Dear UConn Athletic Department

[gars44]

The hell are you talking about?

Sorry if not clear. Where did I lose you?

 

[Dooley]

Maybe they should take marketing 201 next semester as it's idiotic.

Hey we sold a few hundred discounted tickets for Rutgers!

When next summer rolls around and people aren't looking to pay full price plus seat donations these morons will be scratching their heads.

This strategy is the opposite of selling season tickets. It conditions people to wait, decide if it's worth going to and then spend less.

You'd think the fact it hasn't worked in basketball would lead them to this obvious conclusion - but they don't care all they want is whatever few thousand dollars they can squeeze out today. They don't care what it costs them in the long term.

Yeah, I've got to admit to giving some SERIOUS thought to not renewing my tickets and just piecing together a season myself on my own. No need to throw down $375 with donation when I can buy singles to all games except the FCS opponents for $150 or less.

 

[John]

Yeah, I've got to admit to giving some SERIOUS thought to not renewing my tickets and just piecing together a season myself on my own. No need to throw down $375 with donation when I can buy singles to all games except the FCS opponents for $150 or less.

the more I think about it too, it doesn't help matters that UConn schedules back to back home games this late in the season.

 

[whaler11]

the more I think about it too, it doesn't help matters that UConn schedules back to back home games this late in the season.

UConn doesn't set the conference schedule. So that isn't their fault.

I don't mind it because it's a competitive advantage against the southern teams.

Hopefully tomorrow is like today and it's ok to sit through.

 

[sportsart]

I couldn't even get through the first page. I knew I ignored this thread a reason.

Yup....next year I'm going to skip the first 10 games with the hopes of getting 4 free soda and 4 hot dogs. Really?

I figured out that the top of the rent seats for $20 were right for me since I have trouble staying seated anyways.

Give away 10K seats free for all I care. The more the merrier. The people that buy them just might be newbies and if we beat Rutgers they might become new fans.

 

[John]

I couldn't even get through the first page. I knew I ignored this thread a reason.

Yup....next year I'm going to skip the first 10 games with the hopes of getting 4 free soda and 4 hot dogs. Really?

I figured out that the top of the rent seats for $20 were right for me since I have trouble staying seated anyways.

Give away 10K seats free for all I care. The more the merrier. The people that buy them just might be newbies and if we beat Rutgers they might become new fans.

I could give a rip about the food and drink - I do give a rip about the discounted tickets.

 

[Colt house75]

I don't want to be paying a premium price for a non-premium product. The product on the field is not big-time. The conference is not big-time. I want the program to get thier hand out of my wallet and start appreciating the support I give to it.

The school is looking to maximize people in the seats. Period. As a season ticketholder, I applaud them for trying to bring people to the Rent. John, if they were 9& 1, would you complain?
If you buy something at a store and then the next month it is on sale, would you go back to the store and complain...quit being a cheap duck*. Their "hand is not in your wallet". You made a decision to support the program and school, my school....so enjoy and thank you. Did you like the Notre Dame game, RGIII at the rent, 5 in 5 nights at MSG, take the down years and enjoy the good years and quit complaining.

 

[Colt house75]

Moving season tickets is becoming more difficult everywhere. Most SEC teams have demand fall over the last three years and have had discussions at conference meetings about what to do about it. As an example, Auburn had Bama, GA, and LSU all at home this year but their season ticket demand was down. Why? Well, not many people expected the team to be competitive this year is one reason. Another is the cost has gotten out of hand when you consider that OC games are creampuffs no one wants to see. Look for the SEC to start putting pressure on teams to upgrade their OC schedules and schedule an additional conference game in order to provide a better value perception.

Our big problem going forward is not last minute promotions but that the value perception will take a major hit starting next year. Most fans will not care as much about the AAC schedule as they did the old BE schedule. Who is going to generate buzz Temple Cincy, USF? WM must come up with some more compelling OOC games in order to just keep the current base.

Do not agree with you on value perception.

John, next year's OOC games include BYU, Boise State, Army at Yankee Stadium and up and coming Stoney Brook. If you are a fan of college football, will gladly welcome Houston, UCF, SMU ECU and Navy. Good riddance to schools that did not want to build up something great. You remind me of fans back in the early 80's who did not want to be in the BE and wanted to continue to play Yankee Conference schools.!!!Always complaining..until JC arrived, we began to win and then people (maybe...like you) were wearing their UCONN shirts etc.[/quote]

 

[John]

Do not agree with you on value perception.

John, next year's OOC games include BYU, Boise State, Army at Yankee Stadium and up and coming Stoney Brook. If you are a fan of college football, will gladly welcome Houston, UCF, SMU ECU and Navy. Good riddance to schools that did not want to build up something great. You remind me of fans back in the early 80's who did not want to be in the BE and wanted to continue to play Yankee Conference schools.!!!Always complaining..until JC arrived, we began to win and then people (maybe...like you) were wearing their UCONN shirts etc.

[/quote]

I was there in the Perno days so spare me the lectures.

 

[John]

The school is looking to maximize people in the seats. Period. As a season ticketholder, I applaud them for trying to bring people to the Rent. John, if they were 9& 1, would you complain?
If you buy something at a store and then the next month it is on sale, would you go back to the store and complain...quit being a cheap f* . Their "hand is not in your wallet". You made a decision to support the program and school, my school....so enjoy and thank you. Did you like the Notre Dame game, RGIII at the rent, 5 in 5 nights at MSG, take the down years and enjoy the good years and quit complaining.

it doesn't bother you that you pay $27 per seat for a game that they know is going to be a ghost town, and then go and firesale tickets at $5 per?

 

[whaler11]

Holy Christ with the retail references: The entire brick and mortar retail industry has pinned their hopes on price matching. So yes if you buy something and in the near term the price goes down they give you the difference.

It's impossible to believe how short sighted some posters are on this issue. And if you think anyone in Connecticut has any interest in SMU, Houston, Tulane, Tulsa or ECU... you are clueless.

 

[John]

Holy Christ with the retail references: The entire brick and mortar retail industry has pinned their hopes on price matching. So yes if you buy something and in the near term the price goes down they give you the difference.

It's impossible to believe how short sighted some posters are on this issue. And if you think anyone in Connecticut has any interest in SMU, Houston, Tulane, Tulsa or ECU... you are clueless.

I guess some folks are pumped about this new lineup, God bless them, I wish I was.

 

[gars44]

Holy Christ with the retail references: The entire brick and mortar retail industry has pinned their hopes on price matching. So yes if you buy something and in the near term the price goes down they give you the difference.

It's impossible to believe how short sighted some posters are on this issue. And if you think anyone in Connecticut has any interest in SMU, Houston, Tulane, Tulsa or ECU... you are clueless.

Calm down big fella. No one in Connecticut gives a crap about any football team. This state doesn't have a tradition in football. If we were in the ACC, no one would know the difference except us here on the Boneyard. This state just doesn't care. We get behind a winner. We got behind the Whalers when they won a few playoff games. It wouldn't matter if it was Virginia and NC State. Maryland is good because of the RE connection. If we could get a winning program together, if, if, if, if, if, then it doesn't matter. That's the Connecticut reality.

 

[John]

Calm down big fella. No one in Connecticut gives a crap about any football team. This state doesn't have a tradition in football. If we were in the ACC, no one would know the difference except us here on the Boneyard. This state just doesn't care. We get behind a winner. We got behind the Whalers when they won a few playoff games. It wouldn't matter if it was Virginia and NC State. Maryland is good because of the RE connection. If we could get a winning program together, if, if, if, if, if, then it doesn't matter. That's the Connecticut reality.

I hope I'm wrong, but I think even if they start winning, there's going to be an issue filling that stadium for an AAC conference schedule.

 

[whaler11]

Calm down big fella. No one in Connecticut gives a crap about any football team. This state doesn't have a tradition in football. If we were in the ACC, no one would know the difference except us here on the Boneyard. This state just doesn't care. We get behind a winner. We got behind the Whalers when they won a few playoff games. It wouldn't matter if it was Virginia and NC State. Maryland is good because of the RE connection. If we could get a winning program together, if, if, if, if, if, then it doesn't matter. That's the Connecticut reality.

I know a lot of people who care about the Giants. Some people seem to care about the Patriots.

Seemed some people cared about Michigan and Oklahoma.

People wouldn't notice Florida State, Clemson and Virginia Tech versus UCF, Tulane and Temple? Really?

 

[gars44]

Roger that. Big names count. I'm talking college, not pros. As long as we manage to bring in big name OOCs, we'll cover that. Boise State, BYU, Tennessee. I don't think CT cares about NC State, GT, Duke, NC, NC State, most of the ACC. Most of the B1G. But FSU, Clemson, yes. Local talent, UMass, BC, RU, yes. I get we have problems. I get it, trust me. I'm just saying that most of our fan base is recreational, conference doesn't matter as much as winning as long as there are some draws on the schedule.

 

[John]

Roger that. Big names count. I'm talking college, not pros. As long as we manage to bring in big name OOCs, we'll cover that. Boise State, BYU, Tennessee. I don't think CT cares about NC State, GT, Duke, NC, NC State, most of the ACC. Most of the B1G. But FSU, Clemson, yes. Local talent, UMass, BC, RU, yes. I get we have problems. I get it, trust me. I'm just saying that most of our fan base is recreational, conference doesn't matter as much as winning as long as there are some draws on the schedule.

I think a problem going forward is the perception of "big time" with those recreational fans. Ok, get some good OOC games, that's great. But at best that's 2 games - you then have at least one cupcake, and then the lackluster conference schedule to try to sell to people

 

[gars44]

I think a problem going forward is the perception of "big time" with those recreational fans. Ok, get some good OOC games, that's great. But at best that's 2 games - you then have at least one cupcake, and then the lackluster conference schedule to try to sell to people

John, that's why I'm saying, if we win, it's all good. Our recreational fans don't give a crap. They want to get out of there by halftime anyway. We have no tradition. We don't have any second or third generation fans to fill the seats. If we're winning they will come. Till halftime. Conference doesn't matter to these people.

 

[whaler11]

Roger that. Big names count. I'm talking college, not pros. As long as we manage to bring in big name OOCs, we'll cover that. Boise State, BYU, Tennessee. I don't think CT cares about NC State, GT, Duke, NC, NC State, most of the ACC. Most of the B1G. But FSU, Clemson, yes. Local talent, UMass, BC, RU, yes. I get we have problems. I get it, trust me. I'm just saying that most of our fan base is recreational, conference doesn't matter as much as winning as long as there are some draws on the schedule.

But the conference drives the schedule. Saying people care who they play but not what conference they are in makes no sense.

There won't be any draws on the schedule unless they are in a better league.

 

[gars44]

But the conference drives the schedule. Saying people care who they play but not what conference they are in makes no sense.

There won't be any draws on the schedule unless they are in a better league.

Which is exactly why we have to win at any cost short of banishment. Just have to. Exactly why. We cannot be complacent. We can not afford at this time be a "good citizen." We have to be like old Oakland Raiders. We have to be pirates, robbing the ships coming into port. We have to be like da U. That's the model. Back in the 80's da U was greatly disparaged. Not today. Now they are the darlings. "Unfairly" targeted by the NCAA, yeah right. But there was a time. They were willing to take those chances. They got sanctioned. They got all kinds of sanctions. They paid the price. Look at where they are now.

 

[whaler11]

Which is exactly why we have to win at any cost short of banishment. Just have to. Exactly why. We cannot be complacent. We can not afford at this time be a "good citizen." We have to be like old Oakland Raiders. We have to be pirates, robbing the ships coming into port. We have to be like da U. That's the model. Back in the 80's da U was greatly disparaged. Not today. Now they are the darlings. "Unfairly" targeted by the NCAA, yeah right. But there was a time. They were willing to take those chances. They got sanctioned. They got all kinds of sanctions. They paid the price. Look at where they are now.

If you want to be Uncle Luke, I'm happy to bring the strippers.

 

[gars44]

If you want to be Uncle Luke, I'm happy to bring the strippers.

Love ya, brotha!

 

[John Greene]

Do not agree with you on value perception.

John, next year's OOC games include BYU, Boise State, Army at Yankee Stadium and up and coming Stoney Brook. If you are a fan of college football, will gladly welcome Houston, UCF, SMU ECU and Navy. Good riddance to schools that did not want to build up something great. You remind me of fans back in the early 80's who did not want to be in the BE and wanted to continue to play Yankee Conference schools.!!!Always complaining..until JC arrived, we began to win and then people (maybe...like you) were wearing their UCONN shirts etc.

[/quote]

I am old enough to fondly remember listening to Yankee Conference football games on WTIC in the early 1960's. Also remember going to basketball games before the BIG East even glimmer in Dave Gavitt's eye. Things do change and I have been away from CT for some time now so I may be underestimating the desire of fans to see games with second tier schools from the Carolinas, Texas, and Florida. If BYU and Boise are our premiere matchups going forward we are in trouble trying to keep the current base never mind expanding it.

 

[pepband99]

Holy Christ with the retail references: The entire brick and mortar retail industry has pinned their hopes on price matching. So yes if you buy something and in the near term the price goes down they give you the difference.

Horrid analogy. The football equivalent to what you're talking about is UConn price-matching Army's ticket prices. B&M's are price matching against a different online cost structure and market. Sort of like Army and UConn.

I'm still cautiously optimistic that our OOC keeps interest high enough for long enough. We'll see.

 

[John]

I am old enough to fondly remember listening to Yankee Conference football games on WTIC in the early 1960's. Also remember going to basketball games before the BIG East even glimmer in Dave Gavitt's eye. Things do change and I have been away from CT for some time now so I may be underestimating the desire of fans to see games with second tier schools from the Carolinas, Texas, and Florida. If BYU and Boise are our premiere matchups going forward we are in trouble trying to keep the current base never mind expanding it.[/quote]

let me break this down for everyone meat-wise: We never had filet mignon in the Big East, but we had some really nice steak non-the-less. Now we're looking at hamburger or even Spam. So it's really hard to get up for meals of Spam when you're used to decent (but not top-shelf) steak.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

With a hire that gets people excited we have a chance to approach 20k season tickets next year. The AAC schedule, coming off a 3-9 season, and economic factors will be tough to overcome. I don't think Boise or BYU makes up for that. If I had to wager......around 15k give or take a thousand for next year.

 

[whaler11]

Horrid analogy. The football equivalent to what you're talking about is UConn price-matching Army's ticket prices. B&M's are price matching against a different online cost structure and market. Sort of like Army and UConn.

I'm still cautiously optimistic that our OOC keeps interest high enough for long enough. We'll see.

They match their own prices too.

 

[John Greene]

I am old enough to fondly remember listening to Yankee Conference football games on WTIC in the early 1960's. Also remember going to basketball games before the BIG East even glimmer in Dave Gavitt's eye. Things do change and I have been away from CT for some time now so I may be underestimating the desire of fans to see games with second tier schools from the Carolinas, Texas, and Florida. If BYU and Boise are our premiere matchups going forward we are in trouble trying to keep the current base never mind expanding it.

let me break this down for everyone meat-wise: We never had filet mignon in the Big East, but we had some really nice steak non-the-less. Now we're looking at hamburger or even Spam. So it's really hard to get up for meals of Spam when you're used to decent (but not top-shelf) steak.[/quote]

Love your meat analogy. The sad part is that in MBB we are used to filet. This really struck home last night as I watched the B1G/ACC matchups. A few years ago we had the BE/ACC challenge and big Monday. That morphed into the BE/SEC challenge when ESPN decided to match the ACC with the B1G. BE/SEC was not quite as good but, still prime. Now they have paired the SEC and Big12. Now these prearranged matches and Big Monday are both gone. Hopefully KO and company can keep the better cuts coming.

 

[J187Money]

it doesn't bother you that you pay $27 per seat for a game that they know is going to be a ghost town, and then go and firesale tickets at $5 per?

I wonder how much screaming there would be if tickets to UCONN/Florida were sold at $100/each and tickets to Maine were sold for $5. I'm sure you'd end up with empty seats at the Florida game and while you'd "sell" a lot of tickets to the Maine game people wouldn't show up for it. People don't show up for Towson even though they paid full price for it. There is a "clearing" price for every game in order to sell every ticket. The "season ticket" price is meant to maximize $ / sales over the course of a season, so EVERY game is mispriced on its own. I bought my season tickets KNOWING I wouldn't go to half of the BB games, and I do my best to give them up or sell them to other people at cost. But two years ago when I didn't, I felt like an idiot because I ended up having to pay $120 for a ticket to the Cuse Gameday game (of course I didn't "have to" but I really wanted to go).

I agree with Whaler theoretically on this, but season tickets for football (and hoops) usually come in groups (meaning that it isn't usually 2 guys paying for their own seats, but rather couples / families buying a pair or more).

So when someone looks at 6 (or 7) * $25/game = $150 a seat (or $300/pair). Good seats add $100/season for donation. Even more for chairbacks. So if I'm looking at a pair of tickets (assume that I'm price sensitive so I forgo donation seats), I'm looking at $300 for a pair. At $20/game, I'm looking at $240/pair. For people that are really price sensitive, does $240/pair v. $300/pair mean anything? Unless you don't tailgate AND you don't eat inside, the ticket price is the least expensive part of the day.

I think it is pretty simple. When HCRE was here, the ONLY games we lost at home were against high-value teams (WVU, GT, etc) which had a good draw regardless. Not only did you have a great opportunity to party, you also were nearly always assured a win (or a good game - or at least if you lost you were expecting it). The air went out of the party with HCRE's departure, and the inability of PP to win games. Now it is just a party with some football for those that actually care.

As to the math - 10% of the seats are chairback - so 36,000 seats are at $25/game. Total take of $900,000 / game if you sell them out (ignoring the donations). If we have 30,000 season tickets sold, assume the chairbacks are sold (which I know they aren't completely) and we have sold 26,000 season tickets (bleacher) at $25/game. Season ticket take at $650,000/game. If you dropped the tickets to $18.05/game, you'd have to sell ALL 36,000 of them to make up for the discount. And I don't think that we sell out at $18/game either. So when people talk about dropping prices, the price that you'd have to drop them to in order to guarantee a sell-out (probably $10/ticket) means you are giving up a ton of revenue in order to fill the stadium. And while you would sell more tickets, people are very unlikely to come to a December game v. Memphis just because they bought a $10 ticket in March/April. The money is already spent. The gate would be the same either way. And nobody would bother trying to resell a ticket they bought for $10.

The vast majority of the people making season ticket decisions are making them on a binary basis within reason. You will always gain/lose people at the margins, but at the end of the day it comes down to:

Winning = Demand

The rest is just noise.

 

[John Greene]

Your revenue analysis is spot on. It also points out the underlying revenue problem we will have going forward. At any reasonable price level schools like UConn simply can not generate the revenue to compete with the big programs. As an example Bama gets about 20,000 parkers in school controlled lots for a home game. Parking costs $20 or $30 depending on location. For premium seating ($1,000+ donation) parking is included in the package. Nevertheless they still generate +/- $400,000 from parking while we would have to sellout to generate a little over twice that from actual ticket This does not count the tailgate tents and catering they rent on the Quad. I use Bama because I am familiar with their numbers. I am sure they would be similar, or better, at many other schools with a big on campus stadium. TV money in the AAC will never make up even a small part of that difference.