No outrage over UConn's ticket policy?

[cardfan]

There is a predetermined number of tickets reserved for each school in the Final Four.

Once they've sold that allotment, it's gone - they cannot get more unless there are returns from other schools. (Unlikely.)

WorldTek is buying tickets on the secondary markets from fans - they'll do that because they're in the business of selling travel packages and they won't sell many without tickets.

The ticket allotment per school is 800, or least used to be, it could be as low as 500 now. Whatever the number is, it is way too low! In years past, schools that did not sell their allotment were required to give them back to the NCAA. I know that happened for Stanford one year (STL?). We sold ours out for Nashville, which kind of surprised me given many fans I know are not going due to high cost (flights from bay area were $$$ and hotels in Nashville were insanely expensive). Other fans may have called our ticket office as well. I did my part and got 2 tickets for UConn fans in the Stanford section. They've always been nice fans and I can't make it this yr.

edited to add, Stanford did not have a package. $200 face value for all fans. easy peasey.

 

[sTu]

The only response that will change UConn's behavior is a season ticket boycott that is supported by whatever percentage of fans that will make UConn take notice.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Just to chime in that, as Fishy says, the allotment is what it is. For the Final 4, quite small, but still enough to accommodate the majority of school's traveling contingent, especially if it isn't "local". For example, RU had issues with the Philadelphia Final Four tickets that they didn't face with the Cleveland ones.

That said, the conundrum is also between really, really big givers that want to attend the "event" vs. good givers that support WBB and have season tickets vs. the fans that have been putting their butts in the seats for years, attend away games often, but may not be the biggest givers.

 

[Fishy]

The only response that will change UConn's behavior is a season ticket boycott that is supported by whatever percentage of fans that will make UConn take notice.

That is a great idea.

The school is trying to compete with schools making 12, 15, 20 times what they're making in television and conference revenue - but you go ahead and boycott it because you're miffed that they're trying to make hay while the sun shines.

 

[sTu]

"The school is trying to compete with schools making 12, 15, 20 times what they're making in television and conference revenue - but you go ahead and boycott it because you're miffed that they're trying to make hay while the sun shines."

I would, you do not have to if that is your take on their behavior.

 

[zls44]

Say what you will about certain people in the athletic department...Neil Eskin is one of the nicest people I met at UConn. He's a really good guy. Don't take it all out on him.

 

[Waquoit]

I don't understand the outrage. Just an incredible sense of entitlement being shown here.

 

[UcMiami]

Waq - I agree to a certain extent. It really does get down to numbers of season ticket holders and allotments which do not match. And of course the opposite is true with Uconn's bowl appearances which have been financial disasters because the 'allotment' actually has to be paid for by the school and they have never sold out I believe.
And sorry, but Uconn does not dictate anything to the NCAA or to the conference - part of the reason Uconn has had 'home' conference tournaments for the last ten years is because of the bid process and better financial deal the conferences have gotten at the CT venues. If Uconn demanded preferential treatment, the BE and AAC probably would have gone to Louisville or another location that was a lot less advantageous to Uconn season ticket holders and fans in general, and to the team as well.
That said - OK, sell x% of ticket allotment as a package deal to season ticket holders and the remainder as a ticket only lottery for the rest would not be a bad idea, but you would still have a bunch of season ticket holders that had no chance at a ticket from the Uconn allotment.
There is a very good reason that fans across the country buy direct from the venue as soon as the tickets go on sale every year, and a lot more end up buying from resellers or team fans whose teams didn't make it. If you are depending on Uconn for your ticket chances are you will be disappointed. And it isn't just the high roller or corporate folks that are getting in first, but it is a state school and between administration and state officials being first in line whatever the initial allotment is, season ticket holders are not first in line. State schools have to keep state officials happy.

 

[WestHartHusk]

"The school is trying to compete with schools making 12, 15, 20 times what they're making in television and conference revenue - but you go ahead and boycott it because you're miffed that they're trying to make hay while the sun shines."

I would, you do not have to if that is your take on their behavior.

What you are advocating is cutting off your nose to spite the entire university.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

What you are advocating is cutting off your nose to spite the entire university.

There is nothing wrong with making $ to run programs! You just don't have to disrespect your fans who have been loyal, some for 25+ years! The fans have nothing to do now with any decisions made by the Athletic Dept.
To show how cheap the University has gotten....... They used to honor their great players with full-sized posters. Starting with Svet A., D. Taurasi, Barb Turner $ A. Strother, Maya Moore & R. Montgomery, and finally M. Moore again. When Tina Charles was a senior she was both the rebounding and scoring record holder. When the company planning on doing her poster backed out at the last moment, the University scrapped plans for the poster and never honored Tina's accomplishments! They also had SENIOR DAY POSTERS put out by CAREERbuilder of all the seniors in game action photos. It cost extra $ so they no longer do that either! You do not scrimp on what made you such a special program! Honor your stars with something extra special!

 

[huskiemaniac]

This has nothing to do with thee school...they had 500 tickets and they were soldout after the first couple levels of donors (the biggest donors). They can't sell tix they don't have. Complain to the NCAA...they're the ones giving a ridiculously low level of tix to the schools. We have a friend who works for Buffalo Wild Wings and he has 4 tix at midcourt, 4 th row because they're a sponsor. Unfortunately they need the sponsor money so they get the great tix too.