i can see this game never fills.

 

[The Peeper]

After buying bowl game tickets to our first Gator Bowl and ending up between the endzone uprights I was mildly irritated but glad I got the BC points. After getting the same seats from BC for Music City pretty much same feeling . After same results for next Gator, OK St game in Houston and up high on the back endzone line last year for Liberty I said no more. I'll never buy another bowl ticket or away game ticket from the university, its Stub Hub for me from now on. I'll continue season tickets and BC donation but never any away game tix unless system is drastically changed. For what its worth, my BC rank is right in the middle , not a Big Dawg but not a $100 donor either