I think someone's comment about the twins is pretty relevant. This will succeed it just will be a new mix of people in the stands. Lots of families and middle class out, even more corporate season ticket holders in. That may mean lower physical attendance due to corporate tickets going unused at a higher than normal percentage but sold is sold as far as the U is concerned. Highest attrition will be from fans that have the best non donation seats now that are going to be donation seats in the future.
Good news for the people like me who will drop season tickets in a few years and start picking specific games to attend is that there will be plenty available at face value or less. For those diehards that will keep their tickets at any price, god bless you, the U is counting on you. FYI i picked up tickets to the Wisconsin game this year while sitting at a table in Lincoln after our Nebraska win and was able to get 4 tickets together to the Wisconsin game at below face value on StubHub in a better section than the ones they give to the U to sell. So it's not really that hard to do.
I have a Twins 20 game season Ticket, have since the contraction threat. Plenty of families still got to Twins games, I have one, and I see a lot there. They just don't sit in the lower bowl anymore. We are now all up in the 300 level, which really are not bad seats. Plus, the Twins are now using a spot market for single games, meaning the same seat will cost between 7 and 40 depending on Month, day of week, and opponent. There are opportunities for people to see a game on the cheap. On balance, over 20 games I pay slightly LESS than I would on the spot market for the same 20 games. The Wild do the same thing. You can always tell the value games--lots and lots of young kids. It does show you that people are pretty price sensitive with kids under 10.
I took my call from the Ticket Office today, made my appointment, and they called back. Spoke to a nice fellow. And, I will not complain on this board again. Not because I agree with all this, but because if anything I'm firmly convinced that they are going forward with this without any concern for my opinion, tradition, or loyalty.
1. They say they've done the studies, and there is EXCESS demand in the good seats. They say they can sell those at higher prices. The fact that there is unsold inventory for games is irrelevant--those seats are just hard to sell. People are willing to pay more to sit in my seat than I pay for it now, so I have to pay up, move, or not go. Don't challenge me, this is what I was told.
2. My loyalty back to the Metrodome days, when I couldn't give a ticket to a homeless guy who wanted to stay warm in November is of no concern of theirs going forward, because they are certain that with the direction the program is going, there is nothing but upside in the future. These changes are to make a winner, and they will win.
3. They welcome me to stay for as long as I can afford it, whether that be 2015.2016, or 2017. And they will work to get me into an area I can afford. They show that inventory will be available, as most people will prefer to stay in their place, and the lower donation seats are not now season tickets.
4. They seem aware that the makeup of the fan base will shift from what it is now, to something else.
5. Best of all, all those empty seats I see in the good sections every week are sold. The people just don't go to the game. This did not strike the caller as a problem.
