Mike Anthony: UConn basketball season ticket holders have gifted nearly $2 million to university; fans shut out, but continue to chip in

[huskymedic]

-> By Wednesday, 383 men’s and women’s basketball season ticket account holders had chosen to make full payment (seat donation and ticket fee) as a gift, enabling UConn to recoup $1.01 million of the $6.34 million in ticket revenue it stood to lose in season tickets (and more in single-game tickets).

Additional money is coming in from season ticket holders opting to donate a percentage of their bill, and/or apply ticket payments to the 2021-22 season. The holders of just 125 accounts, or about 5 percent of those to respond, opted for full refunds. Roughly the same amount of money donated, about $1.9 million, has been applied by account holders to next season’s tickets.

The holders of 1,320 accounts will donate half of this year’s seat donation and half of next year’s seat donation, and apply their full ticket fee to the 2021-22 season. This will be the billing model applied to season ticket holders who do not reply to UConn with a specific request by Thursday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there had been no reply from 623 accounts, the value of which is $1.15 million.

The holders of 578 accounts have chosen to donate 50 percent of the seat donation and receive a refund for the remaining fees. Ten accounts will apply their entire balance to next season, and 91 agreed to a “special arrangement” of various percentages in gifts, fees applied to payment for 21-22 and refund.<-

 

[87Xfer]

It's been a LONG time since I was a season ticket holder. What's the story with the "seat donation" vs "ticket fees"?

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Thank you Chief.

 

[MexicoHusky]

 

[Vancat]

It's been a LONG time since I was a season ticket holder. What's the story with the "seat donation" vs "ticket fees"?

You pay a seat ticket price plus a donation price. Both of these vary depending on where they are located. Unlike in the past, you are allowed to hold on to your seat location year to year (or trade up or down if you desire), as long as you pay the associated fees.

They have a very detailed 3D rendering of the venue online where you can pick your seats and see the fees associated with them.

 

[McLovin]

And this is why, even with no fans in the stands UConn and the state need to be transparent about their Covid policies and get the players on the court (safely).

UConn basketball at a power conference level wouldn’t be possible without fans footing the bill. Now the state needs to hold up their end of the bargain. If you need an example of what a financial mess you can create by alienating fans, look no further than Example A, the UConn football program.