Season Ticket count

[Dann]

the past few days i have seen a lot of people(some students some not) posting on twitter about either just bought season tix or am going to this weekend type talk. so i can say i am thinking that we can still hit a respectable number. maybe this email gets the buzz going we need to. i haven't seen a uconn commercial on tv in a long time. whats up with that?

 

[coachcap]

The panic button has DEFINATELY been stomped on. Notice that the offer expires on July 31st (next Tuesday). The following week, (August 8th) is the published date of putting individual game tickets on sale. Does anyone know if the 3 game miniplans are being marketed this season? Also notice that this discount plan makes NO mention of parking ticket pricing.
And my next question: Are those of us who already purchased season tickets ALSO going to receive the two extra FREE tickets to the UMass game, or is this just a ploy to lure the Johnnie-come-latelies?

 

[SubbaBub]

got the email also.

what do u guys make of this?

If I'm a casual fan... I see a two and a half game home schedule.

 

[UCFBfan]

got the email also.

what do u guys make of this?

Where are the $20 seats? It says "For as low as" that usually is code for, we'll give you $20 seats in the Top of the Rent section but if you want lower level seats dream on.

 

[metsfan2323]

If I'm a casual fan... I see a two and a half game home schedule.

I see a solid 5 game schedule with the only big dog being the Buffalo game. UMASS is 10 times more interesting then Fordham was last year, plus I always enjoy game 1 even if we are playing a lousy team. I know many feel that Temple is a dog of a game, but that is now a huge, must win conference game for us, and Temple did in fact beat up our Fiesta bowl team two years ago.

NC State and PITT are ACC teams....need I say more?

Cincy is the last game of the year and I expect a huge celebration post game.

 

[CTMike]

We can all list off a bunch of reasons why going to a game is not the #1 priority for people... question is how does UConn change it. Winning is priority #1. Marketing. Scheduling. Really need to push all angles, and for every excuse, have an answer and a way to convince folks otherwise.

 

[businesslawyer]

i agree. but if the stadium was on campus we would have 15k in students season tix. then people here would argue that alot less ppl around the hartford and southern areas would go to games. ok fine. i would rather have 15k students and 10k alum/fans then 14k alum/fans and 6k students. but each year those kids graduate they see going back to campus on saturdays as part of culture, it develops quickly. people dont see the rent as a real destination. its a parking lot with a above average mac stadium. sorry thats harash. its not exactly big boy ish which is where we want to be. students have to take 30 min bus rides and there aren't enough or w/e the issue is. the states next project should be selling the rent to a mls team by 2018 and making the highway extension. we continue to create a lax culture of hey, we can come to a place near you so u can watch. instead of come to uconn, see our beautiful campus etc etc and enjoy a day or night here. that leads to kids growiing up wanting to go there and that leads to d 1 athletes from the state wanting to go there and that leads to more grads that stay in the state and become ticket holders. the result is that the towns around storrs all become little college towns instead of nothings like right now. they can develop into little college towns like post road fairfield for example. that is what uconn needs. you can create a college town thru sports. sports bring huge crowds to campus again and again. eventually the towns get built up around that, but were not using that instead we run everything to hartford. were doing things wrong form a while ago and fighting it. thats my opinion on it. get the Fecundity out of hartford and bring the fan base with you. rant over.

anyway, i hope we have a nice spike the last month and at least get it back up in the mid 20's.

I'm confused. Was the stadium closer to campus when we were selling 25k season tickets?

 

[whaler11]

That isn't a new offer. The deadline has always been July 31st for the bonuses like the UMass tickets.

 

[whaler11]

The funny thing about the Top of the Rent was if you had those seats at the Meadowlands you'd be bragging about how good your seats are.

 

[UCFBfan]

The funny thing about the Top of the Rent was if you had those seats at the Meadowlands you'd be bragging about how good your seats are.

I think they're great seats. I prefer sitting upper deck so you can see the play develop. Football is one of those sports where sitting close to the field isn't that great. You can't see what's happening when you're too close. When I get my season tix again I'll be going Top of the Rent for sure. Used to have tix up there and look forward to returning.

 

[whaler11]

I think they're great seats. I prefer sitting upper deck so you can see the play develop. Football is one of those sports where sitting close to the field isn't that great. You can't see what's happening when you're too close. When I get my season tix again I'll be going Top of the Rent for sure. Used to have tix up there and look forward to returning.

I agree. I have no idea why people are obsessed with sitting closer. Where the students sit is especially terrible.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I think they're great seats. I prefer sitting upper deck so you can see the play develop. Football is one of those sports where sitting close to the field isn't that great. You can't see what's happening when you're too close. When I get my season tix again I'll be going Top of the Rent for sure. Used to have tix up there and look forward to returning.

Just ordered 8 tickets tonight for Top of The Rent. Section 206 to be precise.

I've gone 4 years student, 1 year young alumni, and this is my 3rd year with Top of The Rent.

Top of The Rent is an amazing deal. Seriously. $21 for a UConn football game? Can't beat it.

I would like to get a little closer to the field and if it was solely up to me I would, but can't get the whole group to commit to the extra dough! That being said, there is not a bad seat in the house and being up top you can really see the plays develop.

 

[UCFBfan]

I agree. I have no idea why people are obsessed with sitting closer. Where the students sit is especially terrible.

I had season tix for two years in the opposite end zone underneath the scoreboard. It was nice being close to the field and all but I could see a darn thing on the opposite side of the field. The only cool thing was being able to easily rush the field when we beat USF and DJ Hernandez threw the football right over our section on it's way outside of the stadium in the OT win over Pitt. However, if given the choice, I'll take upper level seats any day.

 

[huskypantz]

Something weird caused the above to xmit before I was finished,so, I'll try again.

It's not the price. It's not game times. It's not cup cakes on the schedule. It's the Product! It's the Product! It's the Product! Here, in the northeast, where there is incredible competition for the entertainment dollar, the entertainment product has to stand out.

And it is "entertainment," unless, of course, you are one of the fanatics that contribute to the "boneyard." For those, it's life and death. To compete with other forms of entertainment, both sports and otherwise, UCONN will have to provide and promote a competitive product. Games have to become events. It starts with winning, but includes more.

Now, before you answer with a "we don't need band wagon jumper fans;" the answer is: you most assuredly do. Some of those bandwagon fans will become fanatical fans if the product is good and the game experience is better.

But, make no mistake. It's the product, and the product can't be evaluated through a boneyarder's prism.

Every year I set up a tailgate for one game with my Boston-area friends. They always have a blast. A few are casual UConn fans, a few don't really follow college football, some are fans of other teams (one year we had a brother of a Pitt player attend). Much of that is the tailgate, but they enjoy the game and the overall experience and it really doesn't matter what team we're playing. Our football team has won 8 or more games 4 of the past 5 seasons. We came off a BE championship in 2010 and still had lackluster ticket sales in 2011. What part of competitive product am I missing? I really think that UConn's/CT's issue is related to spoiled fans who expect to watch a top ten product because they see national championships in mens/womens bball and they see the Yankees/Red Sox/Giants/Pats/Celticts make the playoffs almost every year.

 

[Rondogg]

IMHO, I believe all we are missing is the "Dream Season", the one that sparks the entire State. I truly believed that, after the Papa John's Bowl that the 2010 season would be it. We needed to start with a big win at Michigan. We all know how that turned out. And then we squeeked into the Fiesta where we became the center of attention as to why the BCS needed to end. Then we got Blown Out which only proved out critics right...then we lost our coach. Not exactly a "Dream Season".

If we had beaten Michigan and avoided a troubling loss to Temple, we would have become media darlings and who knows where we would have gone from there?

I just hope "DanO part 2" emerges. If he does, this could be the year.

 

[businesslawyer]

I really think that UConn's/CT's issue is related to spoiled fans who expect to watch a top ten product because they see national championships in mens/womens bball and they see the Yankees/Red Sox/Giants/Pats/Celticts make the playoffs almost every year.

This.

 

[CL82]

I'm confused. Was the stadium closer to campus when we were selling 25k season tickets?

Yes. I blame continental drift.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Hopefully a successful marketing strategy. More likely the panic button has been pressed.

A well done, separate piece of promotion. It will probably create interest and generate some number of buyers.

Seemingly, however, it only went to people whose prior connection to UCONN put them on a mailing or Email list. I'd love to see it, in 18"X24" (or bigger) at both ends of every metro-north car that goes from New Haven to New York and back. And, at various places in Grand Central Station. And, in subway cars, and anywhere else where people from CT and, even, Westchester County are captive. It is my hope that the "mailer" is part of an integrated program that promotes UCONN football and that it is tied to a larger promotion generated by the conference.

What are the chances?

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Every year I set up a tailgate for one game with my Boston-area friends. They always have a blast. A few are casual UConn fans, a few don't really follow college football, some are fans of other teams (one year we had a brother of a Pitt player attend). Much of that is the tailgate, but they enjoy the game and the overall experience and it really doesn't matter what team we're playing. Our football team has won 8 or more games 4 of the past 5 seasons. We came off a BE championship in 2010 and still had lackluster ticket sales in 2011. What part of competitive product am I missing? I really think that UConn's/CT's issue is related to spoiled fans who expect to watch a top ten product because they see national championships in mens/womens bball and they see the Yankees/Red Sox/Giants/Pats/Celticts make the playoffs almost every year.

Everything you say is true. However what it means is that UCONN, if it wants to draw the next level fans to its games, has to do something better. I'm a fan too. I think that UCONN's progression as a program has been remarkable. But we are fans. Our thresholds and expectations are lower. It's good enough for us, for now at least, but not good enough to make casual fans into people that buy tickets. The reality is that something has to happen to grab perceptual hearts and minds. UCONN's competition and the comparisons to successful teams put it in a tough environment. UCONN is not trying to take fans away from Tractor Pulls and State Fairs.

 

[J187Money]

I'm staying in 241 even though I could move down closer. Like the view I have from the front of the section.

Watching the tailgating I still contend that people that complain about the ticket prices spend 2x at a minimum on tailgating and booze inside.

For people that can't afford season tickets I get it. For everyone else, suck it up and support the program.

 

[Waquoit]

For everyone else, suck it up and support the program.

That's not the right attitude. People should go to games because it's fun, not out of a sense of obligation.

 

[coachcap]

In today's Courant sports page there's an article about the new Webster Bank commitment to UConn athletics. This gem was interesting: "They're very interested in helping to fill the football stadium" said Rex Hough, VP of IMG College, the firm that represents UConn's media rights & athletic sponsorships. 'You will ticket programs & other community activities.' Rentschler Field in East Hartford holds 40,000."
Is Webster going to gobble up the unsold tix to assure sellouts & then distribute them to the community at large? Last week the local branch was selling tickets to "Webster Night at New Britain Stadium" for the Rock Cats game. The article also mentioned that Webster will be sponsoring Homecoming & Alumni Weekends.

 

[J187Money]

That's not the right attitude. People should go to games because it's fun, not out of a sense of obligation.

For the casual fan that isn't going to go to half the games anyway, 100% right.

For those that spend their time on this board and go to all of the games anyway my point stands. Just my opinion. I do feel a sense of obligation to my school. That's one of the differences between college and pro sports. More of a two way street. I'm not going to condemn people that don't buy season tickets but I think people that are emotionally invested in UCONN football should support the program and I think buying season tickets goes along with that.

 

[Jarhead_1775]

For the casual fan that isn't going to go to half the games anyway, 100% right.

For those that spend their time on this board and go to all of the games anyway my point stands. Just my opinion. I do feel a sense of obligation to my school. That's one of the differences between college and pro sports. More of a two way street. I'm not going to condemn people that don't buy season tickets but I think people that are emotionally invested in UCONN football should support the program and I think buying season tickets goes along with that.

I'm with you on this. I could have easily gone to every game and spent less than a hundred bucks total, but I choose to support the school financially and bought season tix in the upper chairs and the donation that goes along with it.

 

[businesslawyer]

.

Watching the tailgating I still contend that people that complain about the ticket prices spend 2x at a minimum on tailgating and booze inside.

.

That is so right. I don't buy concessions once in the stadium, but my tailgates often cost more than the face amount of my tickets.

 

[Waquoit]

For the casual fan that isn't going to go to half the games anyway, 100% right.

For those that spend their time on this board and go to all of the games anyway my point stands. Just my opinion. I do feel a sense of obligation to my school. That's one of the differences between college and pro sports. More of a two way street. I'm not going to condemn people that don't buy season tickets but I think people that are emotionally invested in UCONN football should support the program and I think buying season tickets goes along with that.

Yeah, I see what you were saying and I agree. The self-proclaimed big fans ought to step-up.

 

[whaler11]

Don't see how start times can be a legitimate excuse this year. We have 4 of 6. Temple screams noon, and that just leaves Cincinnati - which if played at any time but noon would mean you probably are going to want to be there.

 

[Dann]

the last few days i have seen a ton of posts with kids and others saying they just bought. were in the 20s. safe to say but where is the question.