Season Ticket Renewal Deadline is 4/15

[Nate]

Filling the stadium for Ohio is the benefit of selling season tickets and two-packs. Last season we had Nebraska and Wisconsin games at home (not to mention TCU), making it a very attractive home schedule that included two programs that bring fans with them. Many season ticket holders held on for that attractive schedule, and many Husker and Badger fans were forced to buy tickets to a non-conference game, such as Ohio.

I hope you're right, but with a far less attractive schedule and only Iowa bringing in visiting fans, I'm expecting a lot more empty seats this year. And if it's still mostly full, the U's pricing strategy will be proven successful.

It was also homecoming

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Expecting them to care or react isn't realistic. For the good of the program, I'm starting to hope they don't change course because if they can't pull in money from football fans for the football program I don't know where it will come from in the future. We filled the stadium for Ohio last year, not Ohio state, Ohio. You will be replaced by someone, better to have season tickets dip some and donation revenue continue to increase. I'm done fearing a half empty stadium, I'd have to see it to believe it.

They sold out Ohio last year. They didn't sell out Ohio State the year before. Thousands short of a sellout, the week after an absolute thrashing of the U's second biggest rival, ranked #25 in the Playoff rankings and they had an announced crowd of less than 46,000, but there weren't that many people there. Selling out Ohio on a warm day for Homecoming is nice. Not selling out for OSU is more telling as to where the fanbase stands.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

They sold out Ohio last year. They didn't sell out Ohio State the year before. Thousands short of a sellout, the week after an absolute thrashing of the U's second biggest rival, ranked #25 in the Playoff rankings and they had an announced crowd of less than 46,000, but there weren't that many people there. Selling out Ohio on a warm day for Homecoming is nice. Not selling out for OSU is more telling as to where the fanbase stands.

I think attendance, when it came to butts in the seats, last year was actually pretty impressive over the previous year. So i'm not sure it is fair to trump more recent event with a previous year.

This year... probably not so much.

 

[LakerFan]

I think attendance, when it came to butts in the seats, last year was actually pretty impressive over the previous year. So i'm not sure it is fair to trump more recent event with a previous year.

This year... probably not so much.

I agree, and I understand you trepidation about this year, but last year i kept feeling the same doubts about future games not being well attended but it never materialized. Sure TCU was packed but lets see what happens next week, and we packed the stadium every week good weather or bad, good opponent or bad, even towards the end when it was clear this season wasn't going anywhere AND it was cold outside.

The arguments that Nebraska, WI, Iowa fans all bought two packs and filled non conference games makes no sense from an attendance standpoint, ticket sales sure, but if I'm an opposing fan and did that I'd burn the second set of the two pack rather than go see two teams I don't care about play especially if it involved travel.

I'm just encouraging more of you to not discount what we saw last year for turnout. I'm willing to live in faith that we are going in the right direction "In Claeys We Trust"

 

[Ruggers]

Just renewed with my generous donation paid

Reflecting on year 2 of 3 pricing program for my tickets led me back to one thought....win and they will come no matter the price-everyone is happy, gameday experience rocks, seats will be filled, recruits have a memorable visit, etc. Our administration needs to get their sh*t figured out and quickly so our alums ($$$) don't jump ship and Coach can focus on football and not worry about things out of his control. There's renewed excitement this year I think with a promising running game, Leidner healthy, O-line talent moving in the right direction, in-state recruiting as strong as it's ever been and our defense looking as strong as it has in quite a while. Then again, our only sport's teams that are doing anything decent are the women (which is awesome) so I'm pretty desperate right now...throw me a bone! or a winning season

 

[twinsfan21]

Renewed my tickets as well!

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I agree, and I understand you trepidation about this year, but last year i kept feeling the same doubts about future games not being well attended but it never materialized. Sure TCU was packed but lets see what happens next week, and we packed the stadium every week good weather or bad, good opponent or bad, even towards the end when it was clear this season wasn't going anywhere AND it was cold outside.

The arguments that Nebraska, WI, Iowa fans all bought two packs and filled non conference games makes no sense from an attendance standpoint, ticket sales sure, but if I'm an opposing fan and did that I'd burn the second set of the two pack rather than go see two teams I don't care about play especially if it involved travel.

I'm just encouraging more of you to not discount what we saw last year for turnout. I'm willing to live in faith that we are going in the right direction "In Claeys We Trust"

Yeah last year was a big step forward for attendance. Bad luck with injuries and losing Kill.... Kill was a big deal. Time to reset expectations.

 

[anticallihan]

Front line reps are able to state those numbers. I worked there 10 years ago and we always had the numbers then. They have much more accurate numbers now with a much improved ticketing system with AudienceView over the dated and crappy Paciolan system they had back then. One of the managers I worked with back in my day called me last week, and that 80% number is correct. Just a bit behind last year's pace, but also didn't seem optimistic they would hit last year's numbers in the end.

T

80% is almost a useless number without the renewal. What is the net gain or loss in season tickets?

My guess is 80% in back to back years is a huge loss in season tickets. That could be a loss of 6-12K.

 

[DLguy]

That was at the time. Renewal process isn't over. I think last year was in the mid 90s, but not sure

 

[Great Plains Gopher]

I'm hoping the new AD will not go for a third straight hike, but that won't be true if it's Goetz. I may have to bail out next year. They can't afford a 20% drop in season tickets and that could happen two years in a row.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Just to point out - some of the fans who don't renew season tickets could be offset by new season ticket sales. I don't know if that information is available, but you can't assume that attendance will automatically go down based on the % of renewals. New season tickets and single-game sales could potentially make up the difference. Just because long-time fan 'A' is down on the Gophers, that doesn't mean that new fan "B" isn't excited about the team.

I agree that a big year by the Gophers would help with the process.

 

[Schnauzer]

Let me know if you find any new fan B's. I personally don't know any. I'm sure there are a few, but nothing in comparison to what I am seeing to match people I know that have dropped their season tickets.

 

[DoubleB]

Just to point out - some of the fans who don't renew season tickets could be offset by new season ticket sales. I don't know if that information is available, but you can't assume that attendance will automatically go down based on the % of renewals. New season tickets and single-game sales could potentially make up the difference. Just because long-time fan 'A' is down on the Gophers, that doesn't mean that new fan "B" isn't excited about the team.

I agree that a big year by the Gophers would help with the process.

please do not equate not renewing with being down on the Gophers. I will continue to be a very huge Gopher fan but i did not renew this season,.

And to comment on another posters point that if a new AD rolls in and changes the policy i will be even more disappointed. Part of my decision was based on next seasons increase as well as this seasons.

And to even another post. yes total attendance will have to be looked at after the season as many seats will be taken up by single game tickets and the U will still make more money as the loss in season ticket holders will be made up with the donations (my area the donation was the same as the ticket so they are getting two for one) and the bet is that walk up and single game tickets make up more than the loss of season ticket holders. is this the right way to treat fans that have supported this team in the ugliest times? who cares is the mentality as it is all about the money

i believe i am over this, but don's try to level support for the team by not being able to pony up the extra cash that this government(same as) is wasting in the most horrible ways. be more wise in their spending and maybe they wouldn't need to be asking for more donations from the ticket holders that btw weren't filling up the seats to begin with.

 

[Iceland12]

please do not equate not renewing with being down on the Gophers. I will continue to be a very huge Gopher fan but i did not renew this season,.

And to comment on another posters point that if a new AD rolls in and changes the policy i will be even more disappointed. Part of my decision was based on next seasons increase as well as this seasons.

And to even another post. yes total attendance will have to be looked at after the season as many seats will be taken up by single game tickets and the U will still make more money as the loss in season ticket holders will be made up with the donations (my area the donation was the same as the ticket so they are getting two for one) and the bet is that walk up and single game tickets make up more than the loss of season ticket holders. is this the right way to treat fans that have supported this team in the ugliest times? who cares is the mentality as it is all about the money

i believe i am over this, but don's try to level support for the team by not being able to pony up the extra cash that this administration is wasting in the most horrible ways. be more wise in their spending and maybe they wouldn't need to be asking for more donations from the ticket holders that btw weren't filling up the seats to begin with.

Since they are actively soliciting comment may mean a change in that increase but who knows. Maybe the Corporations that Teague told us were just waiting to "snap up those tickets" between the 20's didn't pan out. Not with the big money the Vikings are gonna take from them.

As for the people ticked-off that you didn't renew? One thing you can count on here on Goherhole, the most militant "you NEED to pony up your money" are the guys who don't have season tickets in the first place.

 

[Spoofin]

please do not equate not renewing with being down on the Gophers. I will continue to be a very huge Gopher fan but i did not renew this season,.

If there is one thing I have learned on GH - as soon as you don't renew you stop being a fan and start being a "fan".

 

[dlw4gophers]

Let me know if you find any new fan B's. I personally don't know any. I'm sure there are a few, but nothing in comparison to what I am seeing to match people I know that have dropped their season tickets.

Just found one. Adding two new tickets next year.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Let me know if you find any new fan B's. I personally don't know any. I'm sure there are a few, but nothing in comparison to what I am seeing to match people I know that have dropped their season tickets.

As a general rule of thumb, people who are upset with something make more noise than people who are not upset. So, I submit that people who are upset about the increased donations and ticket policy, and are dropping their tickets as a result, will be more vocal about it - leading to a (possibly) skewed perception that "people are dropping season tickets." Yes, some will drop their tickets. Some other people will keep their tickets, and other people will become new ticket purchasers.

In the end, I expect that Gopher FB attendance will be very similar to last year.

 

[MNVCGUY]

As a general rule of thumb, people who are upset with something make more noise than people who are not upset. So, I submit that people who are upset about the increased donations and ticket policy, and are dropping their tickets as a result, will be more vocal about it - leading to a (possibly) skewed perception that "people are dropping season tickets." Yes, some will drop their tickets. Some other people will keep their tickets, and other people will become new ticket purchasers.

In the end, I expect that Gopher FB attendance will be very similar to last year.

You are certainly right that the ones who are upset will be the most vocal. However I am not convinced we are going to see similar levels of attendance next year unless the U resorts to giving away large quantities of tickets thus further alienating the people who buy season tickets. If the non-renewal rate is around 20% I find it hard to believe that there will be enough new season ticket buyers to offset a large portion of that number.

Last season's 5-7 regular season record and low tier bowl appearance is not the kind of thing that typically spurs a lot of growth in season ticket base. I really hope we don't have big pockets of open seats on gamedays next season but it won't shock me either. Hopefully the team is able to capitalize on the "softer" schedule and get on a run which will in tern help drive some interest back to the squad.

 

[BoneLakeMafia]

8 years as a season ticket holder and I didn't get a phone call for a non renewal yet. Seems a bit odd?

 

[DoubleB]

8 years as a season ticket holder and I didn't get a phone call for a non renewal yet. Seems a bit odd?

did you think they would call you and ask why you didnt renew? been a 15 year ticket holder and i dont expect a call from them. or it could be that there are so many to call that they wont get to it until next month

 

[row19gopher]

Renewed my 2 tickets on the payment plan & may still down grade them during the seat relocation process in May. I am in the Zone 2 giving level and am seriously considering moving to Zone 3. I will definitely keep 2 seats, but the location may change...

 

[2nd Degree Gopher]

8 years as a season ticket holder and I didn't get a phone call for a non renewal yet. Seems a bit odd?

The renewal deadline was the end of the day Friday, right? Did you really think that they'd call you over the weekend? I am sure that they are still assessing what they have. I would hope that they reach out to everyone who didn't renew over the next few weeks, but it's not an "all hands on deck" top priority item. The deadlines are pretty soft. If they call you in a day or a week, I am sure that you would have the option to renew if you wanted. When I dropped my basketball tickets after 15+ years, I got a phone call a couple of weeks after the deadline. We had a nice conversation about the reasons why and I was offered a chance to renew, but no hard sell. They fully understand that not everyone can afford tickets every year for life, that schedules conflict, interests change, etc.

 

[Gopher1934]

Gave up 10 season tickets

The renewal deadline was the end of the day Friday, right? Did you really think that they'd call you over the weekend? I am sure that they are still assessing what they have. I would hope that they reach out to everyone who didn't renew over the next few weeks, but it's not an "all hands on deck" top priority item. The deadlines are pretty soft. If they call you in a day or a week, I am sure that you would have the option to renew if you wanted. When I dropped my basketball tickets after 15+ years, I got a phone call a couple of weeks after the deadline. We had a nice conversation about the reasons why and I was offered a chance to renew, but no hard sell. They fully understand that not everyone can afford tickets every year for life, that schedules conflict, interests change, etc.

We have decided to give up 10 of our 12 season tickets. I have had season tickets since 1964
we have made Saturdays at Gopher football, a family event that we can no longer afford. I am now retired and can no longer fit this into our budget. I started buying season tickets with my paper route money. Now the Gophers allow football tickets sales on Groupon and promotions with ticket along with free hotdog promotions. And seem to stick it to the long time loyal fans.
I will continue to go to several games and hold onto the two tickets but they just lost 10 season tickets from our family. Our family (Grandfather) started buying season tickets in 1900.

 

[LesBolstad]

Renewed my 2 tickets on the payment plan & may still down grade them during the seat relocation process in May. I am in the Zone 2 giving level and am seriously considering moving to Zone 3. I will definitely keep 2 seats, but the location may change...

So if you downgrade a section do you get a refund of a partial "donation" or is that gone even if you from 2 to 3?

 

[Spoofin]

We have decided to give up 10 of our 12 season tickets. I have had season tickets since 1964
we have made Saturdays at Gopher football, a family event that we can no longer afford. I am now retired and can no longer fit this into our budget. I started buying season tickets with my paper route money. Now the Gophers allow football tickets sales on Groupon and promotions with ticket along with free hotdog promotions. And seem to stick it to the long time loyal fans.
I will continue to go to several games and hold onto the two tickets but they just lost 10 season tickets from our family. Our family (Grandfather) started buying season tickets in 1900.

1964. Wow. You are a true fan. I hope you are still able to make some games - we need more loyal fans like you.

Go Gophers!

 

[All Golden All Gopher]

So if you downgrade a section do you get a refund of a partial "donation" or is that gone even if you from 2 to 3?

You do NOT get a refund on donations for moving down sections, at least I didn't last year when I moved my two seats down one zone and added a 3rd ticket. My two renewed tickets required donations equal to what my previous zone required and my new ticket required the new zone donation amount.

 

[MNGoldenGophers1]

The renewal deadline was the end of the day Friday, right? Did you really think that they'd call you over the weekend? I am sure that they are still assessing what they have. I would hope that they reach out to everyone who didn't renew over the next few weeks, but it's not an "all hands on deck" top priority item. The deadlines are pretty soft. If they call you in a day or a week, I am sure that you would have the option to renew if you wanted. When I dropped my basketball tickets after 15+ years, I got a phone call a couple of weeks after the deadline. We had a nice conversation about the reasons why and I was offered a chance to renew, but no hard sell. They fully understand that not everyone can afford tickets every year for life, that schedules conflict, interests change, etc.

I spoke to someone who did not renew their tickets this year. They said they got an email yesterday saying the deadline has been extended until this Friday. Did anyone else get this same email? If in fact the tix office is extending the deadline, it probably says something about how renewal rates are going.

 

[mggoph]

I spoke to someone who did not renew their tickets this year. They said they got an email yesterday saying the deadline has been extended until this Friday. Did anyone else get this same email? If in fact the tix office is extending the deadline, it probably says something about how renewal rates are going.

I got the same email yesterday.

 

[2nd Degree Gopher]

We have decided to give up 10 of our 12 season tickets. I have had season tickets since 1964
we have made Saturdays at Gopher football, a family event that we can no longer afford. I am now retired and can no longer fit this into our budget. I started buying season tickets with my paper route money. Now the Gophers allow football tickets sales on Groupon and promotions with ticket along with free hotdog promotions. And seem to stick it to the long time loyal fans.
I will continue to go to several games and hold onto the two tickets but they just lost 10 season tickets from our family. Our family (Grandfather) started buying season tickets in 1900.

I appreciate you sharing your history. I don’t like that the economics of major college athletics has changed to the point that it has. I understand why the schools always want more money, but the loss of long term, loyal fans is problematic. As you mention, you will be able to get tickets for as many games as you wish and you’ll save money, but for some people–including me and I suspect you as well–there is a hard to quantify (or rationally justify) benefit to being a season ticket holder and the loss of that connection is real.

My small group tailgates before and usually after every game. I’d be happy to host you sometime if you lack a place to hang before a game. Just promise not to brag about how much less you paid for your tickets than I did for mine.

 

[saintpaulguy]

I got the same email yesterday.

I did as well. The new deadline is Friday.