Dear UConn Athletic Department

[J187Money]

These are great points. A lot of this goes back a few weeks when UConn was dumping $5 tickets on the market for a BB exhibition game that season ticket holders paid $27 for. Now in a case like that, UP FRONT Uconn should not have charged the season ticket holders full boat for the game, knowing full well that no one shows up to exhibition games. So a lot of my post is fall-out from that. You do make some good points.

I look at that as a cost of getting good seats for BB where I want to. The Florida game is worth more than $27 so there I get a steal.

 

[whaler11]

I get the point. Whiners got to whine. Of course, UConn has to attempt to build the season ticket base. Last week, I got a cold call from the Wolfpack. I signed up for 10 games. Is UConn doing this? If not, why not? What does that have to do with running a promotion?

It has everything to do with it. If you can put together single game tickets for less than season tickets what motivation is there to do it?

If you soak your best customers they get wise. Do people never set foot in the XL center for basketball games? You can see the impact of UConn's approach to selling tickets a dozen times a year.

 

[Fishy]

Every school on earth with tickets to fill does this sort of thing - Alabama is running a promotion these days.

If anyone can't handle it, here's the solution - give up your tickets. Take your ball and go home.

Also, don't ever buy anything because it will eventually go on sale and you'll feel disrespected by Proctor and Gamble or Perdue or Hostess or Ford or whoever else is trying to run their business in a normal fashion.

Honestly, some of you must have had to have been knocked off your mothers' teats with a stick.

 

[Waquoit]

It has everything to do with it. If you can put together single game tickets for less than season tickets what motivation is there to do it?

If you soak your best customers they get wise. Do people never set foot in the XL center for basketball games? You can see the impact of UConn's approach to selling tickets a dozen times a year.

If one was so inclined, one could have "put together single game tickets for less than season tickets" every year of The Rent's existence just by wandering around the Blue Lot for a few minutes each gameday. Except maybe this year due to the UM game. And yet this is the time you guys pick to go ballistic. Because of a little promo for a game that is going to be played in the freezing cold a few days after Thanksgiving?

 

[whaler11]

If one was so inclined, one could have "put together single game tickets for less than season tickets" every year of The Rent's existence just by wandering around the Blue Lot for a few minutes each gameday. Except maybe this year due to the UM game. And yet this is the time you guys pick to go ballistic. Because of a little promo for a game that is going to be played in the freezing cold a few days after Thanksgiving?

I've mentioned the issue plenty of times before this.

I'll say it one last time because you and Fishy can't seem to comprehend it.

Most of us aren't worried about ourselves. I have extra seats I buy to just give away. I'm not threatening to stop. I'll be there if they are 0-11 or 11-0.

We however can note the impact it has on some potential season ticket holders. That is an extremely important metric for a myriad of reasons.

UConn has done nothing but bleed attendance and season ticket sales for multiple years now. They couldn't even grow off a Fiesta Bowl/MBB championship combination.

Maybe, and this is crazy I know... What they do doesn't work.

 

[Pudge]

Your athletic department is probably looking 5 steps ahead and the fans cannot comprehend. I bet the real reason is that UCONN is probably working on a long term series with RU in the future. If tons more people show up for the game then most of your other games then they have some facts they can spin... "rutgers was our second most attended game after michigan last year."

"julie herman, look there really is a rivalry.....both our departments can make money off of this".

ummm ... we have had a tough season.

But, we did get 37,000+ sold for USF after the first few losses & the attendance (while not great) hasn't been Rutgers bad. (ie. Rutgers was drawing 17,000 often in 2003/2004 when the Big East included us). We have not been that far from 40,000.

 

[Fishy]

I've mentioned the issue plenty of times before this.

I'll say it one last time because you and Fishy can't seem to comprehend it.

We know what you're saying - we just don't agree with you. I'm amazed some school hasn't scooped some of you up to run their business - lots of self-styled promotional experts going to waste here.

 

[whaler11]

We know what you're saying - we just don't agree with you. I'm amazed some school hasn't scooped some of you up to run their business - lots of self-styled promotional experts going to waste here.

Well I guess the numbers lie then. All is well - they have really capitalized on their athletic success. The acres of empty seats at XL are a feature not a bug.

 

[Kgun7]

I've mentioned the issue plenty of times before this.

I'll say it one last time because you and Fishy can't seem to comprehend it.

Most of us aren't worried about ourselves. I have extra seats I buy to just give away. I'm not threatening to stop. I'll be there if they are 0-11 or 11-0.

We however can note the impact it has on some potential season ticket holders. That is an extremely important metric for a myriad of reasons.

UConn has done nothing but bleed attendance and season ticket sales for multiple years now. They couldn't even grow off a Fiesta Bowl/MBB championship combination.

Maybe, and this is crazy I know... What they do doesn't work.

Serious question: What do you propose they do besides not selling discounted tickets?

 

[whaler11]

Serious question: What do you propose they do besides not selling discounted tickets?

I propose they do nothing until the spring when they start selling season tickets and price those at a level that increase the base.

That of course requires they miss out on selling a few hundred tickets at $20 - because ten thousand dollars is certainly worth it.

Have an actual strategy beyond OMG we have extra tickets this week - what can we get for them!

 

[John]

I propose they do nothing until the spring when they start selling season tickets and price those at a level that increase the base.

That of course requires they miss out on selling a few hundred tickets at $20 - because ten thousand dollars is certainly worth it.

Have an actual strategy beyond OMG we have extra tickets this week - what can we get for them!

BINGO.

 

[uconnric]

BINGO.

So how does UConn fill the seats late in a dismal season? Any thoughts? Hint: Discount the seats.

 

[Kgun7]

I propose they do nothing until the spring when they start selling season tickets and price those at a level that increase the base.

That of course requires they miss out on selling a few hundred tickets at $20 - because ten thousand dollars is certainly worth it.

Have an actual strategy beyond OMG we have extra tickets this week - what can we get for them!

Fair enough. At least each theory can be quantified with actual data. I'm pretty sure UCONN used some Florida based consulting firm when they set the original pricing back when the Rent first opened.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

The people "whining" about this are going to continue buying season tickets. Us "whiners" want to see as many people buy season tickets for the overall health of the program.

While economic factors, poor play, etc, has contributed to the steady drop off in season tickets........in the miserable year of 2006 (which comparatively seems like Utopia right now) we had a lot more season ticket holders than we did in 2011. A year coming off a Fiesta Bowl appearance and 4 straight bowl games.

What UConn has been doing to grow this fanbase has simply not worked.

 

[whaler11]

So how does UConn fill the seats late in a dismal season? Any thoughts? Hint: Discount the seats.

The goal would be that if you execute a legitimate strategy you don't have a ton of inventory left. Gee another benefit of selling season tickets is they are sold before people know you are 1-9 or that it's cold.

It takes thinking beyond Rutgers and Memphis. You need to have the long term vision that 500 tickets on Saturday aren't more important than the long term.

 

[Fishy]

You guys need to get your resumes to the athletic department.

I'm sure they've just randomly priced season tickets without any regard for any external influences.

They need you guys.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

You guys need to get your resumes to the athletic department.

I'm sure they've just randomly priced season tickets without any regard for any external influences.

They need you guys.

I will guarantee you that whaler and I would come up with a better plan than giving our most loyal customers $2 off hot dogs and drinks before kickoff.

 

[John]

So how does UConn fill the seats late in a dismal season? Any thoughts? Hint: Discount the seats.

UConn discounts tickets at the beginning of the season. What does that tell you? Tickets are overpriced.

 

[Fishy]

I will guarantee you that whaler and I would come up with a better plan than giving our most loyal customers $2 off hot dogs and drinks before kickoff.

Sure sounds like you guys have your fingers on the pulse.

Damned shame you're wasting away on a message board when you should be in Storrs shouting important things into a phone.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Sure sounds like you guys have your fingers on the pulse.

Damned shame you're wasting away on a message board when you should be in Storrs shouting important things into a phone.

Hey, P made a 7 figure salary while he was here.

Did you refuse to criticize him because you weren't a coaching professional? Results matter.

 

[John]

Sure sounds like you guys have your fingers on the pulse.

Damned shame you're wasting away on a message board when you should be in Storrs shouting important things into a phone.

I can't believe you think this tone-deaf Athletic Department is doing a bang-up job, but there it is.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

It is rather ridiculous to be able to get to nearly every game with a promotion, for cheaper than season tickets.

It's a struggle every year trying to convince my group to get the season tickets because of that.

Not sure what the huge issue people are having with UConn reevaluating the ticket pricing model. Some of you act like the UConn athletic dept. is some well oiled machine that couldn't possibly be wrong. I'd argue based on a lot of decisions, that anything they do right would be shocking.

 

[whaler11]

You guys need to get your resumes to the athletic department.

I'm sure they've just randomly priced season tickets without any regard for any external influences.

They need you guys.

Yeah we have the evidence, you have the insults.

In your mind you win that argument.

 

[whaler11]

Sure sounds like you guys have your fingers on the pulse.

Damned shame you're wasting away on a message board when you should be in Storrs shouting important things into a phone.

Actually I sort of do. You know all that actually being here and interacting on a daily basis with dozens of current and former ticket holders across different demographics. If you actually listen to them there is a quantity of feedback one might translate into the saying 'having your finger on the pulse'.

Certainly no other experience selling things can possibly give one an informed opinion. Better to have no opinion and let the geniuses in Storrs start pricing how much curtains might cost to hang on the second deck of the XL Center.

 

[pepband99]

Why can't you get through your thick head that this temporary pricing model (due to a crappy season, cold weather, etc), and the long-term ticketing strategy aren't all that connected?

EVERY sports franchise does this - ask Giant or Jet season ticket holders what they think of their PSL's when the teams are now selling tickets at a discount to avoid blackouts...

UConn is on the same curve that just about every college team is on now, as well - the $$$ is difficult to justify for many. Attendance is down everywhere.