Season Ticket Sales Record broken this morning: 40, 942
- Thread starter topdawg.sixpack
- Start date
The worst part is I can't procrastinate any more. It seems like you could always get season tickets any time and I always waited till the last minute since we always got the cheap sky dawg seats. I got tickets a couple of weeks ago and all the cheap seats were gone and the next choice, staff seats, were moved to the next section over. I'd much rather not procrastinate and have a good team with good crowds than procrastinate and still get season tickets on gameday and have a half empty stadium.
we have sold almost 1,000 of the mini season ticket packages. Too bad they don't include that amount into the season ticket totals though.
<p class="MsoNormal">If we continue to improve and selling out gets to be a
"problem" (and the stadium at that point has not yet been expanded)
they could consider creating a "First In" class of tickets wherein
they could actually sell more tickets than stadium capacity, keep a running
count of how many “First In” ticket holders have entered the stadium at each
game, and stop entry of that class of ticket holders when that number is
reached.
For example (using round numbers) say the stadium capacity was 45,000.
They could sell 40,000 regular tickets and 7,500 First In tickets. This
would oversell the stadium capacity by 2,500.<span style=""></span>Then, on game day with the <i style="">one and
only[/i] (makes it easier to keep an accurate count) "First In" entry gate
opening at a pre-designated time, the first 5,000 "First In" ticket
holders would be allowed to enter the stadium and as many as 2,500 of the folks
who bought the discounted “First In” tickets would not be permitted to
enter. This would encourage them to be in line earlier the next
time.
As a consolation to those 2,500 "First In" ticket holders who did not
make it into the stadium, MSU could offer exclusive entry into Humphrey
Coliseum with the game being shown "live" on a large screen where
they could watch the game in air-conditioned or heated comfort kind of like it
was at our last baseball super-regional. Not as good as being in the
stadium, I know, but better than missing out altogether. Plus, they could ring their cowbells all they want.
It would be similar to the way that airline companies overbook their flights
knowing that even though the tickets are sold, not all ticket holders will show
up for every game. Of course, these "First In" tickets would be
sold at lower prices. The regular, full-price ticket holders' seats would
always be held for them whether they showed up or not just as they are
now.
This would have several positives, in my opinion. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(1) They could sell more tickets than the stadium actually
holds thereby possibly increasing revenue. Perhaps the additional revenue could
even be earmarked for future stadium expansion if desired.<span style=""> </span>That would “put a better taste in the mouth”
of those who did not make it in for the game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(2) It would encourage people to enter the stadium early and
would really add to the pre-game atmosphere. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(3) If you are a Bulldog Club member and buy “First In”
season tickets, you could be awarded Bulldog Club points at a reduced rate
commensurate with the cost of the tickets as compared to regular tickets.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(4) It would mean more Bulldog Fans on campus on game
day.<span style=""> </span>Tailgating in The Junction would be
bigger and better.<span style=""> </span>Traffic would likely
be more congested though.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(5) Recruiting prospects would be more likely to see a full
stadium since the likelihood of filling all the seats for any particular game
would increase.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are probably other tangible and intangible benefits
that I haven’t thought of yet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, this is just an idea I came up with; it may not be
worth a flip. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Comments?</p>
"problem" (and the stadium at that point has not yet been expanded)
they could consider creating a "First In" class of tickets wherein
they could actually sell more tickets than stadium capacity, keep a running
count of how many “First In” ticket holders have entered the stadium at each
game, and stop entry of that class of ticket holders when that number is
reached.
For example (using round numbers) say the stadium capacity was 45,000.
They could sell 40,000 regular tickets and 7,500 First In tickets. This
would oversell the stadium capacity by 2,500.<span style=""></span>Then, on game day with the <i style="">one and
only[/i] (makes it easier to keep an accurate count) "First In" entry gate
opening at a pre-designated time, the first 5,000 "First In" ticket
holders would be allowed to enter the stadium and as many as 2,500 of the folks
who bought the discounted “First In” tickets would not be permitted to
enter. This would encourage them to be in line earlier the next
time.
As a consolation to those 2,500 "First In" ticket holders who did not
make it into the stadium, MSU could offer exclusive entry into Humphrey
Coliseum with the game being shown "live" on a large screen where
they could watch the game in air-conditioned or heated comfort kind of like it
was at our last baseball super-regional. Not as good as being in the
stadium, I know, but better than missing out altogether. Plus, they could ring their cowbells all they want.
It would be similar to the way that airline companies overbook their flights
knowing that even though the tickets are sold, not all ticket holders will show
up for every game. Of course, these "First In" tickets would be
sold at lower prices. The regular, full-price ticket holders' seats would
always be held for them whether they showed up or not just as they are
now.
This would have several positives, in my opinion. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(1) They could sell more tickets than the stadium actually
holds thereby possibly increasing revenue. Perhaps the additional revenue could
even be earmarked for future stadium expansion if desired.<span style=""> </span>That would “put a better taste in the mouth”
of those who did not make it in for the game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(2) It would encourage people to enter the stadium early and
would really add to the pre-game atmosphere. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(3) If you are a Bulldog Club member and buy “First In”
season tickets, you could be awarded Bulldog Club points at a reduced rate
commensurate with the cost of the tickets as compared to regular tickets.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(4) It would mean more Bulldog Fans on campus on game
day.<span style=""> </span>Tailgating in The Junction would be
bigger and better.<span style=""> </span>Traffic would likely
be more congested though.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(5) Recruiting prospects would be more likely to see a full
stadium since the likelihood of filling all the seats for any particular game
would increase.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are probably other tangible and intangible benefits
that I haven’t thought of yet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, this is just an idea I came up with; it may not be
worth a flip. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Comments?</p>
What you are describing is the situation we have in basketball (sold out, but stadium not at 100% capacity). I don't think we have that situation in football. When the demand is there, the stadium is full. I think this "first-in" concept would be too much trouble than any potential benefits that may result.
If anything, I'd try to find a way to track usage of tickets via hand held scanner and charge the people not using their tickets more the next year upon renewal. That will either A) raise more $$ or B) turn the tickets over to someone who may fill the seat. It's a really simple idea, but means to achieve it are likely very expensive (hardware, software, maintenance, etc.)
All of the positives you mentioned are going to be achieved by stadium expansion in a few years anyhow. As long as we put a good product together on the football field in the interim , there is going to be an electric environment at every home game - much like last season.
If anything, I'd try to find a way to track usage of tickets via hand held scanner and charge the people not using their tickets more the next year upon renewal. That will either A) raise more $$ or B) turn the tickets over to someone who may fill the seat. It's a really simple idea, but means to achieve it are likely very expensive (hardware, software, maintenance, etc.)
All of the positives you mentioned are going to be achieved by stadium expansion in a few years anyhow. As long as we put a good product together on the football field in the interim , there is going to be an electric environment at every home game - much like last season.
1) Well, if you had carefully read my post you would have noticed that I said that all "First In" ticket holders would enter through one gate. I believe that I even italicized the words, "<span style="font-style: italic;">one and only</span>" for emphasis. I would think that it would be a fairly simple matter to COUNT them as they come in if they all had to come through the same entry point.patdog said:
2) Who would buy those tickets? If the stadium was sold out before the season started and a person could buy a ticket at a discounted rate that would at least give them a 50%-75% chance of coming in, that would beat a 0% chance of coming in. They would have the knowledge that if they didn't make it into the stadium, they would, as a consolation, be admitted to the Hump to watch the game live on a huge screen and sit in comfort during hot or cold or rainy weather. In fact, some people might even prefer it but we shouldn't open The Hump until the maximum allowable number of "First In" ticket holders had entered the stadium, filling it up. Then, only people with those "First In" tickets would be allowed into The Hump meaning that they would have had to <span style="font-style: italic;">buy</span> one of those "First In" tickets beforehand. That's who would "buy those tickets in the first place." Later, if it got to be really popular, we could maybe even sell "Hump Only" tickets that the general public could buy at the door. It could possibly even turn into a "Fan Fair" type of atmosphere like we have before bowl games when we go to them (remember that?) with food and drinks and maybe even a band (country, rock, rap, whatever) to play before the game and during half time.
Still, the idea may not be worth a flip but at least it's an idea. Once stadium expansion was complete, there would likely no longer be a demand for such a ticket system but in the short term it could have served a purpose.
I appreciate your questions. I'm just trying to think of ways to benefit our athletic program and make it grow. What ideas have you come up with?
If the stadium was sold out before the season started, there is no reason the word "discount" should enter into this equation. Sell the remaining tickets at face value, bypass the extra 2.5k that might be on campus under your plan, and be done with it. In the event of a sold out situation, there is little risk that a noticeable amount of seats go unfilled. The left out folks will just have to wait until the stadium is expanded and will have to think about purchasing tickets earlier in the year...nothing wrong with that.
pretty sure we can exect to see the price of tickets to go up next year. dont remember the last time we actually increased the price but id be willing to bet our seats are the cheapest or close to in the sec.
sell standing room tickets or put chairs on the concrete between stands and field?? When I was a recruit we would sit on folding chairs in front of fans. I thought they should have brought in temporary bleachers for all of the sellouts. They could put more in each endzone. It would be a little help until expansion.</p>