As Big East Money Dries Up, UConn Must Create Fresh Revenue Streams (M. Anthony)

[Ldandy]

Sadly, Rolling Rock has become just another brand name of the colossus known as Budweiser, now owned by foreign, nameless, soulless corporate entities.

Stick it to those foreigners and enjoy a delicious American Made Yuengling Lager. The pride of Pottsville, PA.
#MakeAmericaDrunkAgain

 

[Ldandy]

Conference...

JMO but for whatever time period Uconn is in The AAC, Temple seems like the most sensible candidate for a rivalry.

Shared geography, similar program profiles, and recruiting for many of the same players in both football and basketball could all drive a pretty good rivalry. That said it needs to be organic and happen naturally. Nobody wants a contrived rivalry like The ConFLiCT to be forced on them. It also needs to be shared by both fan bases.

 

[UConnNick]

JMO but for whatever time period UConn is in The AAC, Temple seems like the most sensible candidate for a rivalry.

Shared geography, similar program profiles, and recruiting for many of the same players in both football and basketball could all drive a pretty good rivalry. That said it needs to be organic and happen naturally. Nobody wants a contrived rivalry like The ConFLiCT to be forced on them. It also needs to be shared by both fan bases.

The problem with a Temple - UConn rivalry is their fans just aren't anywhere near as unlikable as BS College or Syrexcuse fans. I'd include Rutgers fans, but RutgersAl is so entertaining that he sort of gives their entire fanbase a free pass. The only emotions I can muster up for the Rutger's fanbase are sorrow and pity.

 

[TRest]

Stick it to those foreigners and enjoy a delicious American Made Yuengling Lager. The pride of Pottsville, PA.
#MakeAmericaDrunkAgain

Yuengling was a major disappointment when it finally was distributed in CT. Very odd flavor profile.

 

[uconnphil2016]

The problem with a Temple - UConn rivalry is their fans just aren't anywhere near as unlikable as BS College or Syrexcuse fans. I'd include Rutgers fans, but RutgersAl is so entertaining that he sort of gives their entire fanbase a free pass. The only emotions I can muster up for the Rutger's fanbase are sorrow and pity.

I dunno man, my ex gf went to Temple...the students have rocks for brains, and I was at the Temple game a couple years ago and the fans were pretty annoying--there just aren't many of em

 

[huskypantz]

Yuengling was a major disappointment when it finally was distributed in CT. Very odd flavor profile.

When I lived in Philly I loved Yuengling. I came up to Boston and we finally had distribution a year or two ago. Had my first after 10+ years and said "meh" and never bought another. The only thing I can think of is that I spent all of college drinking Nattie Light and headed to Philly as soon as I graduated.

 

[shizzle787]

I dunno man, my ex gf went to Temple...the students have rocks for brains, and I was at the Temple game a couple years ago and the fans were pretty annoying--there just aren't many of em

Was that the same girl that came on here and bashed you one day?

 

[Hamms30]

Eliminate donations -- or make them less -- and you'll see season tickets go back up

This!! I'd buy 4/5 tickets at 200/225 each.. I will not at 300/325 each. I could buy two tickets at that price, but I'd rather be able to go with my nephews and sister or brother in law, or a couple friends over the course of the season. Not just 1 other person. And then the seats with the $400 donation charge?? Sorry, off. That's 676 per ticket / 5 games for 135 bucks a game. Sorry, nobody on that schedule is worth 135 bucks a game. Mizzou would be fun to see, but I paid 70 for the Michigan game a couple years ago. 135 for Holy Cross? The athletic department should co-op with the economics dept and students and re-visit price elasticity.

 

[SubZero]

This!! I'd buy 4/5 tickets at 200/225 each.. I will not at 300/325 each. I could buy two tickets at that price, but I'd rather be able to go with my nephews and sister or brother in law, or a couple friends over the course of the season. Not just 1 other person. And then the seats with the $400 donation charge?? Sorry, off. That's 676 per ticket / 5 games for 135 bucks a game. Sorry, nobody on that schedule is worth 135 bucks a game. Mizzou would be fun to see, but I paid 70 for the Michigan game a couple years ago. 135 for Holy Cross? The athletic department should co-op with the economics dept and students and re-visit price elasticity.

This pretty much sums it up. There's no one worth going out to see at the rent. I would have paid to see BC but not driving up to Boston for it.

 

[huskymedic]

This!! I'd buy 4/5 tickets at 200/225 each.. I will not at 300/325 each. I could buy two tickets at that price, but I'd rather be able to go with my nephews and sister or brother in law, or a couple friends over the course of the season. Not just 1 other person. And then the seats with the $400 donation charge?? Sorry, off. That's 676 per ticket / 5 games for 135 bucks a game. Sorry, nobody on that schedule is worth 135 bucks a game. Mizzou would be fun to see, but I paid 70 for the Michigan game a couple years ago. 135 for Holy Cross? The athletic department should co-op with the economics dept and students and re-visit price elasticity.

There are 6 home games @ the Rent this year and there are plenty of decent seats available that have NO seat license fee for $150 for the season. ($25 per game).

 

[whaler11]

There are 6 home games @ the Rent this year and there are plenty of decent seats available that have NO seat license fee for $150 for the season. ($25 per game).

And probably $120 once the Top of the Rent goes on sale.

Our 'fanbase' is awesome. Patting each other on the back about staying home while complaining about the schedule as if the two aren't related.

Don't spend any money on them and don't show up - I'm sure the college football fairy will just put UConn in the Big 10 to remedy all their complaints.

I look forward to the complaints about the AAC tourney being 1,500 miles away while ignoring that nobody could be bothered to show up when it was here.

 

[freescooter]

I agree they need to rethink the donation for both football and basketball while they rebuild both programs. I donate to UConn and to the athletic program but to the sport I competed in and to hockey (long story but I have been pushing for Hockey East for decades). You want Corporate donations, sure. But to get back regular fans, the donation ought to be reduced to $25-100.

 

[UConnDan97]

If you can afford season tickets with the highest donations and the sky boxes or the chair backs, great. If you can't, how about the lower donations and the bleachers? If you can't afford that, how about the sections that don't have a donation attached? If you can't do that, how about a 3-game pack like I always did? And if not the 3-game pack, how about showing up once?

I've been one of the more critical voices about the price of the tickets on the Boneyard. And I still feel that things can and should be done about the cost structure. But I get the feeling that the people in this thread complaining about the highest ticket prices are folks who don't even buy the lowest priced ones either...

 

[Hamms30]

There are 6 home games @ the Rent this year and there are plenty of decent seats available that have NO seat license fee for $150 for the season. ($25 per game).

You're right Medic, I think I missed the ECU game and thought it was away.. 112 a pop then. Yes, there are tix for 150, but why spend that money to sit behind the endzone when you can most likely wind up with seats on the 30 for only a few bucks more going on the secondary market? The donation fee to me is just a slap in the face. Ah, I'm gonna buy 4 tickets at 250, I can swing a 1,000. What? $150 for ticket fees? What? $400 in donation charges? Why does this cost 50% more all of a sudden??? This is a turn off to a alot of potential fans. If you want to charge 300/250/150 per ticket etc etc.. just say the price upfront. If a key metric schools use is to look at season ticket sales and your specific team's have been trending down, something needs to be done to entice fans on the fence to make the jump. If you are trying to attract new blood to the stadium, maybe get some alumni with their spouse and kids to join, or new alum with their group of friends, a donation fee on top of the advertised price is not the way to do it.

 

[Stray_Dog]

You're right Medic, I think I missed the ECU game and thought it was away.. 112 a pop then. Yes, there are tix for 150, but why spend that money to sit behind the endzone when you can most likely wind up with seats on the 30 for only a few bucks more going on the secondary market? The donation fee to me is just a slap in the face. Ah, I'm gonna buy 4 tickets at 250, I can swing a 1,000. What? $150 for ticket fees? What? $400 in donation charges? Why does this cost 50% more all of a sudden??? This is a turn off to a alot of potential fans. If you want to charge 300/250/150 per ticket etc etc.. just say the price upfront. If a key metric schools use is to look at season ticket sales and your specific team's have been trending down, something needs to be done to entice fans on the fence to make the jump. If you are trying to attract new blood to the stadium, maybe get some alumni with their spouse and kids to join, or new alum with their group of friends, a donation fee on top of the advertised price is not the way to do it.

Perhaps we can get Aetna to make a large donation .... or not! The state of CT doesn't know how to budget. They mishandled our only Pro-team the "Whalers", mismanaged the minor league ball field in Hartford and almost squandered the prestige of that minor league team. What in state model should UConn use? When was the last time the rock band you followed was willing to come to a venue in CT on a weekend? People are leaving our state and the mass exodus is picking up major steam. I have 5 foreclosed houses in my one area. I truly wish UConn well, but those that can and want to go to a game shouldn't be looking for bargains. This state is fresh out! Go to the game make your memories and enjoy the company your with. What else is there to buy? I go to the games because I live here and just want the escape. Weekday games are non-starters with two little kids and with a Commute from lower Fairfield - Wilton is not practical. I suppose I could whine and complain but what's the point nothing is going to change and so I wait to trek up to the Rent on Friday nights and Saturdays. I'll always cheer my team and not focus on the cost. If it comes to that I'll simply no longer go, until then UConn is the best game in town.

 

[huskymedic]

You're right Medic, I think I missed the ECU game and thought it was away.. 112 a pop then. Yes, there are tix for 150, but why spend that money to sit behind the endzone when you can most likely wind up with seats on the 30 for only a few bucks more going on the secondary market? The donation fee to me is just a slap in the face. Ah, I'm gonna buy 4 tickets at 250, I can swing a 1,000. What? $150 for ticket fees? What? $400 in donation charges? Why does this cost 50% more all of a sudden??? This is a turn off to a alot of potential fans. If you want to charge 300/250/150 per ticket etc etc.. just say the price upfront. If a key metric schools use is to look at season ticket sales and your specific team's have been trending down, something needs to be done to entice fans on the fence to make the jump. If you are trying to attract new blood to the stadium, maybe get some alumni with their spouse and kids to join, or new alum with their group of friends, a donation fee on top of the advertised price is not the way to do it.

6 years of losing and conference realignment has been a drag on season tickets not the seat donation fee. Seat Donation to school has not increased since the Rent has opened in 2003 and is cheap compared to other programs. I would be more upset w/ yo-yo-ing amounts.

Sorry but IMO if you want Mezzanine Chairbacks ($240+$400) you can afford to pay the donation fee (and I don't believe these are seats they have trouble selling). If you just want to buy season tickets to support the program (w/ no bad view really anywhere) there are really sensible and reasonable options available.

PREFERRED SIDELINE (White)
Located on either side of the stadium between the 35 yard line and the goal line. You can order one parking pass for each pair of season tickets ordered. BLUE or GRAY lot parking will be assigned based on priority points, order date and availability. $180 per seat (plus $100 donation) = $280/6 games = $46 per game. (not including $5/game FIT)

RESERVED ENDZONE (Gray)
Located on either side of the stadium behind the end-zones. No seat donation required. Patrons will be seated by priority. You can order one parking pass for each pair of season tickets ordered. Either GRAY or RED lot parking will be assigned based on priority points, order date and availability. $150 per seat/6 games = $25 per game (not including $5/game FIT)

UCONN YOUNG ALUMNI (Teal)
To be eligible you must have graduated in the years of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 or 2016. Located in sections 210 and 211. 36% discount on Reserved seat price. No seat donation required. You can order one parking pass for each pair of season tickets ordered. Either GRAY or RED lot parking will be assigned based on priority points, order date and availability. $150 per seat (- 36% discount) = $96/6 games = $16 per game (not including $5/game FIT)

Each his own I guess (preferred sideline denizen since day 1).

 

[J187Money]

Exactly - no excuses.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Top of The Rent gets you season tickets to an FBS Program for $20 bucks a game, no strings attached.

The P/Diaco eras has just erased any equity the program had built up in the fanbase that was earned in the Edsall years.

I think floor is always going to be around 15k-20k in gameday attendance, Edsall getting us bowling and 8+ win seasons hopefully in a couple years gets us back up to 30k, but in the AAC, I don't know if you'll ever see us touching 38k-40k unless the opponent is an attractive draw.

 

[freescooter]

There are really 2 separate arguments that have been conflated into one. First is the question of supporting the program where the donation makes sense. Second is the need/desire to sell more season tickets where it makes less sense. As ConnHusk says the equity the program had has been dissipated by 6 years of losing on top of conference realignment and I would argue a few other things like the cheap rebranding and so forth. The current season ticket base is probably close to the absolute base. Trying to rebuild that base to something more reasonable requires winning but it also requires looking at and whether it still makes sense to require the donation. Is there some other way to generate the donation money? Or can it be offset by selling more tickets? What are the long term advantages vs short term gains? Are you looking to generate cash or expand the fan base first? It is possible to support the program through donations and never set foot inside the Rent and to go to every home game without donating 1cent.

 

[3rdbass]

The irony of someone from Atlanta saying this . . . . possibly the worst sports major city in America.

Well except for Atlanta United. That is a great experience with 40K plus screaming fans win or lose.

 

[thedrowsyowl]

JMO but for whatever time period UConn is in The AAC, Temple seems like the most sensible candidate for a rivalry.

Shared geography, similar program profiles, and recruiting for many of the same players in both football and basketball could all drive a pretty good rivalry. That said it needs to be organic and happen naturally. Nobody wants a contrived rivalry like The ConFLiCT to be forced on them. It also needs to be shared by both fan bases.

That's pretty much how the Temple fanbase feels as well -- "If we're gonna have a rival in this conference, the only one that makes sense is UConn." Neither side has acted upon it yet. As a Temple student from Connecticut, it's definitely a thing in my head!