Season ticket sales are way down from last year? | The Boneyard

Season ticket sales are way down from last year?

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Scot-e

Scot-e

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I just talked to someone well connected and is seems our season ticket sales are lagging behind to the degree it is perplexing the staff and AD. It has been a constant topic of conversation as it appears that we do not seem to fill the seats like some other schools. I know we are a small state- but right after the year we had and the team we are going to field this year you would think tickets would be hard to get. It has to be the best ticket in CT this year right?

Please do not respond with posts about how " students do not have $$$"- this is more of a question for the fans who are no longer in school. All schools in the country are suffering from their alums not having as much money to throw at tickets but we still seem to be at the back of the bus in this regard. Normally I would understand but it seems there are enough seats unspoken for that it might even be effecting the ability of the program to do certain things.

I am passing on a conversation that I just had and I was shocked. If I lived in CT I would be at every game I could. What do think is holding ticket sales back? I mean what do we have to do- win a NC and field a top 5 team? That is just too much to ask.
 
i think it's that a lot of people can't afford the tickets or have the money and need it to go somewhere else... or they're waiting for single game tickets to buy the big games then buy the others when they get closer
 
I got the Gampel package, so I'm doing my part.
 
If the AD was smart they should put out a 1/2 season package for Big East games around late November when we will be ranked #1 and there will be tons of buzz. Also makes a good Xmas gift :)
 
I'm waiting for single game tickets to come out. I pretty much go to every game almost but end up getting the tickets a lot cheaper for the cupcakes and I have a few good friends that hook me up to the big games.
 
This is a matter of chickens coming home to roost. I have heard so many stories from former season ticket holding UConn fans who will never go to another game because of they way they were treated during the "hot ticket" times. Pushed back, pushed to the side, pushed out of the building, I've heard a ton of stories. Whether you agree with them or not (I don't), this attitude is real. They need some kind of a "we want you back" campaign. Maybe these fans will change their mind if asked.
 
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Waquoit said:
This is a matter of chickens coming home to roost. I have heard so many stories from former season ticket holding UConn fans who will never go to another game because of they way they were treated during the "hot ticket" times. Pushed back, pushed to the side, pushed out of the building, I've heard a ton of stories. Whether you agree with them or not (I don't), this attitude is real. They need some kind of a "we want you back" campaign. Maybe these fans will change their mind if asked.
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it's the same on the women's side. if you aren't donating big $ like the corporations do, you end up with season tix that are lousy seats. my parents gave up their season tix this year for the first time in 15 years and will rely on single game tickets. not to mention the fact that they have to sit on concrete benches at Gample. they absolutely hate that.
 
UConnJim said:
This is why Hathaway had to go. Fanbase needs to be rebuilt.
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Yep. No excitement, no PR and poor marketing. Ultimately, the root of all our problems right now, including realignment. God I miss the out of Lew Perkins.
 
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Scot-e said:
I just talked to someone well connected and is seems our season ticket sales are lagging behind to the degree it is perplexing the staff and AD. It has been a constant topic of conversation as it appears that we do not seem to fill the seats like some other schools. I know we are a small state- but right after the year we had and the team we are going to field this year you would think tickets would be hard to get. It has to be the best ticket in CT this year right?

Please do not respond with posts about how " students do not have $$$"- this is more of a question for the fans who are no longer in school. All schools in the country are suffering from their alums not having as much money to throw at tickets but we still seem to be at the back of the bus in this regard. Normally I would understand but it seems there are enough seats unspoken for that it might even be effecting the ability of the program to do certain things.

I am passing on a conversation that I just had and I was shocked. If I lived in CT I would be at every game I could. What do think is holding ticket sales back? I mean what do we have to do- win a NC and field a top 5 team? That is just too much to ask.
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I have been trying for days to buy season tickets from the UCONN official website (value packages for both Gampel and XL). Somehow, it keeps freezing when I click the checkout button. Anybody having similar problems?
 
We got 8 season tickets (Gampel Value Package) so I am pumped for this season
 
It kind of baffles me when I hear you guys talking about the lack of excitement within the fan base. Our athletic department has been kicking ass for the most part, so you'd think tickets would be as hot as ever. I live a couple hours away and I'll try to make it to as many games as possible.
 
champs99and04 said:
It kind of baffles me when I hear you guys talking about the lack of excitement within the fan base. Our athletic department has been kicking ass for the most part, so you'd think tickets would be as hot as ever. I live a couple hours away and I'll try to make it to as many games as possible.
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It's been the athletic teams that have been kicking ass of late, not the department. Big distinction.
 
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Over the last few years it has become so easy to scalp a good ticket at the game that buying a season package full of upper level tickets is simply not a good investment. You can almost always get in for ticket face value or pay a small premium and get lower level seats. If you factor in that with the season ticket package you must purchase exhibition games and some other lower quality games, season tix just doesn't make sense.
 
The way the tickets are packaged is the problem. Some say the Athletic Department has priced themselves out of their market, since the women's and men's tickets are often the same fan (like myself). What am I gonna buy? For now, nothing.
 
Have you seen our home basketball schedule? It can't help this year that our best OOC home game is against Arkansas!
 
20 years ago a game against Arkansas would fill the house to the rafters and would be highly anticipated. It still should be.
 
I don't buy season tickets for basketball like I do for football since there is no seat choice when ordering tickets. I tried their "give us your money and we will seat you where ever" a few years ago and ended up in seats in the next to the last row up in the ceiling of the XL center, then the Coliseum. As long as this is the way our athletic dept. runs its ticket program, I will never purchase season tickets again. Single games will be the only way to go either purchased through the program or outside scalpers.
 
FWIW, sitting mid-court in the rafters is considered a better seat in their program than say, 1/3 of the way up on the foul line in the 200's. I know I used to be there. They will work with you, a bit.
 
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You can make requests, at least in the XL center. I've put in my comments "not above row __ in any section" (normally L) and that's worked out for me since 2004-05. Of course, I've racked up a crapload of priority points because I buy the football season tickets (and put the seat donations under my name) for 15 people every year, so that could have something to do with it as well.

We'll see what I get this year making the same request. Last year was the first year I didn't buy season tickets in a while, as we had a baby due in late January and I knew I wasn't going to be getting out to many of the games. Come to think of it, the last time I didn't buy before that was the 2003-04 season. I'm sensing a trend here -- maybe I should cancel my order?:)
 
ive been out for a few years now and always assumed it was impossible to get season tickets unless u donated money. I have gone to a bunch of games the past few seasons just buying tickets on stubhub or showing up to the game. I think another problem is the type of people that have been going to the games, generally the older fans who wont get up and cheer and then yell at you if your standing supporting the team. Not to mention the thousands of fans that leave the games early which I understand do to traffic but. Hell i even go to the preseason games just cause im a huge fan and dont care if Uconn wins by 80 points.
 
Mr. Wonderful said:
20 years ago a game against Arkansas would fill the house to the rafters and would be highly anticipated. It still should be.
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20 years ago season tickets were a lot more affordable, and still landed you decent seats. Arkansas also Nolan Richardson and was coming off a final four loss to Duke. They aren't the same draw.
 
The gampel value package is 120 which equals $15 a game. Even if you miss some of those games, its still an excellent value. I don't know how anyone wouldn't take advantage of that deal.
 
I'll buy 2-3 games this year at Gampel for each basketball team. I just wish I could package that up someway.
 
why can't we see specific seats when buying season tickets or single game tickets? It certainly discourages me from purchasing tickets. I dont like going in blind like that
 
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RickyMoore21 said:
why can't we see specific seats when buying season tickets or single game tickets? It certainly discourages me from purchasing tickets. I dont like going in blind like that
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That's always been the system, rank the ticket apps by points and start assigning seats based on their seat location model. Perhaps the consumer is speaking.
 
Waquoit said:
That's always been the system, rank the ticket apps by points and start assigning seats based on their seat location model. Perhaps the consumer is speaking.
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Is this true? I thought this started in Perkins tenure.
 
fleudslipcon said:
Is this true? I thought this started in Perkins tenure.
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It was the system I believe even prior to Perkins, but Perkins restructured how points are awarded to further favor new donors who donate more current money.
 
Now how do tickets for the Big East Tournament work? I know the schools deal with them now but who gets the first shot at them?
 
As of a few months ago Michigan and CT were the only states with negative job growth in the last 20 years. We have less people employed than we did 20 years ago. Having said that, Jeff did a very poor job marketing the team and thinking creatively. With 8,000 students in the lottery and only about 2500 getting tixs, that could be a well to tap if we can't sell tickets at the usual prices.
Again price segmentation is key. UConn could do a much better job marketing the cheap XL seats to youth groups.
I know UC would rather get $25 or $30 a seat but these are options for filling the house.
 
First they should offer more tickets to the students. Many would love to go but got shut out of the lottery. As far as myself, I would scalp tickets or watch on TV rather than buy a package at the XL where my seats will be so high up I get dizzy.
 
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I bought the Gampel Value package, 3 tickets at $120. each. I expect to be in the last row but there are no bad seats at Gampel.
 
If the school was smart then no Student should ever have to enter a "lottery" to have a chance at seeing their school team. The students are the way to build your fan base.
They should have all interested students enter their names then re-allocate season tickets in some fashion so that everyone interested can then see X number of games. Distribute the good games similar to the mini packages they implement on ticketmaster.
 
fleudslipcon said:
Is this true? I thought this started in Perkins tenure.
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It started way before Perkins. Perkins changed it to make it more of a cash deal. Perkins also perfected the fan-unfriendly, what have you done for me lately attitude from the athletic department that drove away the long-time ticket buying fan.
 
Huskyhoops25 said:
I bought the Gampel Value package, 3 tickets at $120. each. I expect to be in the last row but there are no bad seats at Gampel.
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There are no bad seats for your eyes , but those bleacher seats way up aren't so good for the rest of the anatomy...
 
Waquoit said:
It started way before Perkins. Perkins changed it to make it more of a cash deal. Perkins also perfected the fan-unfriendly, what have you done for me lately attitude from the athletic department that drove away the long-time ticket buying fan.
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I think it was that insightful policy that pushed uconn out of my father's will, now all that was marked for uconn is going to another family members alma mater. He was and still is a season ticket holder, but hasn't been to a game forever, he was always in good seats and something happened and it pushed him to the top tier of the area. It also, pushed a donation in the 7 figures out of uconn's coffers, unfortunate for uconn, great for the other school.
 
Huskyhoops25 said:
I bought the Gampel Value package, 3 tickets at $120. each. I expect to be in the last row but there are no bad seats at Gampel.
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Probably be in the corner like Section 14.
 
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The "Value Packages" form Gampel and XL are more than fairly priced. I believe it ended up costing me less than $300 for the whole season.

Agreed about the OOC schedule this year though. It really, really sucks. I can't believe another big game wasn't added.
 
The AD is aware of these concerns and is thinking of tweaking the point system to address some of them - tiered opponent pricing; tiered seat location pricing, etc. Current year donations only give you a preference for post season tickets; total points governs the season ticket location.
 
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