Gopher Season Ticket Costs Going Way UP?

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Maroon92 said:
If zone 6 could seat 20,000 people that would be great but I think only a few thousand seats are no extra fees-- the renewal process will be a nightmare
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So who get's dibs on the no fee seats? The existing ticket holders or those with higher priority?
 

Freaking incredible. Bad decision and the worst timing possible. There is now zero chance I go to the bowl game. I can't even bring myself to tell my ticket buddy the news yet. No way he is going to go along with this. Idiotic...just idiotic.
 


Michigan claimed that the free ticket with a Coke offer was supposed to be a short term student only promotion, but was mistakenly rolled out to the public.

Regardless, Iowa, Michigan, and others have had more trouble selling tickets in the past. This decision is beyond astounding.

The U will end up scaling this back to some extent, but the damage has already been done. I would have paid the extra $50 per seat next year, but since they have now told me I'll be paying an extra $800 in 2017, on top of a 20% increase this last year, I am telling them to go to hell.
 



This doesn't seem to have been very well thought out. Reminds me of the UNC buy-out and replace them with TCU fiasco.

We paid $800k to replace UNC with TCU.
 


I understand exactly what I am "preaching" on this subject. Minnesota's pricing was much closer to the top of the Big Ten than the dregs at the bottom, at least in terms of what the committed season ticket holders were paying.

The current pricing was in no way close to Northwestern, Indiana, Rutgers, Maryland, an llinois, when the current "donations" were factored in.
'
Increasing my two seats from $775 to almost $1700 in three years is beyond insane. No rational person is going to accept that, especially in this very weak, pro oriented, elastic pricing model market place.

This is going to be a massive PR black eye and failure. Danny B. was already talking about it a few minutes after the e mails went out, and the outrage or ridicule is only going to increase.
 

tikited said:
You seem to think this increase is normal. That is insane.
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The increase is normal in relation to what most other Power 5 schools around the country (and a number in the B1G) already do or are planning on doing. Realizing that and thinking about it rationally makes me insane? Okay......you people keep right on freaking out like this is something unique to the U of M.

Serenity now! Serenity now! ;)
 




Here are some other donation levels across the Big Ten:

Iowa.jpg
Iowa

Maryland.jpg
Maryland

Michigan State.jpg
Michigan State

Michigan.JPG
Michigan

Purdue.jpg
Purdue
 


Do other Power 5 schools currently have trouble selling more than 45k seats while being ranked at home against a ranked opponent coming off their biggest home win against a rival in years?
 



My email to Teague tonight. The Guiness had a surprisingly calming effect:

Mr. Teague:

I cannot express enough disappointment in today's news on the absolute gouging that will take place over the next three years to all of us loyal football season ticket holders.

As a 7-seat season ticket holder in Sec 103, today's announcement significantly affects my future plans in terms of how much I invest in my alma mater.

I've spent the better part of the last five years building up enough support among my friends to go from 4 tickets to my current 7 and today's announcement has all but set me back those 5 years. This is lost revenue to you as I will likely back down to 4 or less again by 2017. And last time I checked, there is no season ticket waiting list.

My group of friends and supporters are everything that Saturdays at The Bank should be about...we tailgate at 8 am with our Maroon and Gold flags waving proudly. We take our kids to the Victory Walk. We are LOUD all game every game. We buy your expensive beer and wine. We are there for all games, not just the big ones. We try to bring the same experience I've seen at Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, etc to campus in the truest of intentions upon which TCF was built for in the first place.

And now, once our brutal past has finally been erased with the promise of a great season under Coach Kill, every ounce of momentum that has built up has been destroyed before it's even been announced as to what 2nd tier bowl game we'll be competing in. I can't imagine what the price increase would have been had we beat Wisconsin!

I had twins this year and my goal was to get to 8 seats so that in a few years my whole family and then one of my best friend's family of 4 (who i split the bill with every spring) could all go to games together all Fall and our future Gopher kids could start to become indoctrinated at an early age just how special Football Saturdays are. In 2017, now we'll have to make choices. But heck, maybe I can get extras on Groupon for 30% of the face value and still sit in my 'old' seats that no one is sitting in. I'll remind you that you didn't sell out for IOWA this year.

I'm a smart guy. I've got 2 degrees from the U of M so that should only be assumed. I understand the escalating costs of running a high level Big Ten Athletic Dept. The autonomy given to the Power 5 earlier this year increases your cost to compete immensely and I get that. Not to mention your need to build a new athletic training complex. Above all, you finally have competent Football and Basketball Coaches both of whom will need to be paid significantly over the next 10 years if they are to be retained. But Norwood, this is robbery of the most loyal fans you have. I would accept modest costs in tickets every year to alleviate the fiscal constraints that competing today in the NCAA require.

But not this.

Think about what this increase does to a middle class family that is the backbone of who is supporting the football program right now! Every one of my ticket neighbors are working and lower white collar members of this state. I can guarantee you virtually all of them will walk or at a minimum will cut back. If you want a stadium full of Corporate seats and repeat the problem you have at Mariucci currently on most weekends, then proceed. I don't want that and neither do 40,000 other fans that paid full price to watch Tim Brewster set us back 5 years in merely a few season or two. We're turning TCF into a true home field advantage finally. In three years or less, that will start to come crashing down.

I am also a Green Bay Packer Season Ticket Holder and I want you to consider that in 2017 it will cost more per seat to see the Gophers play football than the Packers, and that's assuming a 3% increase per year between now and then. At least I can sell those on the secondary market and make a substantial profit (which in past years has assisted in funding my Gopher Season Tickets). The Gophers don't afford me that luxury.

This 'plan' needs to be reconsidered. There are revenue streams out there....lets get some creative minds thinking about what they are. Heck, if you can match my salary, I'd gladly become part of the fight to make this right and continue to grow this great thing that Country Jer', Coach Pitino and others have started.

The Gophers of the past 40 years have made decisions like this. Don't make the same mistakes that everyone in this state have had to live with for generations.

Sincerely,

Jxxx Axxxxxt
-7-seat Season Ticket Holder, section 103, -BSB - Marketing & Finance, Carlson School of Management 2000 -MBA - Brand Management, Carlson School of Management, 2007 -Gopher Football Equipment Manager 1997 -Gopher Football Recruiting Assistant 1998-2000
 

supadupafly said:
The increase is normal in relation to what most other Power 5 schools around the country (and a number in the B1G) already do or are planning on doing. Realizing that and thinking about it rationally makes me insane? Okay......you people keep right on freaking out like this is something unique to the U of M. Smh
Click to expand...

You clearly have no understanding of supply, demand and price elasticity. There currently a great deal of slack in terms of demand for Gopher Football tickets. Telling your loyal customer base that you are going to double their ticket prices, when they already know they could get in the stadium for 30 cents on the dollar, but continue to pay the full current rate is beyond comprehension.

I thought that Norwood Teague was a bright guy, but someone sold him on some really bad ideas. This is going to be a complete failure financially, as well as a huge PR black eye. Some of the current ticket buying base will not come back regardless of how much of this gets walked back.

There is zero chance that ticket buyers in my section will being a $500 dollar surcharge in 2017 as currently planned. There is not demand for the product supporting this action.

Even Maturi could not have created a Sh**storm like this.
 

Breathe people. Take a night to sleep on it. Maybe you end up dropping the tix, maybe you move seat locations (there truly aren't any seats that are "nosebleeds" in this stadium) or maybe you find a way to pay the increase on your current seats.

I actually believe Teague when he says the extra money is for scholarships. Education gets more expensive and it needs to be covered with donations.
 

supadupafly said:
The increase is normal in relation to what most other Power 5 schools around the country (and a number in the B1G) already do or are planning on doing. Realizing that and thinking about it rationally makes me insane? Okay......you people keep right on freaking out like this is something unique to the U of M.

Serenity now! Serenity now! ;)
Click to expand...


This big of an increase in one to three years is insane when it comes to a team that can barely get enough fans in the stands to begin with. Not sure why you ignore that part?
 

So Jerry Stays and Shovels are in the grown this spring. Right??
 

Bucking Fadgers said:
My email to Teague tonight. The Guiness had a surprisingly calming effect:

Mr. Teague:

I cannot express enough disappointment in today's news on the absolute gouging that will take place over the next three years to all of us loyal football season ticket holders.

As a 7-seat season ticket holder in Sec 103, today's announcement significantly affects my future plans in terms of how much I invest in my alma mater.

I've spent the better part of the last five years building up enough support among my friends to go from 4 tickets to my current 7 and today's announcement has all but set me back those 5 years. This is lost revenue to you as I will likely back down to 4 or less again by 2017. And last time I checked, there is no season ticket waiting list.

My group of friends and supporters are everything that Saturdays at The Bank should be about...we tailgate at 8 am with our Maroon and Gold flags waving proudly. We take our kids to the Victory Walk. We are LOUD all game every game. We buy your expensive beer and wine. We are there for all games, not just the big ones. We try to bring the same experience I've seen at Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, etc to campus in the truest of intentions upon which TCF was built for in the first place.

And now, once our brutal past has finally been erased with the promise of a great season under Coach Kill, every ounce of momentum that has built up has been destroyed before it's even been announced as to what 2nd tier bowl game we'll be competing in. I can't imagine what the price increase would have been had we beat Wisconsin!

I had twins this year and my goal was to get to 8 seats so that in a few years my whole family and then one of my best friend's family of 4 (who i split the bill with every spring) could all go to games together all Fall and our future Gopher kids could start to become indoctrinated at an early age just how special Football Saturdays are. In 2017, now we'll have to make choices. But heck, maybe I can get extras on Groupon for 30% of the face value and still sit in my 'old' seats that no one is sitting in. I'll remind you that you didn't sell out for IOWA this year.

I'm a smart guy. I've got 2 degrees from the U of M so that should only be assumed. I understand the escalating costs of running a high level Big Ten Athletic Dept. The autonomy given to the Power 5 earlier this year increases your cost to compete immensely and I get that. Not to mention your need to build a new athletic training complex. Above all, you finally have competent Football and Basketball Coaches both of whom will need to be paid significantly over the next 10 years if they are to be retained. But Norwood, this is robbery of the most loyal fans you have. I would accept modest costs in tickets every year to alleviate the fiscal constraints that competing today in the NCAA require.

But not this.

Think about what this increase does to a middle class family that is the backbone of who is supporting the football program right now! Every one of my ticket neighbors are working and lower white collar members of this state. I can guarantee you virtually all of them will walk or at a minimum will cut back. If you want a stadium full of Corporate seats and repeat the problem you have at Mariucci currently on most weekends, then proceed. I don't want that and neither do 40,000 other fans that paid full price to watch Tim Brewster set us back 5 years in merely a few season or two. We're turning TCF into a true home field advantage finally. In three years or less, that will start to come crashing down.

I am also a Green Bay Packer Season Ticket Holder and I want you to consider that in 2017 it will cost more per seat to see the Gophers play football than the Packers, and that's assuming a 3% increase per year between now and then. At least I can sell those on the secondary market and make a substantial profit (which in past years has assisted in funding my Gopher Season Tickets). The Gophers don't afford me that luxury.

This 'plan' needs to be reconsidered. There are revenue streams out there....lets get some creative minds thinking about what they are. Heck, if you can match my salary, I'd gladly become part of the fight to make this right and continue to grow this great thing that Country Jer', Coach Pitino and others have started.

The Gophers of the past 40 years have made decisions like this. Don't make the same mistakes that everyone in this state have had to live with for generations.

Sincerely,

Jxxx Axxxxxt
-7-seat Season Ticket Holder, section 103, -BSB - Marketing & Finance, Carlson School of Management 2000 -MBA - Brand Management, Carlson School of Management, 2007 -Gopher Football Equipment Manager 1997 -Gopher Football Recruiting Assistant 1998-2000
Click to expand...

great letter, thanks for sharing. let us know if he replies, but i bet he won't. what a mess.
 

tikited said:
This big of an increase in one to three years is insane when it comes to a team that can barely get enough fans in the stands to begin with. Not sure why you ignore that part?
Click to expand...

Really?
 

I can pay the increase now, Broken Chair Person, but I will not based upon a sense of principle and value.

The retail price of everything has nothing to do with what the actual costs of the provider are, the determination of price is what the marketplace will pay. Norwood's challenges in paying the stipend is of zero concern to the ticket buyers, they do not care.

A pro sports owner is going to charge whatever seat price maximizes profit, and the costs for the talent (Garnett, Mauer, ect) are irrelevant. The willingness of the public to buy seats at any given price point is all that matters. Back in the era before free agency before salary costs escalated, ownership still would have charged the maximum ticket price that would lead to highest total revenues.

Our old boy Norwood has created a classic business case study with the roll out of this doomed plan.
 

alltimetwinsfan said:
Here are some other donation levels across the Big Ten:

View attachment 3198
Iowa

View attachment 3199
Maryland

View attachment 3200
Michigan State

View attachment 3201
Michigan

View attachment 3202
Purdue
Click to expand...

Oh to have the costs a Purdue fan does...

I looked at the comparable seats for where I sit in TCF, and the average "Scholarship" donation looked to be about $75 comparing all of these. That is the first increase I will face, and if that were it, I would pay no questions asked. But to bump that all the way to $250 in 3 seasons is just ludicrous.
 

They're a year to late with this news for me. Just bought a new house and had kid number 2. See you later season tickets. What a shame, I really looked forward to bringing my family to games for years to come, but not at this cost. I have other higher priorities...
 

Bucking Fadgers said:
My email to Teague tonight. The Guiness had a surprisingly calming effect:

Mr. Teague:

I cannot express enough disappointment in today's news on the absolute gouging that will take place over the next three years to all of us loyal football season ticket holders.

As a 7-seat season ticket holder in Sec 103, today's announcement significantly affects my future plans in terms of how much I invest in my alma mater.

I've spent the better part of the last five years building up enough support among my friends to go from 4 tickets to my current 7 and today's announcement has all but set me back those 5 years. This is lost revenue to you as I will likely back down to 4 or less again by 2017. And last time I checked, there is no season ticket waiting list.

My group of friends and supporters are everything that Saturdays at The Bank should be about...we tailgate at 8 am with our Maroon and Gold flags waving proudly. We take our kids to the Victory Walk. We are LOUD all game every game. We buy your expensive beer and wine. We are there for all games, not just the big ones. We try to bring the same experience I've seen at Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, etc to campus in the truest of intentions upon which TCF was built for in the first place.

And now, once our brutal past has finally been erased with the promise of a great season under Coach Kill, every ounce of momentum that has built up has been destroyed before it's even been announced as to what 2nd tier bowl game we'll be competing in. I can't imagine what the price increase would have been had we beat Wisconsin!

I had twins this year and my goal was to get to 8 seats so that in a few years my whole family and then one of my best friend's family of 4 (who i split the bill with every spring) could all go to games together all Fall and our future Gopher kids could start to become indoctrinated at an early age just how special Football Saturdays are. In 2017, now we'll have to make choices. But heck, maybe I can get extras on Groupon for 30% of the face value and still sit in my 'old' seats that no one is sitting in. I'll remind you that you didn't sell out for IOWA this year.

I'm a smart guy. I've got 2 degrees from the U of M so that should only be assumed. I understand the escalating costs of running a high level Big Ten Athletic Dept. The autonomy given to the Power 5 earlier this year increases your cost to compete immensely and I get that. Not to mention your need to build a new athletic training complex. Above all, you finally have competent Football and Basketball Coaches both of whom will need to be paid significantly over the next 10 years if they are to be retained. But Norwood, this is robbery of the most loyal fans you have. I would accept modest costs in tickets every year to alleviate the fiscal constraints that competing today in the NCAA require.

But not this.

Think about what this increase does to a middle class family that is the backbone of who is supporting the football program right now! Every one of my ticket neighbors are working and lower white collar members of this state. I can guarantee you virtually all of them will walk or at a minimum will cut back. If you want a stadium full of Corporate seats and repeat the problem you have at Mariucci currently on most weekends, then proceed. I don't want that and neither do 40,000 other fans that paid full price to watch Tim Brewster set us back 5 years in merely a few season or two. We're turning TCF into a true home field advantage finally. In three years or less, that will start to come crashing down.

I am also a Green Bay Packer Season Ticket Holder and I want you to consider that in 2017 it will cost more per seat to see the Gophers play football than the Packers, and that's assuming a 3% increase per year between now and then. At least I can sell those on the secondary market and make a substantial profit (which in past years has assisted in funding my Gopher Season Tickets). The Gophers don't afford me that luxury.

This 'plan' needs to be reconsidered. There are revenue streams out there....lets get some creative minds thinking about what they are. Heck, if you can match my salary, I'd gladly become part of the fight to make this right and continue to grow this great thing that Country Jer', Coach Pitino and others have started.

The Gophers of the past 40 years have made decisions like this. Don't make the same mistakes that everyone in this state have had to live with for generations.

Sincerely,

Jxxx Axxxxxt
-7-seat Season Ticket Holder, section 103, -BSB - Marketing & Finance, Carlson School of Management 2000 -MBA - Brand Management, Carlson School of Management, 2007 -Gopher Football Equipment Manager 1997 -Gopher Football Recruiting Assistant 1998-2000
Click to expand...

You had me until "Green Bay Packer Season Ticket Holder". Might wanna omit that.
 

We are not the ones that need to breathe and sleep on it, that would be the Norwood and "Prexy K" (thanks Wren, whose head is ready to explode tonight I am sure).

By 3PM tomorrow, Norwood and Prexy K are going to be sitting in cold era U of M Nuclear War proof bunker somewhere near the river bluff wondering what just happened. (just kidding, but they have no concept of what they have just set off) Gov. Dayton probably will be calling them around 10 after his meds wear off, then after than the GOP Speaker of the House will be reaming them out.

If the great Beer Debate proved anything, it is that Gopher Football will become political and Norwood has dropped a grenade on the long suffering season ticket buying fan base. The U of M will yet again not be exempt from this pressure, even thought politics aside, this makes zero economic sense, and that should be enough.
 

Gopher024 said:
They're a year to late with this news for me. Just bought a new house and had kid number 2. See you later season tickets. What a shame, I really looked forward to bringing my family to games for years to come, but not at this cost. I have other higher priorities...
Click to expand...

Same boat I am in. We just bought a house this year and are looking at starting a family in the next year, and with the increase my season tickets just became expendable about 2016. Being in civil engineering the last few years has not helped my income grow at all. I can't keep up with the cost of living increases let alone my tickets doubling.
 

Justin Gaard mentioned that they were already planning to raise ticket prices as early as this summer, so it's not due to the on-field success this year. At the same time, they sure picked a lousy time and way of communicating the increase. If they would have decided to phase in 10-15% price increases per year, I don't think anyone would have blinked.
 

Given the outrage on this thread by the most loyal Gopher fans out there, I doubt this plan moves forward...
 

oak_street1981 said:
We are not the ones that need to breathe and sleep on it, that would be the Norwood and "Prexy K" (thanks Wren, whose head is ready to explode tonight I am sure).

By 3PM tomorrow, Norwood and Prexy K are going to be sitting in cold era U of M Nuclear War proof bunker somewhere near the river bluff wondering what just happened. (just kidding, but they have no concept of what they have just set off) Gov. Dayton probably will be calling them around 10 after his meds wear off, then after than the GOP Speaker of the House will be reaming them out.

If the great Beer Debate proved anything, it is that Gopher Football will become political and Norwood has dropped a grenade on the long suffering season ticket buying fan base. The U of M will yet again not be exempt from this pressure, even thought politics aside, this makes zero economic sense, and that should be enough.
Click to expand...

You done yet? You keep posting over and over the same tired stuff about nuclear bombs going off, explosions, and bunkers. Get a grip my man.
 

John Galt said:
Given the outrage on this thread by the most loyal Gopher fans out there, I doubt this plan moves forward...
Click to expand...

And then the marching band will march down university avenue and the PA guy will be fired.
 

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