Ticket thing driving me CRAZY!!

[tduconn]

Nice job Connecticut fans!

I'm afraid this will sap some energy from the players with lack of support shown for the program.

Don't blame Sue, Warde, or Bob D for lack of consideration in future expansion talks. This aspects falls in the seat of UConn fans.

What a bunch of jack---s Ct fans are if their arrogance suggests that UConn FB has an entitlement to play ONLY the best teams in the best conferences. I guess both the fans and team will be far from earning any national respect. I hate to hear commentary from the sportscasters tomorrow.

The Ct resident fans' lack of support of the program will only enhance the negative national perception of UConn being an irrelevant play in CFB.

Just makes me think I just exercised a wasted effort to get four co-workers to go to a game this Friday (for the first time ever) to experience a great college FB atmosphere.

And how many will be there for Stony Brook next week if UConn gets slapped around tomorrow night. Never mind, don't answer that.

 

[Waquoit]

I agree, Jim. Enough of this moaning and hand-wringing. Games are supposed to be fun. That's why these posts that are making attendance an obligation instead of selling a good time are driving me crazy.

 

[Waquoit]

Just makes me think I just exercised a wasted effort to get four co-workers to go to a game this Friday (for the first time ever) to experience a great college FB atmosphere.

So if the stands have 32K in them instead of 36K, that will affect your enjoyment of the game? That's nuts.

 

[Bonehead]

Just makes me think I just exercised a wasted effort to get four co-workers to go to a game this Friday (for the first time ever) to experience a great college FB atmosphere.

Whats even worse is they could have had better seats...

The atmosphere is still going to rock because the die hards are going - dont worry about that!

Section 130

GO TEAM!!

 

[CodyJ.]

I just bought 5 more. Will find someone to take them.

 

[Skiblets]

So after an email to the Athletic Department and phone call to UConn ticket office the amount of tickets availabe online is 10 fold.
Many available in lower levels and the amounts I counted before in other sections have quadrupled...

over 200 in section 132 - there were none this am - same with section 133.

I am sorry - I cant wait for football but this was handled EXTREMELY POORLY by UConn....

My guess is that they would not have updated the system if you hadn't called. Ticket office has always been mom and pop poorly run. The more things change....

 

[UConn Dan]

I don't understand the logic that if UConn had NOT held back an allotment of tickets for possible season ticket packages that they would actually be sold otherwise.

Apathy and winning 13 games in three years is to blame. Even the fill the rent promotion over the last few days didn't really move the needle to clear out those tickets that were not held back. I doubt even free tickets would fill the stadium at this point.

Everyone - just go to the game and encourage friends to go with, enjoy it, and bring even more friends with you next time.

 

[Bonehead]

I don't understand the logic that if UConn had NOT held back an allotment of tickets for possible season ticket packages that they would actually be sold otherwise.

Apathy and winning 13 games in three years is to blame. Even the fill the rent promotion over the last few days didn't really move the needle to clear out those tickets that were not held back. I doubt even free tickets would fill the stadium at this point.

Everyone - just go to the game and encourage friends to go with, enjoy it, and bring even more friends with you next time.

In my case I only go to live events if the seat is decent. I don't consider upper level decent. That's me. Not saying it's right just my preference.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Dont let the facts get in the way of a good story...

The facts are that people just don't want to go to the game. It has nothing to do with price points or how many tickets UConn held back online. Nothing.

Just accept it and move on.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I don't understand the logic that if UConn had NOT held back an allotment of tickets for possible season ticket packages that they would actually be sold otherwise.

Apathy and winning 13 games in three years is to blame. Even the fill the rent promotion over the last few days didn't really move the needle to clear out those tickets that were not held back. I doubt even free tickets would fill the stadium at this point.

Everyone - just go to the game and encourage friends to go with, enjoy it, and bring even more friends with you next time.

Exactly.

If the tickets available online reached zero we would be able to claim that the holdback cost us ticket sales for the game. While it may not have been the best strategy (that can be argued at another time) the less than stellar attendance will be due to other factors; the recent performance of the football team, the holiday weekend, lack of true reach to much of the state (something that has been a problem for more than a decade now and will take a good amount of time and effort to ammend) and the willingness of many residents to utilize disposable income in their current eonomic conditions for this form of entertainment.

I am looking at it this way: I now need to be 33% louder than what would have been necessary with a full house. I can pull that off, I hope the rest of you can.

 

[Bonehead]

The facts are that people just don't want to go to the game. It has nothing to do with price points or how many tickets UConn held back online. Nothing.

Just accept it and move on.

You may be correct -
So with your analogy there should be no other tickets sold moving forward? The people who wanted to go bought their tickets already, correct?

"I'm turning off the BY until after the game. This place is starting to empty my Energy Bucket. "

I knew you couldnt stay away - you bleed blue baby!

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I don't understand the logic that if UConn had NOT held back an allotment of tickets for possible season ticket packages that they would actually be sold otherwise.

Apathy and winning 13 games in three years is to blame. Even the fill the rent promotion over the last few days didn't really move the needle to clear out those tickets that were not held back. I doubt even free tickets would fill the stadium at this point.

Everyone - just go to the game and encourage friends to go with, enjoy it, and bring even more friends with you next time.

Thank you.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

In my case I only go to live events if the seat is decent. I don't consider upper level decent. That's me. Not saying it's right just my preference.

Have you ever been to thr Rent? There isn't a bad seat in the house. Second level in the Rent is better than 75% of the seats at the Bif House, the Horseshoe and Beaver Stadium.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

You may be correct -
So with your analogy there should be no other tickets sold moving forward? The people who wanted to go bought their tickets already, correct?

"I'm turning off the BY until after the game. This place is starting to empty my Energy Bucket. "

I knew you couldnt stay away - you bleed blue baby!

Yes, I pulled a Spackler. Said I'd stay away and then post 38 minutes later.

I don't understand your question? We reduced tix by 50% and still haven't moved the needle. I don't think there are thousands of people out there who looked at the seating chart and said, "Oh it. No lower bowl seats. I'm not going."

 

[Bonehead]

Have you ever been to thr Rent? There isn't a bad seat in the house. Second level in the Rent is better than 75% of the seats at the Bif House, the Horseshoe and Beaver Stadium.

Yes - season ticket holder section 130 row 13.
Im a pig - I dont do upper levels - thats me.
Would the casual fan feel the exact same way that there isnt a bad seat in the house? I am not sure.

Most who are buying a single game ticket, in my opinion, would choose lowers over uppers if given the opportunity.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Have you ever been to thr Rent? There isn't a bad seat in the house. Second level in the Rent is better than 75% of the seats at the Bif House, the Horseshoe and Beaver Stadium.

I prefer the upper deck at the Rent.

 

[Bonehead]

Yes, I pulled a Spackler. Said I'd stay away and then post 38 minutes later.

I don't understand your question? We reduced tix by 50% and still haven't moved the needle. I don't think there are thousands of people out there who looked at the seating chart and said, "Oh it. No lower bowl seats. I'm not going."

Yes - see your point this way - Holiday weekend and the numbers as you point them in this context - thousands said no lower it.

Still think it was handled incorrectly -

 

[HuskyHawk]

Had the program not been run into the ground more season tix would have been sold and this wouldn't be an issue.

It's a brand new day. Just win.

That was the mistake, assuming a new coach alone would spur a huge jump in season tickets. Folly. At 31k we would exceed our average for last season, on a Friday night before a holiday weekend. That isn't terrible for a team that was truly awful last year. Now, if UConn knocks off BYU, one of the 3 best teams on our schedule, I think you'll see another few thousand season tickets get sold. People are cautious and I think they want to see something before diving in.

 

[sdhusky]

I'm sorry but you cannot have UConn sponsored technology that allows you to pick your own seat showing ~1000 tickets left and then announce that there are 9000 tickets left to the public. I thought the yahoo days of the Atheltic Department incompetence were on their way out when Hathaway left and Warde came in. Guess they still have a lot of work to do. Just seems incomprehensible to me. Warde needs to clean this up. I am very deflated right now thinking I'll be walking into a 3/4 full stadium against a name national opponent but do realize that the last three years were a repeated kick to the fan's groin. I will be hoarse at the end of the game nevertheless.

So winning will cure some of this but the nuts and bolts administration of the AD needs to continue to improve. Cannot have this kind of disconnect.

So, you think its not a sell out because what is shown on the web site. You really are stupid, aren't you?

 

[Skiblets]

So, you think its not a sell out because what is shown on the web site. You really are stupid, aren't you?

and re-read what I wrote. My comment was about the disconnect between the web site and the announced sales. Better yet,

 

[RedSoloCup]

Well, I don't have to worry now about the message, it is what it is.

Our ticket sales folks need a plan, people are not as fired up as we had hoped.

We may have lost some who would only consider lower level seats, some are wait and see, and some because it's a holiday weekend.

Darn it. Now I have to go find something else to wring my hands over.

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Well I dont know about you guys, but I'm hoping for 8,000 tickets sold between now and Friday at 7:00... Between students retunring to campus, casual fans, and the like, and walk-ups gameday- we could see a few thousands of that trimmed off before gametime.

Just want a decent crowd on what will be a historic moment in UConn Football history- Bob Diaco's first game... on national TV... against a national opponet in BYU.

Can't wait to get into the Grey lot right at 3:00 tomorrow afternoon and start up this exciting new era in Connecticut Football. GO HUSKIES!!!

 

[J187Money]

I prefer the upper deck at the Rent.

So do I. I'm in position A in the upper deck. 241 - on the aisle next to the chairbacks. I have chosen not to move down because I think the sightlines are better where I am. I also have stayed in row 2 instead of row 1, so I can see over the raised railing which interferes with the view in row 1.

The only thing I might think is better is the last row of the 100 sections, so I could stand without anyone busting my balls.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I'm sorry but you cannot have UConn sponsored technology that allows you to pick your own seat showing ~1000 tickets left and then announce that there are 9000 tickets left to the public. I thought the yahoo days of the Atheltic Department incompetence were on their way out when Hathaway left and Warde came in. Guess they still have a lot of work to do. Just seems incomprehensible to me. Warde needs to clean this up. I am very deflated right now thinking I'll be walking into a 3/4 full stadium against a name national opponent but do realize that the last three years were a repeated kick to the fan's groin. I will be hoarse at the end of the game nevertheless.

So winning will cure some of this but the nuts and bolts administration of the AD needs to continue to improve. Cannot have this kind of disconnect.

I agree. It appears they are holding tickets in blocks for minipackages and such, and have waited right up to opening day. It makes sense, to do that, really, I see nothing wrong with it, but you can't allow a message to propogate through your primary fan base, which is right here on this website, while knowing that local media pay attention to the fans, let a message that is not correct propogate. They have people that watch these websites, something should have been done to release actual ticket sales a while ago. The understanding of the importance of media in football is just completely lost up there in the athletic department when it comes to stuff like this. Leak something to the press, a week ago, that there are 30,000 seats sold, and spin it positive as double the attendance from December, positive energy forward, etc. etc. The media is there, it can help, if you rub it the right way.

You can't work out the kinks though, if you don't know where they are, and you also can't fire state employees on a whim. There are still some people left up there, that were involved in the ticket mess around the Fiesta Bowl, and they are in higher management. They simply have no understanding of college football. The learning curve, IMO, has NOT been steep enough. I just wrote elsewhere, that I do think the Manuel is on the right track to correcting the problems and putting systems in place regarding selling tickets at Rentschler field, and actually doing the best we can at putting bodies in the actual seats. A stadium with seats all bought corporate ala Lew Perkins model, but empty on game day, is not highly desireable for our future either.

The bottom line is that those of that will be there, will be able to look around by the 2nd quarter, when everybody is in from their tailgates, and made it through Friday afternoon Hartford traffic and the parking attendants that are only 1 step above DMV counter attendants on the rungs of the circle of Dante's inferno and we will know what kind of crowd showed up.

I'm predicting double what we had in December.

 

[Husky25]

The facts are that people just don't want to go to the game. It has nothing to do with price points or how many tickets UConn held back online. Nothing.

Just accept it and move on.

I couldn't disagree more. If it was known that over 7,000 seats remained prior to a news article/radio show 48 hour prior, a bigger push would have been made earlier to get these seats filled. UConn would not have to rely on a makeshift grassroots effort (led valiantly by Dooley, TCF15, NoEscalators, Notadimeback, etc.) 29 1/2 hours prior to kick off.

 

[sdhusky]

I couldn't disagree more. If it was known that over 7,000 seats remained prior to a news article/radio show 48 hour prior, a bigger push would have been made earlier to get these seats filled. UConn would not have to rely on a makeshift grassroots effort (led valiantly by Dooley, TCF15, NoEscalators, Notadimeback, etc.) 29 1/2 hours prior to kick off.

Maybe.

But I have a better marketing idea.

Win. Win big. Win often.

 

[Carl Spackler]

as much as it pains me, I agree with the guy with the pic of the crazy hair chess player.

What we are seeing right now, is a marketing, ticket sales dept, with some warts still to clean up, the PR around football for UCONN, needs better work, but in reality, it's much better than it was a few years ago. What we don't have to go with it is the winning program. We've had the winning before, without the sales/marketing/promotion before, and we've got the sales/marketing/promotion now, but not the winning - YET.

Until I see both together, I'm not the least bit concerned. If we can approach 35k for opening night, after having 17k, nine months ago, a coaching change, and playing mostly rooks, sophs - that's pretty good. I was pretty stunned all along really, that we could be that close to a sell out. If we're ranked in the top 25, and 8-2, 9-1 kind of team, and drawing 25k, with all the changes that have happened in the marketing, ticketing PR in the past few seasons - then a real hard study in WTF is going on is necessary.

There have been some big gaffe's by the athletic ticketing and marketing office before, this is not a huge one, but I do think, as I just wrote elsewhere, that this is something for Manuel to closely look at and think about, as to who really 'gets' college football, and the fans, and the media - and who doesn't up there in Storrs.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Off Topic: For the record, I'm very pleased that "Spackler" has taken on a whole meaning of it's own to be applied in various situations as a poster may see fit to explain various different writing behaviors. Job well done by me.

----- typed with one hand, while trying not to strain my shoulder patting self on back ------

 

[APA]

How long can the athletic dept. withstand the financial consequences of poor attendance? 9,000 seats at $50 per means they are short $450,000. For 6 games that's 2.7 mil.

 

[Bonehead]

as much as it pains me, I agree with the guy with the pic of the crazy hair chess player.

What we are seeing right now, is a marketing, ticket sales dept, with some warts still to clean up, the PR around football for UCONN, needs better work, but in reality, it's much better than it was a few years ago. What we don't have to go with it is the winning program. We've had the winning before, without the sales/marketing/promotion before, and we've got the sales/marketing/promotion now, but not the winning - YET.

Until I see both together, I'm not the least bit concerned. If we can approach 35k for opening night, after having 17k, nine months ago, a coaching change, and playing mostly rooks, sophs - that's pretty good. I was pretty stunned all along really, that we could be that close to a sell out. If we're ranked in the top 25, and 8-2, 9-1 kind of team, and drawing 25k, with all the changes that have happened in the marketing, ticketing PR in the past few seasons - then a real hard study in WTF is going on is necessary.

There have been some big gaffe's by the athletic ticketing and marketing office before, this is not a huge one, but I do think, as I just wrote elsewhere, that this is something for Manuel to closely look at and think about, as to who really 'gets' college football, and the fans, and the media - and who doesn't up there in Storrs.

Cant even bring yourself to say his 'name' - WOW!