Chances that season ticket count will be above 30,000?

[uconnbill]

The gradual decline is not influenced by wins and loses. You guys are missing the big picture. People who once supported all UCONN sports and had money gradually moved away. In 5 years I will do the same. Look at the empty seats for basketball - 10 years ago that would have never happened. Alums are not staying around. High paying jobs are not here - so alum are not here (or not as many).

UCONN has never done anything to overcome this malaise. It is tied in with the economic malaise of the state. Kids are moving to Austin or New York or Charleston and not coming back to East Hartford. Would you?

We have had 10 years of graduating classes since D1 began. I would have thought that kids would migrate back and at this point would have replaced us old fogies who are gradually migrating south. We never captured that market. I think that the hotel complex on site would be the best step in hosting alums to come to games and stay for the weekend.

Despite the schedule and even if the team is markedly better, we have peaked in interest here. The numbers are in front of us. Can we sell out 50% of the games with the best schedule ever? I hope so.

It survives on Alum participation and so far that has not happened.

The state economy is killing the attendance. I agree 100%.

 

[Exit 4]

The state economy is killing the attendance. I agree 100%.

I think the attendance decline in basketball and football is driven by a blend of HDTV, UConn's winning percentage and the economy. The economy however is the most under appreciated element.

There is a lot of truth in rich1122's post about the economy. The big cities and their immediate periphery continue to attract the 20 and 30yr olds pulling them far from Storrs. Lots of good economic data is available on www.brookings.edu which shows that Boston and NYC are outpacing the rest of the Northeast in job recovery since peak employment in 2008. The only city with more employed today vs 2008 is Pittsburgh (shall gas?). The worst performers; all of the upstate NY cities and interior New England. If you don't leave the Northeast very often you might not realize how much stronger the rest of the country is.

 

[Marty Jackson]

I think the attendance decline in basketball and football is driven by a blend of HDTV, UConn's winning percentage and the economy. The economy however is the most under appreciated element.

There is a lot of truth in rich1122's post about the economy. The big cities and their immediate periphery continue to attract the 20 and 30yr olds pulling them far from Storrs. Lots of good economic data is available on www.brookings.edu which shows that Boston and NYC are outpacing the rest of the Northeast in job recovery since peak employment in 2008. The only city with more employed today vs 2008 is Pittsburgh (shall gas?). The worst performers; all of the upstate NY cities and interior New England. If you don't leave the Northeast very often you might not realize how much stronger the rest of the country is.

sorry but this is nothing new... boston and nyc have existed for a long time, and ct has existed between both cities for just as long. for someone to suggest that the migration of 20-30 year olds to nyc and boston is a more recent trend is wrong.
might as well blame global warming.

 

[J187Money]

BUT--more and more students are coming in from out of state. So when they graduate they leave. There were very few out of state students going back 20-30+ years. And CT is consistently losing residents. I have no idea what Boston is like, but I've been living in CT and working in NYC for 18 years. There is a HUGE difference between the NYC economy and the economy in CT at this point and over the last few years.

I don't think it means anything with regards to recent season ticket sales, but the fact that there are fewer and fewer great career options in CT will definitely hurt both the state and sports attendance in the long run.

 

[rich1122]

sorry but this is nothing new... boston and nyc have existed for a long time, and ct has existed between both cities for just as long. for someone to suggest that the migration of 20-30 year olds to nyc and boston is a more recent trend is wrong.
might as well blame global warming.

Well you are correct in a respect that kids did not hang around. But some did. We had insurance, engineers at Pratt, a bigger EB. Nothing has as big a footprint any longer. Sure there are pockets, but everything has moved downsized or closed.

Almost every kid that graduated from UCONN with my kids have left the state. They come, from time to time to games, but hardly at all.

The technology park on the North Campus and doubling, in size, of the engineering school is a great start.

Again they need a strategy to get Alumni to come back to games.

 

[Exit 4]

sorry but this is nothing new... boston and nyc have existed for a long time, and ct has existed between both cities for just as long. for someone to suggest that the migration of 20-30 year olds to nyc and boston is a more recent trend is wrong.
might as well blame global warming.

Well, we disagree on this and so be it.

Back to the original question, I am optimistic we'll reach 30,000+ for season tickets. This year I bought season tickets...and I have never been to one game. Glad to be on board though. The CR debacle made me realize that the best thing I could do to help UConn is to buy tickets and the second best thing I could do is actually go. Looking forward to it.

 

[Doggie Style]

The economy has had little to do with the decline in attendance. It is all about winning and exciting the fan base, which has not been happenning.

Then explain the PATHETIC attendance for the 20011-12 Mens Basketball Team? Arguably a top 3 program in the country w/ Lamb, Drummond etc.... Yet VERY few games were sold out! Attendance was a joke! I brought friends who were Alums from ACC teams to several games, and they commented as to how terrible the attendance was.... Hate to blast your theory out of the water, but there has been NO team in recent years, to match the "HYPE" and "Excitement" potential of that team, yet where were the crowds......

 

[whaler11]

Then explain the PATHETIC attendance for the 20011-12 Mens Basketball Team? Arguably a top 3 program in the country w/ Lamb, Drummond etc.... Yet VERY few games were sold out! Attendance was a joke! I brought friends who were Alums from ACC teams to several games, and they commented as to how terrible the attendance was.... Hate to blast your theory out of the water, but there has been NO team in recent years, to match the "HYPE" and "Excitement" potential of that team, yet where were the crowds......

I think UConn is on the front end of some very broad changes you'll see in people attending games. There is just too much competition in entertainment. The game experience needs to improve if you want people in the seats.

I have been to hundreds of UConn basketball games. Now I spend as much time following other things on my phone versus watching New Hampshire or UMBC. Most seasons I go to the majority of CCSU home games. Now I can watch their whole schedule on my IPAD so I skip most of the weeknight games.

I've been to 2-3 Giants games a year for a decade plus. This year I turned down every offer for free tickets to stay home and watch Redzone. Gambling + RedZone + Home > 14 hour day and 7 hours in car.

Look at the Yankees or Red Sox. Either an event is a huge draw and demand is through the roof or there is no interest at all.

For UConn Michigan will have ridiculous demand. Maryland should be fun assuming they don't look too bad early. If they struggle 30k in the seats will be a good day once you get past Maryland.

 

[whaler11]

As for the economy - the argument would be that there are people who don't go to the games because they can't afford them correct?

I don't know a single person in that situation. I know a lot of people who could afford to go and choose not to because they have zero interest - but I don't know anyone who would attend but doesn't because they can't afford it.

Nobody buys the Top of the Rent seats...shouldn't those be popular if it's the economy?

 

[CAHUSKY]

As for the economy - the argument would be that there are people who don't go to the games because they can't afford them correct?

I don't know a single person in that situation. I know a lot of people who could afford to go and choose not to because they have zero interest - but I don't know anyone who would attend but doesn't because they can't afford it.

Nobody buys the Top of the Rent seats...shouldn't those be popular if it's the economy?

Then you're one lucky dude with a lot of lucky friends.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Then explain the PATHETIC attendance for the 20011-12 Mens Basketball Team? Arguably a top 3 program in the country w/ Lamb, Drummond etc.... Yet VERY few games were sold out! Attendance was a joke! I brought friends who were Alums from ACC teams to several games, and they commented as to how terrible the attendance was.... Hate to blast your theory out of the water, but there has been NO team in recent years, to match the "HYPE" and "Excitement" potential of that team, yet where were the crowds......

Beginning from the 2000-2001 season at 12.5k, home attendance peaked in the 2005-2006 at 13.9k and since then there is noticable steady decline downward except for that 2011-2012 year where we gained about 1k from the year before. Last year it was 10.7k. So it was about the time when the economy tanked. I wonder if the two programs competed for more limited entertainment dollars. Instead of purchasing tickets for both, many people had to choose just one?

 

[whaler11]

Then you're one lucky dude with a lot of lucky friends.

Not to go all cesspool on you but it's not luck.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Well, we disagree on this and so be it.

Back to the original question, I am optimistic we'll reach 30,000+ for season tickets. This year I bought season tickets...and I have never been to one game. Glad to be on board though. The CR debacle made me realize that the best thing I could do to help UConn is to buy tickets and the second best thing I could do is actually go. Looking forward to it.

couldnt agree more with that post. hoping to buy season tickets myself.

 

[jdb50]

BB tickets should have 3 price levels. The way up seats on the sides and in the west upper deck should be 20$. The rest of the upper deck behind the hoop seats should be $25. The lower bowl and first 20 rows of the sides should be $30. People think the Tx aren't very expensive but bringing a family to sit in the way ups for $33 is not good marketing and a disincentive for many fans.

 

[whaler11]

BB tickets should have 3 price levels. The way up seats on the sides and in the west upper deck should be 20$. The rest of the upper deck behind the hoop seats should be $25. The lower bowl and first 20 rows of the sides should be $30. People think the Tx aren't very expensive but bringing a family to sit in the way ups for $33 is not good marketing and a disincentive for many fans.

They should be even less than that. The market has made that clear.

 

[Husky25]

I think that the attendance is a direct result of two factors - 1- How is the tesm playing (wins - losses) - and 2- Quality of the teams on the home schedule - I think that the chart reflects those two factors very well. (and by quality of the teams - I mean the perception of the teams - not necessarily their actual performance)

3. The Great Recession

 

[Husky25]

I find it interesting that we had a huge bump after the 2007 Big East title but actually lost season ticket holders after the 2010 Big East title.

Th economy and familial obligations effect people in different ways.

 

[CAHUSKY]

Not to go all cesspool on you but it's not luck.

Don't fool yourself.

 

[ZooCougar]

Don't fool yourself.

I don't think he is.

Back to the topic.

The reason why season ticket sales are bad is because we had a first year BCS QB, and the offensive line was bad because Edsall left the cupboard bare.

There.

 

[huskymedic]

I don't think he is.

Back to the topic.

The reason why season ticket sales are bad is because we had a first year BCS QB, and the offensive line was bad because Edsall left the cupboard bare.

There.

You finally get the gold star for mom's refridgerator!! Keep working hard.

 

[Waquoit]

FWIW, At the BW game I was walking by when I heard security (nicely) asking a guy to come down from the 2nd level behind the student section because it was closed. He said he'd be right down, he was just checking the view from the season ticket he just bought. He had his Maize and Blue "M" sweatshirt on.

 

[Rumrunner]

Let's hope the season ticket boost comes more from UConn fans buying tickets and not Michigan fans, or alternatively if michigan fans buy lots of tickets, there's economic incentive for them to sell the rest of the tickets. Nothing worse than a guaranteed no show because the michigan fans eat the rest of their tickets.

On stubhub now, there are about 300 tickets for sale to the michigan game, starting at $125. There are about 500-550 tickets for sale for the rest of the games, starting around $25 or so.

FWIW, At the BW game I was walking by when I heard security (nicely) asking a guy to come down from the 2nd level behind the student section because it was closed. He said he'd be right down, he was just checking the view from the season ticket he just bought. He had his Maize and Blue "M" sweatshirt on.

 

[Waquoit]

On stubhub now, there are about 300 tickets for sale to the michigan game, starting at $125.

I just checked, someone in the same row as me is asking for $259. per! I have a feeling that the trick of buying a ticket in the parking lot for $5.00 so you can go out and have a couple of free beers at halftime won't work that game.

 

[SubbaBub]

So...about 500 UM fans bought season.tickets to guarantee themselves a seat. Not the end of the world.


I'd be more concerned about UCONN "fans" selling their seat for that game to cover the cost of the rest of the season.

Looking at you Dog Pound.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ZooCougar]

Unintended side effect... Local UM fans buy season tickets and then end up attending a few more home games because it's nice to attend a college football game in person.

 

[uconNYC]

Unintended side effect... Local UM fans buy season tickets and then end up attending a few more home games because it's nice to attend a college football game in person.

Even better would be if Delany and a few B1G ADs are at the game and get intrigued by the prospects of UConn in the B1G

 

[Adios]

DJ Dogpound....you better take Michigan game off!

 

[zls44]

DJ Dogpound....you better take Michigan game off!

He won't.

I'm sure it'll be just like every other home game ever, except with more bleachers.

 

[Hoophound]

Then explain the PATHETIC attendance for the 20011-12 Mens Basketball Team? Arguably a top 3 program in the country w/ Lamb, Drummond etc.... Yet VERY few games were sold out! Attendance was a joke! I brought friends who were Alums from ACC teams to several games, and they commented as to how terrible the attendance was.... Hate to blast your theory out of the water, but there has been NO team in recent years, to match the "HYPE" and "Excitement" potential of that team, yet where were the crowds......

That team sucked balls.

 

[sanchez42885]

Another tidbit I noticed this weekend was Uconn advertising that buying season tickets saves a minimum of $125 on single game tickets. This leads me to believe they are going to charge premium prices on Michigan, Maryland, and probably a big east game or two. Given that the cheaper season tickets are $175 for the season ($25 per) that means we're looking at either a huge markup on those games or single game tickets will be going for an average of just under $43.00 a game. Hopefully its just a big markup on the Michigan/Maryland games because now is not the time to price out the casual fan who attends 1-2 games a season