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Topic: Student Side Question

Topic: Student Side Question

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TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
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Student Side Question

Posted: 5/27/2013 2:31:08 PM

Its just a thought but I wonder why they don't sell the Phillips Club seats on the student side? I would think they would be a popular sell considering its right behind the home bench and you're sitting behind the energized student crowd. If the program is looking for more premium seats to sell in the stadium they already have their answer.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

catfan28
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 5/27/2013 7:32:58 PM

Interesting thought. I think it's nice to have some great seats for students, though...and that area does tend to attract the most passionate and loudest students. I'm never a fan of selling out students in favor of the old folks - even though I am one of the old folks!

TWT
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 5/27/2013 10:19:46 PM

An idea I have is you could make it the young alumni club section with a price that is the cost of a regular season ticket plus a 50 dollar Ohio Bobcat Club donation. This way you can keep young alumni loyal after they graduate with great seats. That would also place more seating demand on the main student section and force walk ups to the corner sections. If the program wants to have a minimum of 20,000 sold every game this is the kind of move it needs to make.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

Tyler
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Location: Arizona
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 5/27/2013 10:42:13 PM

I love young alumni sections, but I think they only make sense for schools in major metropolitan areas. I know Northwestern has one, and it's perfect for them because a lot of their grads stick around the Chicagoland area. I don't think it makes a lot of sense for us to do it, as very few of our grads stick around Athens. I'm sure a good amount move to Columbus, but I don't know if there are enough of them willing to buy season tickets and make the drive down to warent giving them a special section. I think if we made that first section a young alumni one, it'd be pretty empty most games.

sargentfan
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 5/28/2013 3:04:02 PM

Would it be worth the confusion it would cause and animosity it might instill from the OZONE. Better to have it full with students then have empty seats because that young alumni couldn't make it down to Athens for that weekday night game.

RPKirtland
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 5/30/2013 12:48:20 PM

Uncle Wes wrote:

Uh... No.

Went a little too far west, let's go SJ Earthquakes!

BillyTheCat
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/2/2013 9:15:39 PM

Surprised that no one has mentioned OSU adding another 2,500 seats (proposed), and if you saw this, you probably also saw the $2.5 Million dollar cost. To me that is jaw dropping for 2,500 seats, and makes me really question if we'd be crazy to expand at those prices!

The Optimist
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Location: CLE
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/2/2013 9:58:40 PM

Do we have any hard numbers on student attendance? Last season, there were multiple games where the students were out of room on the student side while there were open seats in the rest of Peden.

When the student side fills up, Students are pushed to the hill. NMSU in particular, both the hill and Student side were beyond capacity...

With that said, I don't really think it makes sense to remove student seating unless you are going to give students more seats somewhere else in Peden.

Last Edited: 6/2/2013 9:59:37 PM by The Optimist

I've seen crazier things happen.

Shawn Sellers
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Location: Columbus, OH
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 7:06:21 AM

BillyTheCat wrote:

A normal stadium expansion of Peden would not cost that much for an extra 2500 seats. They will be placing a bridge of seats over the tunnels connecting the horseshoe to the south stands, which is the likely reason for added cost.

Robert Fox
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 9:27:44 AM

Related question: Does anyone know what is under the student-side section? From the practice field, you can see windows/doors that appear abandoned. I wonder if that space is being fully used?

The Optimist
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 11:39:56 AM

Robert Fox wrote:

Related question: Does anyone know what is under the student-side section? From the practice field, you can see windows/doors that appear abandoned. I wonder if that space is being fully used?

I know there are some bathrooms under there with Windows that make it look like whatever is outside is abandoned! The concession stands are right next to that.. Maybe some storage as well?

That whole stand could really use a cleanup.

I've seen crazier things happen.

TWT
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 11:54:31 AM

Shawn Sellers wrote:

BillyTheCat wrote:

Then why don't we get it done? Those corner sections are 2500 seats a piece and you could fit one in on the other side of the student stands between Victory Hill. It would raise the capacity of the stadium only slightly but there would be more seats for students. Knock out the back of the student section to open it up more and to fit in architecturally with the remainder of the stadium including strategically placed concessions and bathrooms. The young alumni section can be added to to the sides of the student section which might displace some students to corner seats but it would make the stadium look more full.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

Robert Fox
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 1:33:19 PM

After seeing more of the Peden tower this past weekend, that same solution would fit-in well on the student side, add seats, add additional office capacity, and add tremendously to the feel of the stadium.

Robert Fox
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 1:33:50 PM

The Optimist wrote:

Robert Fox wrote:

Related question: Does anyone know what is under the student-side section? From the practice field, you can see windows/doors that appear abandoned. I wonder if that space is being fully used?

I know there are some bathrooms under there with Windows that make it look like whatever is outside is abandoned! The concession stands are right next to that.. Maybe some storage as well?

That whole stand could really use a cleanup.

Where is the visiting team locker room? Is it also under the student side?

SBH
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 2:02:56 PM

Uncle Wes wrote:

Shawn Sellers wrote:

BillyTheCat wrote:

You might not realize that Jim Schaus has been trying for nearly a year to raise a paltry $400k for a FB locker room renovation and to date has raised less than half that amount. His initial deadline passed a few months ago. So coming up with "extra" funds for a stadium expansion seems far fetched. Amazing to me that we could come up with $600K in a few months for Bball locker room but are sucking wind on a smaller nut for FB. Can't say I'm impressed with our revenue stream.

BillyTheCat
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 3:45:45 PM

A basketball team has 15 roster spots, our football team has close to 110-120, how is the football locker room cheaper? I am not doubting your figures, just doesn't make sense that a locker room for 15 players cost 50% more that one for 120 players,

Alan Swank
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 3:53:17 PM

SBH wrote:

Uncle Wes wrote:

Shawn Sellers wrote:

BillyTheCat wrote:

Part of the problem is that project or sport specific donations no longer count for your seats. In other words, if you give $1000 to the locker room enhancement project and you have 4 seats in the basketball platinum section, you need to give an addtional $700 to get those seats. That $1000 used to count toward those seats but but that changed a year or two ago.

Last Edited: 6/3/2013 4:03:25 PM by Alan Swank

SBH
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 4:06:30 PM

BillyTheCat wrote:

Those are the numbers. Maybe the FB is just a refresh. The BB was a total renovation.

BillyTheCat
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 4:11:52 PM

Wow, SBH that is just crazy! As an old school alumni I received the literature last year on the refurbishment and something like 1,200 per locker sticks in my head, that's just crazy!

SBH
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 4:28:31 PM

Here's the official description of the FB project:

"The football locker room renovation is a $400,000 project which will refurbish the current facility located on the west side of Peden Stadium. The initiative will provide new lockers, carpet, furniture, and graphics to the 2,800 square-foot space, bringing it to the top of the Mid-American Conference."

Voice of Reason
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 4:44:41 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

SBH wrote:

Uncle Wes wrote:

Shawn Sellers wrote:

BillyTheCat wrote:

SBH - I think it simply comes down to do you have the donors that area ready to make the gift. In basketball, we did. In football, we did for the indoor. I don't think the fact that the deadline passed necessarily means the gift is not there. We are talking about a lot of money and while a "deadline" set by the department or university is nice it does not really mean anything. It is all going to be on the donors timeline. If it takes them a little longer to get the check in our make the commitment, you have to sit back and play the waiting game. That is just how it works.

When you are dealing with a larger project, six figures or more, it takes a hell of a long time to raise the money $1,000 at a time. The reason is that you have to go to 100+ people which takes a ton of time and effort. The way they do it is by going to a handful of people to get the bulk of the project funded and then announce the options to support at lower levels to bring it home. It takes less time going to the smaller people and getting gifts at that point because of a thing called momentum. You announce a big gift and a project that is important for the department and people get excited about supporting it and see that it is almost there. You start it the other way and you never have momentum, never get there and any momentum you did have dies along with people's confidence in your ability to get it done. Please see IPF or MPC project as an example. Lead gift, larger support gifts (5 and 6 figures) then small gits ($5,000 and less). They probably just need that first domino to fall.

I would still be impressed with our revenue streams considering the drastic improvement the department has seen in donations (annual and major), ticket sales and licensing over Schaus's time. It has grown substantially. I don't know that it is where it needs to be yet, but man has it come miles compared to what it was.

Swankster - The restricted gift counting for seats stopped more like 5 years ago (roughly). We know you don't like it! You have made it abundantly clear that you want to support women's volleyball, but at the end of the day you want your CEO (Athletic Director) to be able to determine how to use the money in the best interest of not just one program, but all programs. They think with the bigger picture in mind and that is why you will find a very small percentage of division athletic programs that accept restricted gifts for seat donations.

Also, your argument that part of the problem is that the $1,000 won't count toward seats is not backed by anything. You have no numbers to show that that is part of the problem and are simply taking the opportunity to jump to a conclusion to voice your opinion on their seat donation policy that we all know you do not like. It is a broken record.

How do you know that this isn't part of the reason they are raising more money? Perhaps people give their required donation and then see projects like the locker room or the IPF, sorry MPC, and think "man I am really excited about that and want to be a part of it. I wonder what opportunities there are?" Then they find out they can get something for $1,000 and think wow that is reasonable and I can swing it. As a result they get the $700 and the $1,000 totaling $1,700. Seems to me that if they allowed the $1,000 to count they would only come out $300 ahead with your $700 example. I am not saying that this is the case, but I am not saying that it is. If you have numbers to back it up, present them. Don't just claim something in an effort to stir the pot on one of your favorite rant topics. Based on the way the department's fundraising has trended (he has a proven track record), I am going to side with Schaus. However, if you provide any type of evidence outside of a "source" close to the department I would be glad to throw you a bone.

SBH
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 5:14:57 PM

I think you would be shocked at how small was the number of contributors to the MPF.

As for deadlines being meaningless, I believe Mr. Schaus told the football staff that they'd have a new locker room to recruit with by the upcoming season. It has now been pushed back a year at least...and, again, we're 50% below goal.

Alan Swank
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 6:25:18 PM

According to the brochures that I have, 2010- 2011 was the first year that donations to sports or projects didn't count although there were some folks "grandfathered" for that year. I've found that people donate because they either believe in something and want to support it or they gain a tangilble benefit by giving. If you received benefits (seat access, parking access, sideline access, etc.) and not just points for sport specific giving, I think you'd get more contributions. Do I have a Richard Vedder study to support that? No but I believe that that is true.

Voice of Reason
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 7:42:53 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

Exactly...People give to OBC for seat access, parking and other benefits because that is the priority for the athletic department.

They can give to sport restricted because they believe in it.

So I don't see how that reduces the money coming in. They have to give for benefits and they can give more on top of the required amount if they believe in it. Chances are if they believe in it and can afford it, they will give to it regardless of whether it counts toward seat donations or if they already give for seat benefits because they believe in it. The seat requirements are meant for the people that may not believe in it enough to give, but value the benefits so they give what they have to. If you don't value the seat benefits that much, give to what you believe in. I really don't see anything wrong with it or flawed in its structure. They have a commodity in seating and parking that people value. In order to get it, you have to pay a price and they get to name what that price is and where it goes. Either way the department gets the money and it ultimately helps to move the program or department forward.

Alan Swank
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RE: Student Side Question

Posted: 6/3/2013 8:50:37 PM

Voice of Reason wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

The seat requirements are meant for the people that may not believe in it enough to give, but value the benefits so they give what they have to.

Bingo! I appreciate the fact that you have finally acknowledged that fact. With your endorsement of this fact, you can rest assured that I'll never comment on it again.

Now on to something important like a MAC championship this fall.

Last Edited: 6/3/2013 8:55:47 PM by Alan Swank

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