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Ohio Basketball
Topic:  Season Ticket Sales

Topic:  Season Ticket Sales
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Campus Flow
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 4,951

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  Message Not Read  Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/7/2014 9:37:24 PM 
Got the brochure in the mail from the athletic department and this is first time I've noticed an aggressive push on season tickets like they are doing with football. The family pack deal is $119 for 4 season tickets to 15 home games. That works out to be under 2 dollars a ticket. There are also premium family packs for $179 along the sidelines. The 2 adults/2 child restriction also was removed this year. Regular priced ticket is around $20 so if you get down to more than a couple of games its an excellent investment. I hope we can average 10,000 a game in the Convo with the season ticket strategy.


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

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Chicken George
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Member Since: 1/2/2005
Post Count: 762

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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/7/2014 10:24:17 PM 
Not sure we'd average 10,000 per game if we "paid" people $10.00 per game to attend? I understand the logic of trying to get something out of seats that would otherwise sit empty, but philosophically I'm not a fan of heavy discounting. You devalue the product and make people think the seats are really only worth $2.00, or whatever, each. You could never charge full price to most of these individuals because they're locked into thinking the seats are only worth this amount. I think we should either give them away free or charge full price.
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catfan28
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Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 1,503

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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/7/2014 10:32:17 PM 
What's the point of season tickets if you don't offer a discount?? Every school in the country does that. Same way as it's cheaper to buy a drink/fries/sandwich combo at your restaurant than buy individually.

The entire pricing strategy is designed to keep moving fans up the ladder...from family packs, to premium family packs, and then up to higher end seating. We have price points that work for every fan - working class to rich. Everyone can be an OU season ticket holder and I think that's great. You can't look at the crowds (football and basketball) these last several years and tell me it's not working.

Just because we can afford platinum or courtside seats doesn't mean everyone can. Many in the family pack sections are paying the most they can, and I definitely respect that.

Last Edited: 10/7/2014 10:35:20 PM by catfan28

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Chicken George
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Member Since: 1/2/2005
Post Count: 762

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/7/2014 10:44:14 PM 
As I said, I "get it" and understand the strategy. Your logic is sound and reasonable. I just don't necessarily care for it. When your NCAA Division I seat costs less than it does to attend an elementary school track meet, I think you've gone too low. The catch words "Sweet 16 Team" and "Six Straight Bowl Games" should not be in the same sentence as "$2.00 - $5.00 each season tickets." Sends two different messages. The billboards in our community promoting "Seats only $5.00 each" embarrass me as it gives the impression that's all the product is really worth. On one hand you're promoting the quality of the program, then on the other hand that the local high school game ticket has a value of up to four times as much.

Last Edited: 10/7/2014 10:45:23 PM by Chicken George

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RSBobcat
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Member Since: 8/22/2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,401

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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/7/2014 11:04:21 PM 
Chicken George wrote:
on the other hand that the local high school game ticket has a value of up to four times as much.


Simple. Supply and Demand.


RS Bobcat

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The Optimist
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Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,549

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/7/2014 11:19:34 PM 
Of the many things I disagree with fellow posters on this board about, my biggest issue is the push some make to raise ticket prices. Providing great value to consumers isn't something we should be trying to get away from.

In an era when the average college sports fan is asked to pay RIDICULOUS prices to attend D-1 football and basketball games nationally, providing reasonable prices and quite frankly unbelievable value is a great way to build a fanbase. It really seems like common sense to me.

I am biased. The reason I fell in love with Ohio athletics was because my parents both attended Ohio. I always knew I liked Ohio and always casually cheered for the Bobcats because my parents went here, but I never really became the diehard I now consider myself to be until my parents were able to take my siblings and I to games. Setting foot in the Convo as a kid was a gamechanger for me. The atmosphere really caught my imagination. I grew up in a nice house, but for a family, the cost of tickets, food, drinks, parking and transit to the game can add up very quickly and it can be a HUGE deterrent from attending sporting events.

It isn't like there are not higher priced options available. As catfan28 correctly mentions, I believe we have a great structure in place offering upgraded seating to those who can afford it. Offering reasonable prices so families can bring their kids to games is common sense. Ideally, you will see some of those fans who start in the cheaper seats some day have the money to pay for higher end seating.

Fast forward a little. After choosing to attend Ohio and finishing college in 2012, I am in my 2nd year as a football season ticket holder. I graduated in pretty good standing fiscally compared to most today, but I still wasn't in a situation where cost was not a factor in my ability to purchase sports tickets. I looked at the deals Ohio had and realized it was very doable for my budget. I was able to pay less for a pair of season tickets each of the last two years than two of high school classmates who attended Ohio State paid to buy individual game tickets. I will be purchasing basketball season tickets for the first time this year.

I don't view offering low-priced seats in an incredibly poor region of this country as "cheap" but rather "affordable."

"The most affordable high-major atmosphere in the country" doesn't have the ring to it I would like but I majored in finance not marketing.


I've seen crazier things happen.

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catfan28
General User

Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 1,503

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/7/2014 11:30:27 PM 
Chicken George wrote:
As I said, I "get it" and understand the strategy. Your logic is sound and reasonable. I just don't necessarily care for it. When your NCAA Division I seat costs less than it does to attend an elementary school track meet, I think you've gone too low. The catch words "Sweet 16 Team" and "Six Straight Bowl Games" should not be in the same sentence as "$2.00 - $5.00 each season tickets." Sends two different messages. The billboards in our community promoting "Seats only $5.00 each" embarrass me as it gives the impression that's all the product is really worth. On one hand you're promoting the quality of the program, then on the other hand that the local high school game ticket has a value of up to four times as much.


At the same time, though, tickets are $35 for Homecoming this weekend. The system is designed to incentivize fans to become season ticket holders. No one can just walk up to the gate and pay $2 to get in. The only way you can buy "cheap" is season tickets in the worst seats in the house. It's the ultimate free market system...you get what you pay for.

Also, what does it really matter what the "perception" is? If we've doubled FB/BB season tickets as well as revenue over the last 3 years (and I'm told we have), I don't care what the billboard says. Every other MAC school would kill for our marketing efforts.

Last Edited: 10/7/2014 11:36:12 PM by catfan28

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Campus Flow
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 4,951

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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/7/2014 11:48:42 PM 
I do hear a mentions of 5.00 dollar per ticket in Peden tacked on with sarcasm about it being a cheap ticket. That is not the real price that comes out of your wallet. Its the $119 or $170 for the tickets which is not free. Normal pricing for 4 season football tickets is about $385 which is a good chunk of money. As much as car insurance for the year for some people. If you can only make a few games a year it doesn't make sense but at $119 or $170 its the price of a Athens County hotel room. Face value of the football tickets in the family packs was $540 so its a 70%-80% discount compared with the regular season ticket discount of 30%. You have to buy 4 and get to sit in the endzones or up high for that more heavily discounted price.


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

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Campus Flow
General User



Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 4,951

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 12:14:38 AM 
catfan28 wrote:
Chicken George wrote:
As I said, I "get it" and understand the strategy. Your logic is sound and reasonable. I just don't necessarily care for it. When your NCAA Division I seat costs less than it does to attend an elementary school track meet, I think you've gone too low. The catch words "Sweet 16 Team" and "Six Straight Bowl Games" should not be in the same sentence as "$2.00 - $5.00 each season tickets." Sends two different messages. The billboards in our community promoting "Seats only $5.00 each" embarrass me as it gives the impression that's all the product is really worth. On one hand you're promoting the quality of the program, then on the other hand that the local high school game ticket has a value of up to four times as much.


At the same time, though, tickets are $35 for Homecoming this weekend. The system is designed to incentivize fans to become season ticket holders. No one can just walk up to the gate and pay $2 to get in. The only way you can buy "cheap" is season tickets in the worst seats in the house. It's the ultimate free market system...you get what you pay for.


If you try to walk up and get that $35 dollar ticket it may be on Victory Hill. At least with season tickets you can control where your seats are at. The average football game ticket is only $22.50 so $135 if buying one ticket for every football game. Who buys one season ticket? Even two season tickets doesn't make sense if you want to bring your friends along. That is the beauty of having the family packs where you can get 4 of them without it too excessive. 4 Homecoming tickets have a face value of $140 with the Premium Family Pack $170 for the season.


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

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Andrew Ruck
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,671

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 8:40:06 AM 
I didn't see the addition of the premium family package. Interestingly, I think I prefer the family pack seats that I've had for several years now over those, since they are the front row of the closest section. Now for football, upgrading to the premium pack was the best thing I ever did because the regular family pack seats suuuucccckkkk.

I am with Optimist on this discussion. I think we do a great job of getting some good revenue from the more affluent fans with our more attractive seats, but also capture the fandom of the less fortunate (or frugal) with our less attractive seats. I think it is a good balance.

And of course the tired debate of the value of athletic interest adding value to the university is wrapped up in this discussion. If you're on the side that a strong athletic fan base does wonders for your university that go well beyond ticket revenue, then I don't see how you can't support the cheap season ticket options. Without trying to open up that can of worms, I will say the only alumni I know that have any type of ongoing relationship their alma mater are big Bobcat sports fans. And the best way to keep that going after graduation is exactly the situation Optimist described...he just graduated so the guy isn't exactly loaded but he can fairly easily grab season tickets.


Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

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OU_Country
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Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,320

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 10:08:06 AM 
One of the best things I've ever done (in terms of fun & entertainment) was to buy OU basketball season tickets. I started with a couple hoops action tickets because I only intended to come to somewhere between 2-3 games, and it made sense. Then I went to family pack seats because it allowed me to move closer to the floor, and be able to bring along friends to games. In future years, I intend to move in the lower bowl, but at the moment, we're focusing on debt reduction, so I stick to my seats. And honestly, I really like the view in the first couple rows of the 229, 230 areas where we sit. I'd gladly pay more for those seats, but I'm not sure others around me would. This year I chose to increase my donations a little to somewhat account for the fact that I don't spend more on tickets. Personally, I feel like they could charge at least an extra $50-$100 for those seats, but I'm not sure others that sit there feel the same way.

As for football family pack seats, I only recently did them because I knew I'd be going to at least two games a year, including homecoming, and my cost was less by doing so. That said, I think they're doing the right thing, because I come down for more games than I used to as a result of this strategy.

If I have a complaint/suggestion, it's the way parking is handled for football game days. I think they should somehow accommodate those without a parking pass to allow them to be able to tailgate somewhere closer to the stadium. As it stands now, it seems to me only Bobcat Club pass holders can park anywhere close to the stadium, and I don't think that's a great strategy.
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Speaker of Truth
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Member Since: 1/26/2011
Post Count: 441

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 11:10:24 AM 
OU_Country wrote:
One of the best things I've ever done (in terms of fun & entertainment) was to buy OU basketball season tickets. I started with a couple hoops action tickets because I only intended to come to somewhere between 2-3 games, and it made sense. Then I went to family pack seats because it allowed me to move closer to the floor, and be able to bring along friends to games. In future years, I intend to move in the lower bowl, but at the moment, we're focusing on debt reduction, so I stick to my seats. And honestly, I really like the view in the first couple rows of the 229, 230 areas where we sit. I'd gladly pay more for those seats, but I'm not sure others around me would. This year I chose to increase my donations a little to somewhat account for the fact that I don't spend more on tickets. Personally, I feel like they could charge at least an extra $50-$100 for those seats, but I'm not sure others that sit there feel the same way.

As for football family pack seats, I only recently did them because I knew I'd be going to at least two games a year, including homecoming, and my cost was less by doing so. That said, I think they're doing the right thing, because I come down for more games than I used to as a result of this strategy.

If I have a complaint/suggestion, it's the way parking is handled for football game days. I think they should somehow accommodate those without a parking pass to allow them to be able to tailgate somewhere closer to the stadium. As it stands now, it seems to me only Bobcat Club pass holders can park anywhere close to the stadium, and I don't think that's a great strategy.


What do you do with the tickets you don't use? I think we have a big untapped resource with what we do with planned unused tickets. If fans don't plan on using tickets or giving them away they can let the ticket office know and they can resell them. If the tickets are sold, the season ticket holder will get the OBC points for it.

We have very limited parking around the stadium. Why would it make sense to put OBC members farther away from the stadium, so that random fans can have better parking? It is the same as seating....if you want to be closer...pay up.
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Deciduous Forest Cat
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Ohio
Post Count: 4,296

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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 12:38:59 PM 
the123kid wrote:
OU_Country wrote:
One of the best things I've ever done (in terms of fun & entertainment) was to buy OU basketball season tickets. I started with a couple hoops action tickets because I only intended to come to somewhere between 2-3 games, and it made sense. Then I went to family pack seats because it allowed me to move closer to the floor, and be able to bring along friends to games. In future years, I intend to move in the lower bowl, but at the moment, we're focusing on debt reduction, so I stick to my seats. And honestly, I really like the view in the first couple rows of the 229, 230 areas where we sit. I'd gladly pay more for those seats, but I'm not sure others around me would. This year I chose to increase my donations a little to somewhat account for the fact that I don't spend more on tickets. Personally, I feel like they could charge at least an extra $50-$100 for those seats, but I'm not sure others that sit there feel the same way.

As for football family pack seats, I only recently did them because I knew I'd be going to at least two games a year, including homecoming, and my cost was less by doing so. That said, I think they're doing the right thing, because I come down for more games than I used to as a result of this strategy.

If I have a complaint/suggestion, it's the way parking is handled for football game days. I think they should somehow accommodate those without a parking pass to allow them to be able to tailgate somewhere closer to the stadium. As it stands now, it seems to me only Bobcat Club pass holders can park anywhere close to the stadium, and I don't think that's a great strategy.


What do you do with the tickets you don't use? I think we have a big untapped resource with what we do with planned unused tickets. If fans don't plan on using tickets or giving them away they can let the ticket office know and they can resell them. If the tickets are sold, the season ticket holder will get the OBC points for it.

We have very limited parking around the stadium. Why would it make sense to put OBC members farther away from the stadium, so that random fans can have better parking? It is the same as seating....if you want to be closer...pay up.


And on top of that, on our campus it's hardly far to walk from anywhere to the stadium. Our farthest walk might be the closest distance at another school and cost far more to park. If you want to park close, it doesn't cost much at all. I'm on premium family pack plus a modest OBC contribution and I get a blue lot pass thrown in. You can tailgate in any football lot as far as I can tell. enjoy the space and spread the love.
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Andrew Ruck
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,671

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 2:40:27 PM 
the123kid wrote:

I think we have a big untapped resource with what we do with planned unused tickets. If fans don't plan on using tickets or giving them away they can let the ticket office know and they can resell them. If the tickets are sold, the season ticket holder will get the OBC points for it.


Not a bad idea, I would gladly let the ticket office know I won't be using my seats and they are free to resell them. But since we rarely get near a sellout, and when we do the season tickets are usually used...all we'd really be doing is getting slightly better seats for the walk up crowd.


Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

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OU_Country
General User



Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,320

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 3:01:16 PM 
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:
the123kid wrote:
OU_Country wrote:
One of the best things I've ever done (in terms of fun & entertainment) was to buy OU basketball season tickets. I started with a couple hoops action tickets because I only intended to come to somewhere between 2-3 games, and it made sense. Then I went to family pack seats because it allowed me to move closer to the floor, and be able to bring along friends to games. In future years, I intend to move in the lower bowl, but at the moment, we're focusing on debt reduction, so I stick to my seats. And honestly, I really like the view in the first couple rows of the 229, 230 areas where we sit. I'd gladly pay more for those seats, but I'm not sure others around me would. This year I chose to increase my donations a little to somewhat account for the fact that I don't spend more on tickets. Personally, I feel like they could charge at least an extra $50-$100 for those seats, but I'm not sure others that sit there feel the same way.

As for football family pack seats, I only recently did them because I knew I'd be going to at least two games a year, including homecoming, and my cost was less by doing so. That said, I think they're doing the right thing, because I come down for more games than I used to as a result of this strategy.

If I have a complaint/suggestion, it's the way parking is handled for football game days. I think they should somehow accommodate those without a parking pass to allow them to be able to tailgate somewhere closer to the stadium. As it stands now, it seems to me only Bobcat Club pass holders can park anywhere close to the stadium, and I don't think that's a great strategy.


What do you do with the tickets you don't use? I think we have a big untapped resource with what we do with planned unused tickets. If fans don't plan on using tickets or giving them away they can let the ticket office know and they can resell them. If the tickets are sold, the season ticket holder will get the OBC points for it.

We have very limited parking around the stadium. Why would it make sense to put OBC members farther away from the stadium, so that random fans can have better parking? It is the same as seating....if you want to be closer...pay up.


And on top of that, on our campus it's hardly far to walk from anywhere to the stadium. Our farthest walk might be the closest distance at another school and cost far more to park. If you want to park close, it doesn't cost much at all. I'm on premium family pack plus a modest OBC contribution and I get a blue lot pass thrown in. You can tailgate in any football lot as far as I can tell. enjoy the space and spread the love.


I try to give away my tickets when I can't use them. I'm successful about 1/3 of the time. This year I donated some for an Alumni drawing for a football game I can't go to. For hoops, I go to around 75% of the home games, so that's not usually much of an issue.

I do think a "Bobcat Ticket Exchange" would be a worthwhile thing, especially if the re-sale of tickets counted as a donation to the OU AD.

As for my parking comment, my line of thinking was solely to allow access to the tailgating areas that really provide atmosphere to those that only come for one game a year. I too do the modest OBC donation and season tickets that nets me a pass. But what about folks who are alumni that come up from the Carolina's for one game a year? There's no good reason for them to buy season tickets.

Last Edited: 10/8/2014 3:03:01 PM by OU_Country

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Speaker of Truth
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Member Since: 1/26/2011
Post Count: 441

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 4:42:43 PM 
Andrew Ruck wrote:
the123kid wrote:

I think we have a big untapped resource with what we do with planned unused tickets. If fans don't plan on using tickets or giving them away they can let the ticket office know and they can resell them. If the tickets are sold, the season ticket holder will get the OBC points for it.


Not a bad idea, I would gladly let the ticket office know I won't be using my seats and they are free to resell them. But since we rarely get near a sellout, and when we do the season tickets are usually used...all we'd really be doing is getting slightly better seats for the walk up crowd.


This would be mostly for the seats that you can buy single game tickets for(Gold, Platinum). We would charge more for these seats than we would for regular walk up. It may be more hassle than it is worth, but it would generate more revenue and also fill in the empty lower bowl seats.
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Speaker of Truth
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Member Since: 1/26/2011
Post Count: 441

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 4:44:31 PM 
OU_Country wrote:
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:
the123kid wrote:
OU_Country wrote:
One of the best things I've ever done (in terms of fun & entertainment) was to buy OU basketball season tickets. I started with a couple hoops action tickets because I only intended to come to somewhere between 2-3 games, and it made sense. Then I went to family pack seats because it allowed me to move closer to the floor, and be able to bring along friends to games. In future years, I intend to move in the lower bowl, but at the moment, we're focusing on debt reduction, so I stick to my seats. And honestly, I really like the view in the first couple rows of the 229, 230 areas where we sit. I'd gladly pay more for those seats, but I'm not sure others around me would. This year I chose to increase my donations a little to somewhat account for the fact that I don't spend more on tickets. Personally, I feel like they could charge at least an extra $50-$100 for those seats, but I'm not sure others that sit there feel the same way.

As for football family pack seats, I only recently did them because I knew I'd be going to at least two games a year, including homecoming, and my cost was less by doing so. That said, I think they're doing the right thing, because I come down for more games than I used to as a result of this strategy.

If I have a complaint/suggestion, it's the way parking is handled for football game days. I think they should somehow accommodate those without a parking pass to allow them to be able to tailgate somewhere closer to the stadium. As it stands now, it seems to me only Bobcat Club pass holders can park anywhere close to the stadium, and I don't think that's a great strategy.


What do you do with the tickets you don't use? I think we have a big untapped resource with what we do with planned unused tickets. If fans don't plan on using tickets or giving them away they can let the ticket office know and they can resell them. If the tickets are sold, the season ticket holder will get the OBC points for it.

We have very limited parking around the stadium. Why would it make sense to put OBC members farther away from the stadium, so that random fans can have better parking? It is the same as seating....if you want to be closer...pay up.


And on top of that, on our campus it's hardly far to walk from anywhere to the stadium. Our farthest walk might be the closest distance at another school and cost far more to park. If you want to park close, it doesn't cost much at all. I'm on premium family pack plus a modest OBC contribution and I get a blue lot pass thrown in. You can tailgate in any football lot as far as I can tell. enjoy the space and spread the love.


I try to give away my tickets when I can't use them. I'm successful about 1/3 of the time. This year I donated some for an Alumni drawing for a football game I can't go to. For hoops, I go to around 75% of the home games, so that's not usually much of an issue.

I do think a "Bobcat Ticket Exchange" would be a worthwhile thing, especially if the re-sale of tickets counted as a donation to the OU AD.

As for my parking comment, my line of thinking was solely to allow access to the tailgating areas that really provide atmosphere to those that only come for one game a year. I too do the modest OBC donation and season tickets that nets me a pass. But what about folks who are alumni that come up from the Carolina's for one game a year? There's no good reason for them to buy season tickets.


In a perfect world they would have the opportunity, but we don't have that availability and I don'think it makes sense to kick out an OBC member so that a casual fan in town can experience it.
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bornacatfan
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Member Since: 8/3/2006
Post Count: 5,705

Status: Offline

  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 5:46:03 PM 
The Optimist wrote:
Of the many things I disagree with fellow posters on this board about, my biggest issue is the push some make to raise ticket prices. Providing great value to consumers isn't something we should be trying to get away from.

In an era when the average college sports fan is asked to pay RIDICULOUS prices to attend D-1 football and basketball games nationally, providing reasonable prices and quite frankly unbelievable value is a great way to build a fanbase. It really seems like common sense to me.

I am biased. The reason I fell in love with Ohio athletics was because my parents both attended Ohio. I always knew I liked Ohio and always casually cheered for the Bobcats because my parents went here, but I never really became the diehard I now consider myself to be until my parents were able to take my siblings and I to games. Setting foot in the Convo as a kid was a gamechanger for me. The atmosphere really caught my imagination. I grew up in a nice house, but for a family, the cost of tickets, food, drinks, parking and transit to the game can add up very quickly and it can be a HUGE deterrent from attending sporting events.

It isn't like there are not higher priced options available. As catfan28 correctly mentions, I believe we have a great structure in place offering upgraded seating to those who can afford it. Offering reasonable prices so families can bring their kids to games is common sense. Ideally, you will see some of those fans who start in the cheaper seats some day have the money to pay for higher end seating.

Fast forward a little. After choosing to attend Ohio and finishing college in 2012, I am in my 2nd year as a football season ticket holder. I graduated in pretty good standing fiscally compared to most today, but I still wasn't in a situation where cost was not a factor in my ability to purchase sports tickets. I looked at the deals Ohio had and realized it was very doable for my budget. I was able to pay less for a pair of season tickets each of the last two years than two of high school classmates who attended Ohio State paid to buy individual game tickets. I will be purchasing basketball season tickets for the first time this year.

I don't view offering low-priced seats in an incredibly poor region of this country as "cheap" but rather "affordable."

"The most affordable high-major atmosphere in the country" doesn't have the ring to it I would like but I majored in finance not marketing.


Could not have said it any better.

Kudos. Everybody throws up the Applachia card which I have never seen as a problem. Pricing it to get the butts in the seats and build the brand with local support is smart. If you get big money from Columbus or Cincy great but folks in Bloomington Normal, Wichita, Carbondale, Terra Haute are going to be largely local. WuShock fans are absolutely bonkers, if you ever meet one in the airport you will find them to be a lot like Bobcat fans. Chip on their shoulder, witty, intensely loyal, fairly astute when discussing their teams and somewhat cultish.

Setting a price point that fills the Convo is smart. I renewed in June when they first started calling.


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Scott Woods
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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 7:48:35 PM 
OU_Country wrote:
As for my parking comment, my line of thinking was solely to allow access to the tailgating areas that really provide atmosphere to those that only come for one game a year. I too do the modest OBC donation and season tickets that nets me a pass. But what about folks who are alumni that come up from the Carolina's for one game a year? There's no good reason for them to buy season tickets.


As long as you are an OBC member, you can request a single game parking pass be sent to you if you do it at least 10 days in advance. At least it used to be that way because I've done it in the past as I'm not a basketball season ticket holder. It doesn't get me the great tailgating like it would for football, but it does save me a couple of bucks and gets me a spot a little closer as long as I can plan it out a couple weeks in advance.


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RSBobcat
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Location: Columbus, OH
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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 10:03:28 PM 
Lotta good posts here. Indicative of why Homecoming week is so great at OHIO.


RS Bobcat

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Monroe Slavin
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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/8/2014 11:22:12 PM 
Athletics cannot re-sell tickets that you turn back to them. I think that's an NCAA (not an Ohio) rule.

Living in L.A., I hardly ever use my seats myself so I often turn them back in to Athletics. I believe that they mostly give my tix to charity and some times give them to influential or potentially influential Ohio supporters.


Where's the band?!
WHERE"S THE BAND?!


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bobcat2nc
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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/9/2014 10:35:48 PM 
Andrew Ruck wrote:
the123kid wrote:

I think we have a big untapped resource with what we do with planned unused tickets. If fans don't plan on using tickets or giving them away they can let the ticket office know and they can resell them. If the tickets are sold, the season ticket holder will get the OBC points for it.


Not a bad idea, I would gladly let the ticket office know I won't be using my seats and they are free to resell them. But since we rarely get near a sellout, and when we do the season tickets are usually used...all we'd really be doing is getting slightly better seats for the walk up crowd.


We have Ohio Basketball tickets and have since my daughter cheered for Ohio from 98 to 02. My daughter now works at UNC Hospital and has UNC basketball tickets. They do have a system where you can donate the tickets back to UNC and get a credit toward a Tar Heel Club membership. They are not in a position to be making donations to the Tar Heel Club but it is a nice concept. Of course the demand for tickets there is a bit higher than at Ohio so they also have connection to Stub Hub on their ticket website.
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catfan28
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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/9/2014 11:29:44 PM 
Ohio has nothing to gain by starting a ticket exchange. I'm sure it would have a pretty negative impact on single game ticket sales.
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cincybobcat99
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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/10/2014 7:56:25 AM 
catfan28 wrote:
Ohio has nothing to gain by starting a ticket exchange. I'm sure it would have a pretty negative impact on single game ticket sales.


What about a ticket exchange for future games. For example: If I have two season tickets, but I'm unable to make a weeknight game, I can exchange those tickets for two extra tickets for weekend game that I am attending (granted the seats couldn't be together). That way, I could bring a couple friends/family to the game with me when I come. I see two benefits to this:

1) Added perk of buying season tickets - Could increase ticket sales.
2) More butts in the seats - If I know I have "free" tickets, I'm going to be inviting people I may not otherwise invite.

Also, I'm pretty sure that most business models are centered around increasing "season tickets", since these are guaranteed sales.

Last Edited: 10/10/2014 7:59:57 AM by cincybobcat99

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Ted Thompson
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  Message Not Read  RE: Season Ticket Sales
   Posted: 10/10/2014 8:54:23 PM 

The University of Dayton offers a Ticket Exchange for season ticket holders. It's a nice perk for season ticket holders. If you can't make a game, you can put your tickets up for sale and get your money back. UD gets a cut of the action plus more butts in seats.

The Cincinnati Reds offer both. A Ticket Exchange where you can sell season tickets you don't use. Plus, you can trade some games for some pre-arranged dates.

Having said that, I'm not really sure how meaningful that is for the folks who get the family/action pack tickets. But it could be attractive to folks who are paying out decent money in the lower arena.


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