Gophers Finally Announce: The Gopher Score Priority Ranking System

[BleedGopher]

This was rumored on here a year or so ago. This info was just e-mailed out:

The Gopher Score Priority Ranking System
Gopher Sports is announcing a change in the ticket and parking priority ranking system, effective April 1, 2014. The Gopher Score ranking system will be used to assign a ranking to each eligible customer for processes including:

• Season ticket upgrades
• Post-season tournament ticket on-sales
• Priority for single-game ticket on-sales

Gopher Score uses a formula that balances the importance of season ticket loyalty and philanthropic giving to Gopher Sports. All current season ticket holders (all sports) and current athletics donors will be given a score and rank. The point criteria for Gopher Score is made up of financial gifts to Gopher Sports, consecutive years of season ticket purchase and lettering in a sport at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

After studying other university priority ranking systems, reviewing three years of fan feedback and acting on current season-ticket holder and donor recommendations, we developed Gopher Score to better balance the different areas of support fans provide to Gopher Sports, support which is vital to the success of all Gopher programs and student-athletes.

Gopher Sports offers two methods to assist you in better understanding your personal Gopher Score. For comprehensive information about the Gopher Score ranking system, including details about how your Gopher Score is calculated, please visit mygophersports.com/online/GopherScore. If you would like a personal consultation or have questions about your score or rank, please email [email protected] and we will set up a live one-on-one review for you with one of our managers.

Starting tomorrow and continuing on the 1st of each month, you will receive an email with your updated fan profile. This will allow you to view your current Gopher Score and rank, season ticket and giving histories, and inform you of upcoming Gopher events and deadlines related to Gopher Score.

Golden Gopher Fund level and Gopher Points were the priority ranking systems used for football, men’s basketball and men’s hockey ticket/parking priority over the past three years. When Gopher Points was created, it was intended to be used as a tool to allow football season ticket holders to select seats in the newly built TCF Bank Stadium. It was also used to reseat both Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena for men’s basketball and hockey, processes successfully completed in 2012. Gopher Points was specific to those three venues and those three sports only.

The new Gopher Score ranking system provides customers with one score/rank for all events, allowing Gopher Sports to balance season ticket history and philanthropic giving and allocate tickets/parking in an organized manner.

Go Gophers!!

 

[mplsbadger]

Wow. Just looked mine up. Big weight on giving. Don't move your seats if you are a legacy. You'll never get back to where you are now. Without divulging specifics, I've nearly six times as many giving points as consecutive year points. Season ticket holder since '04, all my years in TCF is the high donation seats. This seems to suggest that I'd now outpoint someone who's had seats for 50+ consecutive seasons.

They are probably thinking this is o.k. to do now as all the big venues have already been reseated. It should definitely help Mr. Nanne accelerate giving.

 

[Ski U Master]

Wow. Just looked mine up. Big weight on giving. Don't move your seats if you are a legacy. You'll never get back to where you are now. Without divulging specifics, I've nearly six times as many giving points as consecutive year points. Season ticket holder since '04, all my years in TCF is the high donation seats. This seems to suggest that I'd now outpoint someone who's had seats for 50+ consecutive seasons.

They are probably thinking this is o.k. to do now as all the big venues have already been reseated. It should definitely help Mr. Nanne accelerate giving.

It's unfortunate loyalty can't be the number one contributor to your priority level. The atmosphere has suffered at both Mariucci and Williams since the reseating, at least in my opinion.

 

[BleedGopher]

The Gopher Score priority ranking system formula:

Current Year Giving to Athletics – 10 points per $100
Lifetime Giving to Athletics – 3 points per $100
Consecutive Years of Season Ticket Purchase – 10 points per year
Gopher Athletics Letterwinner – 25 points (one time allocation)

Go Gophers!!

 

[e.bigelow]

I am surprised there is not a category for alumni. I know there used to be in the football upgrade process....just a thought.

Something like this has been a long time coming, I assume.

 

[Word]

They are not re-seating though, are they? This just affects future upgrades I assume.

 

[MNGoldenGophers1]

They are not re-seating though, are they? This just affects future upgrades I assume.

Read the notice.

It probably won't be too big a deal until the Gophers get to the Rose Bowl.

 

[highwayman]

It's unfortunate loyalty can't be the number one contributor to your priority level. The atmosphere has suffered at both Mariucci and Williams since the reseating, at least in my opinion.

I disagree with your "unfortunate". Donors drive the program, not ticket sales. I'll agree that it makes people feel bad.

 

[go4rube]

Consecutive Years of Season Ticket Purchase – 10 points per year
Go Gophers!!

No multiplier for having more than 1 ticket either. I guess they don't care if you have 10 tickets or 1.

 

[Fuzzy Rumpton]

No multiplier for having more than 1 ticket either. I guess they don't care if you have 10 tickets or 1.

That's the thing that is a little bogus.

 

[Curseislifted33]

No multiplier for having more than 1 ticket either. I guess they don't care if you have 10 tickets or 1.

THIS

 

[wait!what?]

I just wish Flanders was dead.

 

[MNVCGUY]

No multiplier for having more than 1 ticket either. I guess they don't care if you have 10 tickets or 1.

Yep, in the end the only thing they really care about is how much money you donate to the school. It is the reason that nearly every single communication I have gotten from the University since the day I graduated has asked me to give them money in some way shape of form. I get that fundraising is a necessary evil for the department and the school but the constant pleas for money get tiresome.

 

[Gopher Bandanna Guy]

The Gopher Score priority ranking system formula:

Current Year Giving to Athletics – 10 points per $100
Lifetime Giving to Athletics – 3 points per $100
Consecutive Years of Season Ticket Purchase – 10 points per year
Gopher Athletics Letterwinner – 25 points (one time allocation)

Go Gophers!!

Wish they'd give credit for giving to U academics as well as athletics. I typically donate equal amounts per year to athletics and the CSE.

And wasn't there credit for being a lifetime member of the Alumni Association in the old system too?

 

[bottlebass]

I guess paying 8 years of tuition and getting 2 degrees doesn't count as donating money to the U? A little appreciation for being an alumni would be nice.

Does the major emphasis on points for donations have anything to do with the current fundraising campaign?

 

[imthewalrus]

I guess paying 8 years of tuition and getting 2 degrees doesn't count as donating money to the U? A little appreciation for being an alumni would be nice.

Does the major emphasis on points for donations have anything to do with the current fundraising campaign?

Unless they start winning...and winning BIG, no matter WHAT they TRY to force people to do with their silly little point deal really doesn't matter. They will NEVER sign up as sure a thing as a person who has been buying season tickets for twenty or thirty years in succession plus having given some money for student athlete scholarships most seasons in the past. You see, corporate seat buyers may come and they may go. Sometimes those high-flying corporate types are merged into corporations that are headquartered in other cities...sometimes those corporate sources have a really bad quarter or two and just kind of dry up and go away. Still other times, those corporate sources get hacked and have real public relations snafus.

So, I think someone should explain to our new Norwood that he and his administrative pals had better start honoring the LONG-TIME consecutive season ticket holders by FINALLY giving US something to cheer about by winning a Conference Championship or at LEAST by pounding the stinking badgers into the ground once in a while.

Actually, no matter how much they try to dis we LONG TIME Season Ticket holders, they won't be able to do a damn thing until they have some Rose Bowl Tickets to distribute. Otherwise, this whole "Gopher Point" nonsense is just another insult that they give to LONG TIME Season Ticket Holders.

Somebody tell our new Norwood to come back to planet earth. This "Gopher Point" scheme isn't scaring any long-term season ticket holder. Back it up with a LOT of wins Norwood. Now THAT might inspire somebody fearless leader of the athletic department. Win me a Conference Championship in Football or at LEAST beat the stinking Badgers before you try to launch a new attack on the long time season ticket holders. Give me something to FEAR! It MIGHT help to sell the place out for a season before you launch something as silly as a new "Gopher Point" system.

 

[Formo]

 

[highwayman]

No multiplier for having more than 1 ticket either. I guess they don't care if you have 10 tickets or 1.

But they do give you credit back to your "oldest ticket". That's rare. Most prorate the "ages" of each ST.

 

[highwayman]

Just for some perspective. I've had tickets for 15 years. My annual donation is around $1000, which includes my seating donation. I do that to get a spot in lot 37, and have since 2010, so that's 4 seasons of that. I've also donated about 3K from probably 2000-2009, so about $300 a year in those years.

That puts me in the top 22% for football priority.

I don't know if that makes me proud or makes me sad.

 

[Killjoy]

Just for some perspective. I've had tickets for 15 years. My annual donation is around $1000, which includes my seating donation. I do that to get a spot in lot 37, and have since 2010, so that's 4 seasons of that. I've also donated about 3K from probably 2000-2009, so about $300 a year in those years.

That puts me in the top 22% for football priority.

I don't know if that makes me proud or makes me sad.

It appears that they might be getting advice from the airlines on their "business model." Will there next step be to have designated rest rooms determined by how many points you have?

 

[highwayman]

It appears that they might be getting advice from the airlines on their "business model." Will there next step be to have designated rest rooms determined by how many points you have?

I'll still just pee in a cup at my seat, per usual.

Seriously, though, I'm happy where I'm at, but I thought there were a lot more people out there throwing in more money than I do. Lot 37 and the two lots by the stadium are sold out. You got to give way more than me to get in the Maroon and the Gold.

 

[Formo]

I'll still just pee in a cup at my seat, per usual.

Seriously, though, I'm happy where I'm at, but I thought there were a lot more people out there throwing in more money than I do. Lot 37 and the two lots by the stadium are sold out. You got to give way more than me to get in the Maroon and the Gold.

It's almost always a small % of people that give a lot of $$. Hence where you stand in the Gopher Ratings.

 

[God]

Wow. Just looked mine up. Big weight on giving. Don't move your seats if you are a legacy. You'll never get back to where you are now. Without divulging specifics, I've nearly six times as many giving points as consecutive year points. Season ticket holder since '04, all my years in TCF is the high donation seats. This seems to suggest that I'd now outpoint someone who's had seats for 50+ consecutive seasons.

They are probably thinking this is o.k. to do now as all the big venues have already been reseated. It should definitely help Mr. Nanne accelerate giving.

Thou shall not love the Gophers and Badgers, in the same way that man cannot love both good and evil. You are a fool. For your kind is neither welcome into my Kingdom nor TCF Stadium.

Repent. Now.

 

[zman]

Thou shall not love the Gophers and Badgers, in the same way that man cannot love both good and evil. You are a fool. For your kind is neither welcome into my Kingdom nor TCF Stadium.

Repent. Now.

OK. This shtick is going to get old.

 

[Foster]

Not gonna lie, it's a little frustrating to see how much they favor the donations compared to consecutive years. This is our 21st year of having 6 season tickets and we are only in the 37% range. After purchasing the tickets, parking and all of the other tailgating equipment I don't have much extra to give to the U (even though I wish I could).

Considering we stayed throught the Wacker and Brewster eras we should be automatically put into the top 10%

 

[mplsbadger]

Not gonna lie, it's a little frustrating to see how much they favor the donations compared to consecutive years. This is our 21st year of having 6 season tickets and we are only in the 37% range. After purchasing the tickets, parking and all of the other tailgating equipment I don't have much extra to give to the U (even though I wish I could). Considering we stayed throught the Wacker and Brewster eras we should be automatically put into the top 10%

I tend to agree. I think if a guy has had tickets for 30 years and wins the lottery he ought to be able to move to the 50 yard line. What are they worried about? The people with longevity will still need to meet the donation thresholds. Many choose not to. For those that do, should they really be behind someone because of lifetime donations?

 

[imthewalrus]

I tend to agree. I think if a guy has had tickets for 30 years and wins the lottery he ought to be able to move to the 50 yard line. What are they worried about? The people with longevity will still need to meet the donation thresholds. Many choose not to. For those that do, should they really be behind someone because of lifetime donations?

Until they can at least sell all the possible season tickets out, it would appear that they don't have much clout. These administrative types don't see the big picture. They should start discounting the point totals from previous donations and consecutive years of purchasing single, double and multiple pairs of season tickets ONLY after they have managed to sell out ALL the season tickets for a couple of years. Of course, to do that, the program would have to win MORE Conference Football Games than they currently do and would need to beat the stinking badgers once in a while, at least.

So, when the Team starts winning 9 to 11 games consistently, gets invitations to the Rose Bowl Game, wins the Rose Bowl Game and starts beating the stinking badgers 50% of the time, let the season ticket holder beware: then, and only then will the suits who hang out in the office of the athletic director and the other administrators around that office have ANY kind of leverage over we LONG-TIME season ticket holders who also have a history of making some contributions. Until then, they can come up with ANY kind of b.s. point system they want and it won't mean diddly-squat. I have the season tickets that I want and I will have them for as long as I want them. Our new Norwood is going to have to come up with a lot more wins over Conference Teams AND will have to insure that my Gophers start beating the stinking badgers more often than almost never...Get to work administrators: I would LOVE to feel my season tickets are being coveted by a LONG-LIST of people on the Season Ticket Waiting List within the next few years. But it will take a lot more Conference wins and a BUNCH of Border Battle wins and Trophy Game wins and Bowl Game wins to accomplish that long waiting list for season tickets.