Shama: Gophers Football Season Ticket Sales Down Slightly from 2024; third consecutive year of decline in public season tickets

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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Per Shama:

As of this week, the University of Minnesota reports the Athletic Department has sold 23,089 public season football tickets. This is the third consecutive year of decline in public season tickets. The 2024 total was 23,592 total and in 2023 25,396 tickets were sold.

This year and in the past Sports Headliners requested and received ticket sales information from the University through the public records process. The public season tickets total includes the Gopher Pass and faculty-staff purchases. The Gopher Pass is a mobile ticket that allows fans access to all home games with either a seat or standing room if the game is sold out.

The U reports 7,924 student season tickets sold, after that total was 8,013 last year and 8,545 in 2023. Students can pay $116 and have a football season ticket. For $277 a ticket can be purchased for men’s hockey, men’s basketball and football. A third option is to pay $192 for football and choose either men’s hockey or men’s basketball season admission.


Go Gophers!!
 



I keep a tally every year when I see the numbers published. Note: Shama's numbers for 2023 differ slightly from what I had seen published 2 years ago.

As a reminder
2015 - first year of fee increase...Kill resigns midseason
2016 - second year of fee increase...Claeys first (and only) season
2017 - fee increase cancelled. Fleck's first season

We have never recovered from those fee increases.

Season tix sold
2013​
33284​
2014​
33385​
2015​
27885​
2016​
22706​
2017​
22990​
2018​
21682​
2019​
21689​
2021​
23636​
2022​
23443​
2023​
25317 or 25396​
2024​
23592​
2025​
23089​
 

From what I can find, it looks like the Gopher pass went from $199 in 2023 to $249 in 2024 and the cheapest option other than that went from $249 to $310. A 25% price increase is going to cause season ticket sales to drop and even with prices staying the same from 2024 to 2025, the economy and personal finances outside of the upper class are heading in the wrong direction.
 



Unless you're *at least* comfortably well off, season tickets are expensive as hell. It's a lot easier to watch at home with your family, eat whatever you want, taking advantage of central Heat/AC.

I'm a dedicated fan, and I plan to attend one game in person this year.
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
I keep a tally every year when I see the numbers published. Note: Shama's numbers for 2023 differ slightly from what I had seen published 2 years ago.

As a reminder
2015 - first year of fee increase...Kill resigns midseason
2016 - second year of fee increase...Claeys first (and only) season
2017 - fee increase cancelled. Fleck's first season

We have never recovered from those fee increases.

Season tix sold
2013​
33284​
2014​
33385​
2015​
27885​
2016​
22706​
2017​
22990​
2018​
21682​
2019​
21689​
2021​
23636​
2022​
23443​
2023​
25317 or 25396​
2024​
23592​
2025​
23089​
Click to expand...

WOW! Thanks for keeping this. A 30.8% decrease in season tickets since the fee increase, that is brutal and this is despite some really good seasons in there, some big wins and the entire Fleck Era which has brought positive energy to the program and national recognition.

Thanks Mega Tongue.

Go Gophers!!
 

BleedGopher said:
WOW! Thanks for keeping this. A 30.8% decrease in season tickets since the fee increase, that is brutal and this is despite some really good seasons in there, some big wins and the entire Fleck Era which has brought positive energy to the program and national recognition.

Thanks Mega Tongue.

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...

In the overall budget picture, I have to think the Fees have increased revenue beyond the just the price of tickets to make it worth it. Substantially so.

Otherwise, it would of have been ditched completely instead of frozen.

Plus they can sell the extra inventory on a per game basis.
 



People are feeling the pain in their wallets everywhere and for us: super high taxation state, with billions of our taxes being stolen by a small subset of people, high income people leaving the state leaving others to foot the bill more and more every year with crazy increases in property taxes, energy bills, etc.

New teams coming in to the conference making hope of a Big Ten title almost non-existent.

Just a tough battle to win.
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
I keep a tally every year when I see the numbers published. Note: Shama's numbers for 2023 differ slightly from what I had seen published 2 years ago.

As a reminder
2015 - first year of fee increase...Kill resigns midseason
2016 - second year of fee increase...Claeys first (and only) season
2017 - fee increase cancelled. Fleck's first season

We have never recovered from those fee increases.

Season tix sold
2013​
33284​
2014​
33385​
2015​
27885​
2016​
22706​
2017​
22990​
2018​
21682​
2019​
21689​
2021​
23636​
2022​
23443​
2023​
25317 or 25396​
2024​
23592​
2025​
23089​
Click to expand...
Thank you for keeping these records that I'm too lazy to keep. Any chance you have one for bball too?

I remember when Norwood introduced the fees...and just was thinking, you've got to wait until there's a really good year/demand to do this for the programs. It's REALLY hard to get fans back after they leave. You go from scheduling your whole life around the games, to maybe catching them on TV.
 


Wow only $116 for a student season ticket? That’s a great deal to see an entertaining team. My son’s at Ohio State was $350, although they do get the defending national champs with home games against Texas and Penn State.
 



WindyCityGopher said:
Wow only $116 for a student season ticket? That’s a great deal to see an entertaining team. My son’s at Ohio State was $350, although they do get the defending national champs with home games against Texas and Penn State.
Click to expand...
Ummm ya, they get to see a perennial title contender lol
 

I had season tickets until 2015. There's been minimal effort to try and lure us back. I'm fine going to a couple games a year at this point, but if they'd make any sort of effort, I'd at least be willing to listen.
 

Honestly this is a meaningless number because they don’t price them to sell out they price them to maximize profit.
They literally don’t want the stadium sold out or they would miss revenue on the big money games.
They’re content having 44k against northwestern state to charge more for other games
 

Some guy said:
Honestly this is a meaningless number because they don’t price them to sell out they price them to maximize profit.
They literally don’t want the stadium sold out or they would miss revenue on the big money games.
They’re content having 44k against northwestern state to charge more for other games
Click to expand...
Bodies in seats = concession and merch revenue. You want the stadium full every game
 

This might be my last year. Too many people find cheaper ways into games. I can leave my house and be in my seat in less than an hour.

Would rather go to a few different sporting events each year.

Economy is much worse than some think. Unemployment report was not good today.
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
I had season tickets until 2015. There's been minimal effort to try and lure us back. I'm fine going to a couple games a year at this point, but if they'd make any sort of effort, I'd at least be willing to listen.
Click to expand...
I dropped mine after the big price increase but have been doing the Gopher pass for a few years. They definitely have tried to get me back. Calls, emails.
 

Some guy said:
Honestly this is a meaningless number because they don’t price them to sell out they price them to maximize profit.
They literally don’t want the stadium sold out or they would miss revenue on the big money games.
They’re content having 44k against northwestern state to charge more for other games
Click to expand...
And, IDK the answer but does the increase in ticket prices total more revenue with less total sold than the higher total number at less money?
Coyle is the AD...I assume he is responsible for guy whose job it is to market and sell season tickets ? Same is true for the fundraising guy. We sre not good in either area...let alone elite.
Northwestern State should not have been an approved opponent...the men's and women's basketball schedules shouldn't be allowed to rank well over 100th each preseason in strength of schedule. This is a factor in ticket sales. The coaches are responsible to Coyle...obviously he is allowing them to schedule bad, bad teams.
What does Coyle do well?
 


GopherLady said:
Thank you for keeping these records that I'm too lazy to keep. Any chance you have one for bball too?

I remember when Norwood introduced the fees...and just was thinking, you've got to wait until there's a really good year/demand to do this for the programs. It's REALLY hard to get fans back after they leave. You go from scheduling your whole life around the games, to maybe catching them on TV.
Click to expand...
I don't have bball, sorry.
 


60's Guy said:
And, IDK the answer but does the increase in ticket prices total more revenue with less total sold than the higher total number at less money?
Coyle is the AD...I assume he is responsible for guy whose job it is to market and sell season tickets ? Same is true for the fundraising guy. We sre not good in either area...let alone elite.
Northwestern State should not have been an approved opponent...the men's and women's basketball schedules shouldn't be allowed to rank well over 100th each preseason in strength of schedule. This is a factor in ticket sales. The coaches are responsible to Coyle...obviously he is allowing them to schedule bad, bad teams.
What does Coyle do well?
Click to expand...
Coyle has his flaws but he has made some really good hires, most notably PJ. Ben was an obvious miss but I will go to my grave certain that Coyle didn’t make that choice.
 

BleedGopher said:
WOW! Thanks for keeping this. A 30.8% decrease in season tickets since the fee increase, that is brutal and this is despite some really good seasons in there,

Thanks Mega Tongue.

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...
I remember when some here thought that was a good thing at the time.
 
Last edited:

60's Guy said:
And, IDK the answer but does the increase in ticket prices total more revenue with less total sold than the higher total number at less money?
Coyle is the AD...I assume he is responsible for guy whose job it is to market and sell season tickets ? Same is true for the fundraising guy. We sre not good in either area...let alone elite.
Northwestern State should not have been an approved opponent...the men's and women's basketball schedules shouldn't be allowed to rank well over 100th each preseason in strength of schedule. This is a factor in ticket sales. The coaches are responsible to Coyle...obviously he is allowing them to schedule bad, bad teams.
What does Coyle do well?
Click to expand...
The Gophers were supposed to play Bowling Green last week. Bowling Green backed out. They had to find somebody with an opening in the schedule. It's not Coyle's fault Northwestern State went on a losing streak right after they signed to play here. How many additional fans would have showed up if the opponent last week was Bowling Green? Very few would be my assumption.
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
The Gophers were supposed to play Bowling Green last week. Bowling Green backed out. They had to find somebody with an opening in the schedule. It's not Coyle's fault Northwestern State went on a losing streak right after they signed to play here. How many additional fans would have showed up if the opponent last week was Bowling Green? Very few would be my assumption.
Click to expand...
Big rematch?
 

bonin21 said:
Bodies in seats = concession and merch revenue. You want the stadium full every game
Click to expand...

The Gophers cut on concessions & merch revenue barley moves the needle. Peanuts.
 
Last edited:

Ope3 said:
The Gophers cut on concessions & merch barley moves the needle. Peanuts.
Click to expand...
All I know is that I got in a line, opened a refrigerator door, grabbed a can of Coors Light and walked it myself to a worker who had me tap a card on a reader (which asked me to include a tip) and that one self serve beer cost 13 bucks. Someone is making money, and it sure ain't me.
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
The Gophers were supposed to play Bowling Green last week. Bowling Green backed out. They had to find somebody with an opening in the schedule. It's not Coyle's fault Northwestern State went on a losing streak right after they signed to play here. How many additional fans would have showed up if the opponent last week was Bowling Green? Very few would be my assumption.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I wasn't aware of how NWST got on the schedule. More concerned about the non conference basketball schedules the last several years.
 

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