Dear UConn Athletic Department

[John]

This is cry-baby stuff at it's finest. What hand on your wallet? You feel unappreciated because they are running a promotion? Please. Maybe a couple of extra hugs tomorrow will help you chill out.

it's not just this promotion my friend. You need to read the thread and then come back to the conversation.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

This is cry-baby stuff at it's finest. What hand on your wallet? You feel unappreciated because they are running a promotion? Please. Maybe a couple of extra hugs tomorrow will help you chill out.

I want a long term strategy that makes sense. I want more fannies in the seats.

This is not a good strategy.

 

[John]

I want a long term strategy that makes sense. I want more fannies in the seats.

This is not a good strategy.

Job 1: Bring the season ticket prices back into reality.

If they do that, then even if they do run special-priced ticket promotions, the spread between the season ticket cost and the promotional cost won't be so wide and people like me wouldn't get as upset. I could care less about the hot dogs, I'm more irritated by the drastically reduced ticket prices in the 4/4/4 promotion.

 

[Marty Jackson]

coach flood is correct. marketing 101 guys. And the brutal fact is they need to turn on as many people as possible for next years season tickets. The numbers will be way way way down given the on-field performance, the awful schedule, and what the hell I'll throw obamacare into the mix as well. Now with that being said, UC is not very bright, nor has it ever been, in terms of marketing at any level, for near or long term plans. I would have loved to see them take care of season ticket holders on different levels. Maybe people who have been holders for 1-3 years get a free hot dog, people from 3-8 get a nacho, people 8-10 years get a nacho cheese covered hot dog, and anyone over 10+ years gets a complimentary year of AAA or a reduced rate on a AARP membership

Once the new coach is named, optimism will set in, and we'll people will forget about this season.
It may be marketing, but you can't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[Jimdish255]

It's going to be OK. I'll bring you some nachos.

 

[John]

It's going to be OK. I'll bring you some nachos.

it's not about the food, it's about the discounted tickets.

 

[freescooter]

Here's the thing John. Last year both my brother and I bought our wives new leather coats for Christmas. He really wanted to make sure he got the right thing this year since he really blew it last Christmas (vacuum cleaner) and bought one in October. Paid $600. I am much less organized, and did a decent job last year so could take some risk and ended up at the mall on my way home on Christmas Eve. Got the same coat for $250. My sister also wanted a new leather coat, but decided to wait until December 26 when they were selling for 50% off the lowest price. But alas, I bought the last one, so she went without. Now had UConn had the year that say UCF is having, you have guaranteed seats for these games. I bought mine in the Alumni Association deal where I got them for 60% of face value back in September. I could wait because I knew I would be out of town for Michigan so it didn't matter if I bought them early to lock that game up. But now there are a bunch of tickets left for a lousy game between a bad team and a mediocre one. If they had both been good or even very good this year, you have a guaranteed seat. Maybe I still get one, though probably a worse seat. the guy who waited until the last minute is either shut out or paying through the nose on Stubhub. So they are trying to move them. Just like Macys was trying to move leather jackets last Christmas. Better to sell 4 tickets for $80 than 0 tickets for $160. When the team is 1-9, you take what you can get.

 

[John]

Here's the thing John. Last year both my brother and I bought our wives new leather coats for Christmas. He really wanted to make sure he got the right thing this year since he really blew it last Christmas (vacuum cleaner) and bought one in October. Paid $600. I am much less organized, and did a decent job last year so could take some risk and ended up at the mall on my way home on Christmas Eve. Got the same coat for $250. My sister also wanted a new leather coat, but decided to wait until December 26 when they were selling for 50% off the lowest price. But alas, I bought the last one, so she went without. Now had UConn had the year that say UCF is having, you have guaranteed seats for these games. I bought mine in the Alumni Association deal where I got them for 60% of face value back in September. I could wait because I knew I would be out of town for Michigan so it didn't matter if I bought them early to lock that game up. But now there are a bunch of tickets left for a lousy game between a bad team and a mediocre one. If they had both been good or even very good this year, you have a guaranteed seat. Maybe I still get one, though probably a worse seat. the guy who waited until the last minute is either shut out or paying through the nose on Stubhub. So they are trying to move them. Just like Macys was trying to move leather jackets last Christmas. Better to sell 4 tickets for $80 than 0 tickets for $160. When the team is 1-9, you take what you can get.

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.

 

[Waquoit]

I always considered full price for season tickets the price you pay for being a good fan that supports the program. That you will be able to find cheaper seats during the down years is a given. I don't understand the outrage, the personal umbridge taken.

 

[John]

I always considered full price for season tickets the price you pay for being a good fan that supports the program. That you will be able to find cheaper seats during the down years is a given. I don't understand the outrage, the personal umbridge taken.

There's cheaper "promotion" seats on an up year on the basketball side. UConn dutch-doors the fans - up or down it doesn't matter.

 

[whaler11]

I always considered full price for season tickets the price you pay for being a good fan that supports the program. That you will be able to find cheaper seats during the down years is a given. I don't understand the outrage, the personal umbridge taken.

Because of course you've missed the point.

Instead of attempting to build the season ticket base UConn seemingly does everything in their power to let it slowly disappear.

 

[Coach Flood]

none of you crybabies are canceling your season tickets next year because they are offering free hot dogs to a few random games. if you are then shame on you as you're not a real fan.

We have these same crazy threads on our forum where people are claiming not to renew next year LOL. Guess what? We have been selling more and more season tickets each year so something must be working. If these fake fans want to cancel because of a 2 dollar hot dog then so be it...make some room for REAL fans.

PS. Stop by my tailgate and I'll up the ante....will give you a free beer, free hot dog or hamburger and a Rutgers tshirt if you're willing to wear it to the game.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

none of you crybabies are canceling your season tickets next year because they are offering free hot dogs to a few random games. if you are then shame on you as you're not a real fan.

We have these same crazy threads on our forum where people are claiming not to renew next year LOL. Guess what? We have been selling more and more season tickets each year so something must be working. If these fake fans want to cancel because of a 2 dollar hot dog then so be it...make some room for REAL fans.

PS. Stop by my tailgate and I'll up the ante....will give you a free beer, free hot dog or hamburger and a Rutgers tshirt if you're willing to wear it to the game.

Buddy you're a fool. You can't even grasp the simple point that I and others are making.

Your point is that if you cancel season tickets because you can get them cheaper than shame on you and you're not a real fan. You ignore the fact that there are people and fans who will do this. The last laugh is on the Athletic Dept. This vision is how you get to 1k combined for the last 2 hoop games.

 

[uconnric]

Buddy you're a fool. You can't even grasp the simple point that I and others are making.

Your point is that if you cancel season tickets because you can get them cheaper than shame on you and you're not a real fan. You ignore the fact that there are people and fans who will do this. The last laugh is on the Athletic Dept. This vision is how you get to 1k combined for the last 2 hoop games.

There really isn't any point to be made. Season ticket holders will still buy their seats. If you want to wait for discounts, fine. Just don't moan about a simple marketing measure by UConn and tell us we don't understand "the big picture".

 

[ZooCougar]

They better not run out of hot cocoa.

 

[BlueDogs]

Tickets are like anything commodity or product. When there is demand the price increases and when there isn't prices decrease. The fact that the program has been in free fall for 3 years leaves little option except to lower prices to fill. Those of us we buy for the season are buying in advance on the belief that the season will be good and we want our seats guaranteed. The biggest draw this year was Michigan, and any diehard would gladly pay up to make sure they are there game day. The fact is season ticketholders have taken a beating with a subpar product, and until we start winning we will continue to pay up. BUT, there will be a day when we are back on track and making national noise, and then we will be glad we stuck with it and on the good side of the bet.

The real "Big Picture" is the administration needs to take football seriously and start realizing winning and a power conference fixes a lot of problems. Real money must be spent including subsidizing entry into a power conference and buying a marquee staff. The folks in Storrs remain small time nickel and dimers.

 

[Waquoit]

Because of course you've missed the point.

Instead of attempting to build the season ticket base UConn seemingly does everything in their power to let it slowly disappear.

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?

 

[J187Money]

I'll probably renew anyway. It's not me or anyone on here I'm necessarily worried about. There are thousands of season ticket holders that don't post on the BY believe it or not. Do I think there's a percentage of them who won't renew because they can get discounted tickets? Yes I absolutely do.

Lots of them have already done so. Some people don't care where they sit. Some do. Some will be giving money to the school anyway. So what's the difference. You can get cheap tickets to nearly every game on stub hub anyway and everyone knows this yet 30,000 idiots still buy season tickets. I'm not concerned. Just win.

 

[J187Money]

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.

Right. So that's the issue. Bad product. Not the money. Bad product just gives people the right to complain about everything.

 

[uconnric]

Syracuse is offering 4 tickets to the BC game for $44.00. And they're throwing in a snowblower.

 

[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!