Season Ticket holder seat changes

[WPoS]

A little birdie told me that in 2011, the U will be redistributing Season Ticket holder seats based on the following:

1. longevity

2. DONATION amount (CHING CHING CHING)

also heard that the seat costs will be all equal (no more extra $$ for the Gold seats)

I figure of the two criteria, donations will drive where your seats will be. SUPRISE!

Also, I figure they will use that time to maybe join the two student sections into one. My guess is going from 3.5 sections to 2.5 and putting them in the 1, 2, 3 part of the arena away from the attack side, which is stupid.

Furthermore, I figure this will make getting season tickets even HARDER for those on the wait list as the DONATION end will be the main driver of who gets seats in the future...

Welcome to CORPIEVILLE!

W

[JWG]

Interesting. Though I refuse to believe they'll eliminate the Golden Gopher Fund contribution for improved seating methodology. That allows the university to charge more while also allowing for the purchaser to use it as a tax write off. Considering this is very important piece of the football seating program, I can't see it going away in other venues.

I could see reshuffling seat holders under the Gopher Point System like they used for initial seating in football though. I still say there will be tiered pricing between the blue lines. And I argue the make 12, 13 and 14 the student sections if they combine. Those folks in 12 (and if any in 13) get moved to 2 and 3 or however the redistribution works.

Plenty of season ticket holders here who will have to be notified come spring/summer so I'm sure we'll know soon enough.

[bonesaw]

A little birdie told me that in 2011, the U will be redistributing Season Ticket holder seats based on the following:

1. longevity

2. DONATION amount (CHING CHING CHING)

also heard that the seat costs will be all equal (no more extra $$ for the Gold seats)

I figure of the two criteria, donations will drive where your seats will be. SUPRISE!

Also, I figure they will use that time to maybe join the two student sections into one. My guess is going from 3.5 sections to 2.5 and putting them in the 1, 2, 3 part of the arena away from the attack side, which is stupid.

Furthermore, I figure this will make getting season tickets even HARDER for those on the wait list as the DONATION end will be the main driver of who gets seats in the future...

Welcome to CORPIEVILLE!

W

Wheee!!!

I agree with you that they'll probably take the students out of Section 3. I would love to see them make Section 12 in to student seats, but given current demand they might just eliminate Section 3 altogether (and increase the number of full-priced seats). I think they'll keep the students in the 12-13-14 end so that: 1) the entrance without the nice glass lobby is the "student" entrance--god forbid the students use the same entrance as everyone else, and 2) the students don't have seats right on the glass

[Ben]

What appears to be happening is that for the best seats in the house for the big 3 sports at the U (Hockey, FB, MBB), there's going to be a mandatory donation attached to get the certain seats. I'm not sure if it'll be every seat at Mariucci, since they are the best seats, but it might be.

Good news: It's tax deductible! (It qualifies as a charitable donation to a non-profit organization.)
Bad news: You're required to pay a huge donation to keep your seat you've had for 20 years.

[WPoS]

Interesting. Though I refuse to believe they'll eliminate the Golden Gopher Fund contribution for improved seating methodology. That allows the university to charge more while also allowing for the purchaser to use it as a tax write off. Considering this is very important piece of the football seating program, I can't see it going away in other venues.

I could see reshuffling seat holders under the Gopher Point System like they used for initial seating in football though. I still say there will be tiered pricing between the blue lines. And I argue the make 12, 13 and 14 the student sections if they combine. Those folks in 12 (and if any in 13) get moved to 2 and 3 or however the redistribution works.

Plenty of season ticket holders here who will have to be notified come spring/summer so I'm sure we'll know soon enough.

that is where #2 comes in...DONATION amount...you donate more, you get a better seat.

W

[dxmnkd316]

I guarantee that if they start charging more than they already are that waiting list gets quite a bit shorter. I've been paying the standard amount, about $740 a year. If that goes up I don't think i could justify it anymore.

I also think that if you take away someone's seat and push them to the rafters you're going to see a lot of people pissed off enough that they just cancel outright.

I hate this university more and more each day. I really really do.

[Go4 Guy]

What appears to be happening is that for the best seats in the house for the big 3 sports at the U (Hockey, FB, MBB), there's going to be a mandatory donation attached to get the certain seats. I'm not sure if it'll be every seat at Mariucci, since they are the best seats, but it might be.

Good news: It's tax deductible! (It qualifies as a charitable donation to a non-profit organization.)
Bad news: You're required to pay a huge donation to keep your seat you've had for 20 years.

80% tax deductible... IRS says you get something in return, therefore you can not deduct 100% of the donation.

I would not be surprised if they stick a donation on pretty much every seat in the building....

DXMNKD316: I agree with hating the university more and more everyday!

[Ben]

80% tax deductible... IRS says you get something in return, therefore you can not deduct 100% of the donation.

That's just about enough out of you. If you're going to give everyone tax advice, remember to charge Jup. You're making the rest of us look bad.

Oh, and I think this is crap. But it's going to happen because other places have started to do it, and we need to jump off the bridge with everyone else.

[mnwildfan79]

80% tax deductible... IRS says you get something in return, therefore you can not deduct 100% of the donation.

That's just about enough out of you. If you're going to give everyone tax advice, remember to charge Jup. You're making the rest of us look bad.

Oh, and I think this is crap. But it's going to happen because other places have started to do it, and we need to jump off the bridge with everyone else.

Milhouse jumped off a bridge?!?! I'm there!

[davescharf]

I guarantee that if they start charging more than they already are that waiting list gets quite a bit shorter. I've been paying the standard amount, about $740 a year. If that goes up I don't think i could justify it anymore.

I also think that if you take away someone's seat and push them to the rafters you're going to see a lot of people pissed off enough that they just cancel outright.

I hate this university more and more each day. I really really do.

They won't be able to fill the building if they require even a small sized seat deposit for anyone, at least in the short term given how the common people are really struggling financially. Even if they grandfather in existing season ticket holders it won't work because either the building will be half empty or completely full and even more of a morgue from an atmosphere perspective than it's become over the last 5-10 years.

It's ideas like this that remind me why I rip up any request for money from the U and refuse to re-join the UMAA. The only thing I ever seem to get in return from them is more requests for money or something of absolutely no value to me. Then I get to read how they want to get even more money out of me through other means..jeez.

[Neely]

I guarantee that if they start charging more than they already are that waiting list gets quite a bit shorter. I've been paying the standard amount, about $740 a year. If that goes up I don't think i could justify it anymore.

I also think that if you take away someone's seat and push them to the rafters you're going to see a lot of people pissed off enough that they just cancel outright.

I hate this university more and more each day. I really really do.

I'm 100% in agreement here. My wife had her seats four years before we got married. We've now been married for 18 years so if my math is correct she has had the seats for more than 20 years. If we get pushed behind the nets, into a corner or put in the top row if we don't pay an extra $1000 a year I will seriously consider not renewing. I know there will be 200 posts behind mine telling me to shut up and just be glad I have season tickets but at $35 per seat per game it's already not cheap. Combined with the fact that you end up giving away (or selling at a reduced rate) games like last Sunday it gets even more expensive.

Also, if they do go to the "mandatory" donation scenario and you sell some seats during the year to people at face, think about the true per seat cost of those game you do attend. Those prices are getting into Wild ticket price range.

Ten years ago when my wife lost her job right at the time of renewal we considered giving up our seats for just a moment. We then decided, no way, this is our favorite thing to do. We'll never give these up. Well, it may be reevaluation time again. We may be buying tickets from the folks out front in a couple years.

Very disappointing to say the least.

[Handyman]

Neely I dont think anyone will fault you are say you are whining. Mandatory donations is ridiculous when you charge as much as they do for tickets.

If they need the money that badly go to a single student section and get rid of Section 3. It was only really needed after the back to backs (I had tickets there two years it was never full) and from the sounds of it it is never full now. Sell those seats for the standard price and make up for lost revenue.

[Don Adams Wheel of Justice]

Welcome to CORPIEVILLE!

Oh, good, another bash the evil corporate ticketholder argument. Don't let the fact that corporations pay a premium for their seats thus making the seats for students and regular folks cheaper get in the way of your tired anti-corpi sentiment. I guess the louder you cheer, the less your tickets should cost.

[Neely]

Neely I dont think anyone will fault you are say you are whining. Mandatory donations is ridiculous when you charge as much as they do for tickets.

If they need the money that badly go to a single student section and get rid of Section 3. It was only really needed after the back to backs (I had tickets there two years it was never full) and from the sounds of it it is never full now. Sell those seats for the standard price and make up for lost revenue.

I reread my post and I despite the support of Handy (thank you, btw) I guess I am whining and probably shouldn't be. It's a free market economy and I completely support that. I am just hoping that they don't get stupid and raise the prices to the point that a bunch of people dump their tickets and the arena is half full only to change their policy a year later. I'm happy to admit I am being selfish here as I absolutely love going to Gopher games and have done so for nearly 20 years. The thought of not being able to justify keeping my season tickets makes me ill.

The fact that tickets are about the same as last year and they had quite a high non-renewal rate this past year (granted there are many in line waiting to fill their spots) will give them some idea that demand will decline at some price point.

[mnwildfan79]

Welcome to CORPIEVILLE!

Oh, good, another bash the evil corporate ticketholder argument. Don't let the fact that corporations pay a premium for their seats thus making the seats for students and regular folks cheaper get in the way of your tired anti-corpi sentiment. I guess the louder you cheer, the less your tickets should cost.

Fact?

I think you would have a very hard time proving that corporate support or premium pricing have any affect at all on student ticket prices or "regular" ticket prices but if you have the data please share.

IMO they are going to charge as much as they can get away with regardless of the corporate support/premium pricing.

[Go4 Guy]

Welcome to CORPIEVILLE!

Oh, good, another bash the evil corporate ticketholder argument. Don't let the fact that corporations pay a premium for their seats thus making the seats for students and regular folks cheaper get in the way of your tired anti-corpi sentiment. I guess the louder you cheer, the less your tickets should cost.

Fact?

I think you would have a very hard time proving that corporate support or premium pricing have any affect at all on student ticket prices or "regular" ticket prices but if you have the data please share.

IMO they are going to charge as much as they can get away with regardless of the corporate support/premium pricing.

Here is a fact... The ticket prices are already the highest in college hockey and I am willing to bet that Mariucci has the largest amount of "premium" seating in the nation... If the premium seating truly does keep the "student and regular folks" ticket prices lower.... how in the world does every other team in college hockey keep there prices down?

here is another fact....Minnesota's Athletic department is (before this season) depending on the hockey program to make up for less revenue in other sports....

[Jupiter]

Don't forget the lost revenue due to taking alcohol out of the club room and suites. Unfortunately, they will do whatever they can to make up that lost revenue...

[GOPHERFAN119]

I would like to see them open up the Premium Seating and offer those seats to the general public at $35 a piece. There is no way they will do it though.

If they offered up those tickets to the general public, I feel on most nights, there would not be an open seat in between the blue lines.

I think $35 is getting pricey for a Gopher game. They will continue to raise prices. However, I have a feeling at a certain point, the rubber will hit the road, and it will backfire.

In addition, a few weeks ago, I attended the Denver Sat night game, there were a significant number of open suites empty in the bldg.

I think the game night atmosphere in Mariucci is pretty pathetic and boring.

I have had the opportunity to attend a few games at the ralph in the last few years and the game night atmosphere in the building is awesome and exciting. I have attended one game back in the days at St Cloud and found the atmosphere in their arena pretty darn good too.

My 2 cents

[monty]

Hey I got a good idea, why doesn't the University just let the people who go to the games make a voluntary donation for their admittance. That way nobody can complain about the pricing of tickets and mandatory donations. If they go to this option I would advise you to go often because you won't be able to go at all in a few years.

The fact is that beyond Ndak, the red menace and the U the rest of the schools either don't make money or don;t make enough money to make a difference in their athletic budget.

As long as the U has a waiting list for hockey tickets, they are going to everything they can to make as much money as possible.

[ScoobyDoo]

Don't forget the lost revenue due to taking alcohol out of the club room and suites. Unfortunately, they will do whatever they can to make up that lost revenue...

You can blame our state legislature for that one. And the governor for that matter who has had it in for the "U" since he took office.

[Hobey Baker]

Don't forget the lost revenue due to taking alcohol out of the club room and suites. Unfortunately, they will do whatever they can to make up that lost revenue...

I have a simple solution. Put the alcohol back in the arena's and sell it at the football stadium (we had alcohol at the dome for 28 years). That will help with the revenue issue.

The club and suite level have been absolutely empty for the first two home series. People upstairs have moved downstairs or dropped their tickets because the value of the club / suite is no longer worth the extra donation. The net doesn't help things either.

Question for everyone: Why isn't there more of an uproar over the regular ticket prices? The U's are 2x more expensive than most the WCHA schools.

[Orion]

Don't forget the lost revenue due to taking alcohol out of the club room and suites. Unfortunately, they will do whatever they can to make up that lost revenue...

I have a simple solution. Put the alcohol back in the arena's and sell it at the football stadium (we had alcohol at the dome for 28 years). That will help with the revenue issue.

The club and suite level have been absolutely empty for the first two home series. People upstairs have moved downstairs or dropped their tickets because the value of the club / suite is no longer worth the extra donation. The net doesn't help things either.

Question for everyone: Why isn't there more of an uproar over the regular ticket prices? The U's are 2x more expensive than most the WCHA schools.

Agreed with the booze. Not only would it create revenue it might loosen up the atmosphere. As to the uproar? It's all about demand. Hockey is more of a mainstream attraction for the U of MN. It's a state team regardless of where you are in the state. Hockey is more of a niche sport in the towns like St. Cloud, Mankato, and Duluth. Not many people grow up outside of those areas and become fans without living in the areas unlike the U of MN.

[dxmnkd316]

Don't forget the lost revenue due to taking alcohol out of the club room and suites. Unfortunately, they will do whatever they can to make up that lost revenue...

I have a simple solution. Put the alcohol back in the arena's and sell it at the football stadium (we had alcohol at the dome for 28 years). That will help with the revenue issue.

The club and suite level have been absolutely empty for the first two home series. People upstairs have moved downstairs or dropped their tickets because the value of the club / suite is no longer worth the extra donation. The net doesn't help things either.

Question for everyone: Why isn't there more of an uproar over the regular ticket prices? The U's are 2x more expensive than most the WCHA schools.

Agreed with the booze. Not only would it create revenue it might loosen up the atmosphere. As to the uproar? It's all about demand. Hockey is more of a mainstream attraction for the U of MN. It's a state team regardless of where you are in the state. Hockey is more of a niche sport in the towns like St. Cloud, Mankato, and Duluth. Not many people grow up outside of those areas and become fans without living in the areas unlike the U of MN.

I agree with literally everything you just said. Make booze available but enforce strict rules about being drunk. All students will be carded and have their IDs scanned like the dome. Also, keeping beer prices high would discourage student drinking for obvious reasons.

Regarding the other schools prices, when they have a 20-year waiting list they can start raping you with ticket prices as well.

[dryfly]

They won't be able to fill the building if they require even a small sized seat deposit for anyone, at least in the short term given how the common people are really struggling financially. Even if they grandfather in existing season ticket holders it won't work because either the building will be half empty or completely full and even more of a morgue from an atmosphere perspective than it's become over the last 5-10 years.

The corporate ticket buyer is strapped too - my guess is you'll see more than a few of them step back [can you buy their seats out of bankruptcy???]... and it won't just be U of M hockey ... we'll see that in every sports venue all across America - even in NYC.

Gophers are in a tough spot - money is drying up & they have to feed the beast [the facilities cost a ton even if donations helped build them]. They are going to squeeze the hockey ticket holders because they think they can and because they have to [where else do they go - the legislature???]...

[Handyman]

Don't forget the lost revenue due to taking alcohol out of the club room and suites. Unfortunately, they will do whatever they can to make up that lost revenue...

I have a simple solution. Put the alcohol back in the arena's and sell it at the football stadium (we had alcohol at the dome for 28 years). That will help with the revenue issue.

The club and suite level have been absolutely empty for the first two home series. People upstairs have moved downstairs or dropped their tickets because the value of the club / suite is no longer worth the extra donation. The net doesn't help things either.

Question for everyone: Why isn't there more of an uproar over the regular ticket prices? The U's are 2x more expensive than most the WCHA schools.

Not a chance...on campus the Big Ten frowns down on that and as far as I know no one allows it to be sold to the general public...no way the U will make themselves look bad in that regard. The U will have to find a way to get the legislature to repeal the law or they will be screwed. Hell I don't know how the law got passed in the first place...this state can't get anything done that matters but they can come up with that kind of BS? Of course even if the U gets the suites filled again it wont change the real problems anyways...

Personally I am against booze in the arena and nothing I have seen makes me think otherwise. Do you think the people you all complain about now are going to get better if they are allowed to booze up during the game? Better question, why do our fans need booze to be lively anyways...lots of schools have rowdy crowds without the need to sell booze in the arena.

[NYC Gopher fan]

I wish they would put alcohol back where it always was - in the club and in the suites. In all the years my family has had hockey season tickets I've never heard anyone complain about the people in club/suites getting to drink. We all know if we paid more, we could be up there. We choose not to pay more and are perfectly happy not boozing for a few hours.

Requiring everyone to donate? seems like a great way to clear the giant waitlist to me. The reason most of the people are on the waitlist is to buy the regular priced seats rather than doing assured seating. I understand the seating between blue lines being premium. Heck, I picked my seats at Target Field today and they are not in the infield area - didnt want to pay the premium to do that, but I'm quite happy with my seats and don't expect to sit in the premium areas unless I did. Im also quite happy not sitting in the premium seats at Mariucci.

[dxmnkd316]

Don't forget the lost revenue due to taking alcohol out of the club room and suites. Unfortunately, they will do whatever they can to make up that lost revenue...

I have a simple solution. Put the alcohol back in the arena's and sell it at the football stadium (we had alcohol at the dome for 28 years). That will help with the revenue issue.

The club and suite level have been absolutely empty for the first two home series. People upstairs have moved downstairs or dropped their tickets because the value of the club / suite is no longer worth the extra donation. The net doesn't help things either.

Question for everyone: Why isn't there more of an uproar over the regular ticket prices? The U's are 2x more expensive than most the WCHA schools.

Not a chance...on campus the Big Ten frowns down on that and as far as I know no one allows it to be sold to the general public...no way the U will make themselves look bad in that regard. The U will have to find a way to get the legislature to repeal the law or they will be screwed. Hell I don't know how the law got passed in the first place...this state can't get anything done that matters but they can come up with that kind of BS? Of course even if the U gets the suites filled again it wont change the real problems anyways...

Personally I am against booze in the arena and nothing I have seen makes me think otherwise. Do you think the people you all complain about now are going to get better if they are allowed to booze up during the game? Better question, why do our fans need booze to be lively anyways...lots of schools have rowdy crowds without the need to sell booze in the arena.

We're gonna have to disagree on this one I think. The big ten is eventually going to relent because college sports is all about the money and NOTHING (except for maybe drugs) brings in more money than alcohol.

[Breakaway]

With the amount of alcohol-related news-breaking scrums the U has had to endure on campus due to the presence of the new stadium, I would bet that they would refrain from allowing alcohol back into any of their stadiums, even if it is only the older non-student fans partaking in the suites. The way they think, I'm sure that their idea is that keeping alcohol out of the suites will somehow prevent the already skyrocketing alcohol-related crime from going up even more

[Handyman]

I dont think the Big Ten will relent, they dont have to they make money hand over fist on football alone not to mention basketball. The Big Ten are snobs about a lot of things and unless the bread and butter schools start needing cash (never happen) they will never change. (just like the WCHA would never do anything to tick off Sconnie and Minne since they are the bread and butter) The Big Ten would rather stay stubborn...that is how they are. Plus all it takes is one idiot Michigan fan getting too drunk on 8 dollar beer and starting crap at the Horseshoe and getting curbstomped and the Big Ten would outlaw it officially and we all know it.

If people want the suites to get their beer back they will have to talk to the legislature and get the law repealed. I am sorry but while you can blame the U for a lot of things (I know I do! ) that isnt one of them. If I was them I wouldnt want to have to deal with the fallout from the Big Ten if they bucked the trend either.

As for serving booze to everyone...TCF Bank already has a problem with people being too drunk there and passing out. You want to add to that by selling the idiots booze in house? Hah that should be fun...

[WPoS]

6 epmty suites on Sunday and the Gold club looked like a ghost town. There are those who don't like booze at games (handy, yes, I called you out there boy ) there are those who do or don't care. I've heard the hockey program is down in the order of $200K in revenue this year due to lack of the suites and gold club sales...that is pretty telling, The only way they will be able to make up that kind of ching is to squeeze the fans that DO go more. It's odd that going to a Goher Hoceky game is more expensive than the t-puppies or almost as expensive as a Wild or Vikings ticket in the upper deck. Pro player salaries ($buku$) + venue costs = college player salaries($0) + venue costs? What a crock. The cash cow has been milked dry. Too many people I know that have tickets are considering dropping because they CAN'T afford it. Those who get pulled up on the wait list for openeings can't afford it either. Put the booze back in the suites/Gold club, add it to the suites at TCF (which I think there were 10 or 11 empty on Saturday).

Now as to TCF and people boozing it up and passing out, I see NO logic that if they sold barley pops to the general public it'd be any different than it was at the Dome. Except they'd make a ton of money. That, and the lines would be so long and slow that no one would be able to get drunk AT the game. if people are that sauced with no booze in the stadium, selling it there would have little to no effect on the overall booziness of the fans. If a fan wants to be trashed at the game, they'll pregame it hard enough or buy it there (if it was available) and be drunk. If they don't want to be trashed they will do niether. This whole "if it is avaialble, everyone will be drunk" arguement is just crap. Just because it is there doesn't mean it "makes" people get trashed.

W

[Breakaway]

6 epmty suites on Sunday and the Gold club looked like a ghost town. There are those who don't like booze at games (handy, yes, I called you out there boy ) there are those who do or don't care. I've heard the hockey program is down in the order of $200K in revenue this year due to lack of the suites and gold club sales...that is pretty telling, The only way they will be able to make up that kind of ching is to squeeze the fans that DO go more. It's odd that going to a Goher Hoceky game is more expensive than the t-puppies or almost as expensive as a Wild or Vikings ticket in the upper deck. Pro player salaries ($buku$) + venue costs = college player salaries($0) + venue costs? What a crock. The cash cow has been milked dry. Too many people I know that have tickets are considering dropping because they CAN'T afford it. Those who get pulled up on the wait list for openeings can't afford it either. Put the booze back in the suites/Gold club, add it to the suites at TCF (which I think there were 10 or 11 empty on Saturday).

Now as to TCF and people boozing it up and passing out, I see NO logic that if they sold barley pops to the general public it'd be any different than it was at the Dome. Except they'd make a ton of money. That, and the lines would be so long and slow that no one would be able to get drunk AT the game. if people are that sauced with no booze in the stadium, selling it there would have little to no effect on the overall booziness of the fans. If a fan wants to be trashed at the game, they'll pregame it hard enough or buy it there (if it was available) and be drunk. If they don't want to be trashed they will do niether. This whole "if it is avaialble, everyone will be drunk" arguement is just crap. Just because it is there doesn't mean it "makes" people get trashed.

W

It's a pretty sad state of affairs.

If they put booze in Mariucci, they could do like they do at the Dome, run your driver's license, and refuse to serve you more than a beer or two. I agree that just because it's there doesn't mean people will get drunk, but it only takes one or two drunk people to make everyone else look bad. Dunno what to say about this beyond that... I'm for its availability for money reasons, to a point, but they'd have to force people to make good decisions if it were more widely available. Dome alcohol policies FTW.

[dxmnkd316]

6 epmty suites on Sunday and the Gold club looked like a ghost town. There are those who don't like booze at games (handy, yes, I called you out there boy ) there are those who do or don't care. I've heard the hockey program is down in the order of $200K in revenue this year due to lack of the suites and gold club sales...that is pretty telling, The only way they will be able to make up that kind of ching is to squeeze the fans that DO go more. It's odd that going to a Goher Hoceky game is more expensive than the t-puppies or almost as expensive as a Wild or Vikings ticket in the upper deck. Pro player salaries ($buku$) + venue costs = college player salaries($0) + venue costs? What a crock. The cash cow has been milked dry. Too many people I know that have tickets are considering dropping because they CAN'T afford it. Those who get pulled up on the wait list for openeings can't afford it either. Put the booze back in the suites/Gold club, add it to the suites at TCF (which I think there were 10 or 11 empty on Saturday).

Now as to TCF and people boozing it up and passing out, I see NO logic that if they sold barley pops to the general public it'd be any different than it was at the Dome. Except they'd make a ton of money. That, and the lines would be so long and slow that no one would be able to get drunk AT the game. if people are that sauced with no booze in the stadium, selling it there would have little to no effect on the overall booziness of the fans. If a fan wants to be trashed at the game, they'll pregame it hard enough or buy it there (if it was available) and be drunk. If they don't want to be trashed they will do niether. This whole "if it is avaialble, everyone will be drunk" arguement is just crap. Just because it is there doesn't mean it "makes" people get trashed.

W

AMEN! A+ for logic and reasoning!

[dxmnkd316]

Also, imagine if they were able to ink an exclusivity deal from Bud or Miller. That's gotta be worth a hell of a lot of cash.

[Handyman]

I never said I didnt want it in the suites...I dont care about them. (I just said I wont weep for the suite owners when they lost it) That is fine by me although bringing it back isnt going to change the ticket price problem and you know that. The rule just took effect this season and ticket prices have been skyrocketing for YEARS! The problems are mutually exclusive sorry to tell you. It might cut down on the in arena commercials and such but that I even doubt.

Have you used concessions at Mariucci? As of last year the registers they used were rather antiquated you think the U is going to pony up money for state of the art ID tags or checkers? Those dont come cheap trust me. (though they are worth their weight in gold BELIEVE ME) Do you really want Madge from Cretin Derham-Hall or her son Tommy to be serving the average Section 14er...as a bartender I can tell you that is a recipe for disaster the way things are now.

And dx, are you really so naive as to think that Bud Light or Miller Light or any other of a bevy of companies havent tried to become the "beer sponsor of the Big Ten"? I am sure every year someone tries to do it. The Big Ten doesn't need the money (at all) especially since the Big Ten Network started. (according to a press release last year each school in the BT got $6.3 million from the Network) Taking out even the regular season games the Big Ten gets at least $14 million bucks just by having a single BCS team...according to this article http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-24233212.html (just read the opening its free) each school will make over a million from just the bowl games. I dont know if it is still true but the Big Ten Network originally didn't even allow beer ads on their station. No way, barring another major economic crisis will the Big Ten give up on their rules, and I dont want to be an alum from a school that would embarrass themselves like that. I mean even Wisconsin doesn't sell booze on campus for games... (they give it away in suites, which as I said I have no issue with as long as you can get the legislature to agree, or whatever it takes to get the rule changed)

[Eliot Rosewater]

This whole "if it is avaialble, everyone will be drunk" arguement is just crap. Just because it is there doesn't mean it "makes" people get trashed.

Who's made the road trip to Mankato? They play in an off campus arena and I believe they sell alcoholic drinks during the games. Is the place rife with out of control drunk people?

[Blindside]

This whole "if it is avaialble, everyone will be drunk" arguement is just crap. Just because it is there doesn't mean it "makes" people get trashed.

Who's made the road trip to Mankato? They play in an off campus arena and I believe they sell alcoholic drinks during the games. Is the place rife with out of control drunk people?

Yes. It is more rock concert than hockey game; I seriously think people get more excited over the piped-in music they play as opposed to the play on the ice.

[Eliot Rosewater]

This whole "if it is avaialble, everyone will be drunk" arguement is just crap. Just because it is there doesn't mean it "makes" people get trashed.

Who's made the road trip to Mankato? They play in an off campus arena and I believe they sell alcoholic drinks during the games. Is the place rife with out of control drunk people?

Yes. It is more rock concert than hockey game; I seriously think people get more excited over the piped-in music they play as opposed to the play on the ice.

Any different than a Wild game?

I have to admit, at first glance, the thought of a "rock concert" atmosphere seemed distasteful to me, but based Mariucci's reputation of being a morgue, maybe a little more cowbell might not be such a bad idea. I haven't made up my mind on that one...

EDIT: Don't get my wrong: I am NOT in favor of piped in music. I am in favor of a more raucous atmosphere...

[streakygopher]

This is pretty simple economics. One of the suits figured out that since there are so many people on the waiting list, demand exceeds supply. So, how do you shift the supply-demand curve? Why, raise prices of course. The best possible scenario for the University is a demand curve that slightly exceeds supply. They will figure out when they reach that point as they inch up prices for tickets or add donation fees. When the time comes that there is more supply than demand prices will level off. Given the performance of the hockey team these past few years, I'm guessing that only a small price shift upwards will change the curve.

Now, this is how bean counters run businesses, and I can appreciate that. However, this is a university that feeds from the public trough and one that shamelessly solicits donations for no-strings-attached money from the same citizenry it purports to represent. If the average Minnesotan is taxed proportionally by the state according to their income - in the tax world, this is defined as fairness - to provide subsidies for the University to build a Physics building, fund research projects or build hospital wings, then should not the University in turn have some compulsory obligation to grant equal access to the average citizen for not only education but other collegiate experiences as well, such as sporting events? I'm sorry, but you can't have it both ways. If you take the pay off, you play by somebody else's rules.

[Neely]

As a follow up to Streaky's very sane comments, I'd be curious to know from other season ticket holders what change in ticket prices or other factors (forced location change) would cause you to drop your tickets. If they raised ticket prices $5 per game would you drop? $10 per game? $20? How about if you now sit in section 17, row 15 and they move you to say, section 2, row 24. Does that impact your decision.

This topic came up last night at home and we really had a hard time figuring out what price increase would cause us to discontinue our season tickets. Wondering if others had thought about this at all. As we've sat in the same seats for so long the location change was actually a bigger deal than the price. Of course when the renewal comes in 2011 and the total bill is $2200 that might change.

[dxmnkd316]

As a follow up to Streaky's very sane comments, I'd be curious to know from other season ticket holders what change in ticket prices or other factors (forced location change) would cause you to drop your tickets. If they raised ticket prices $5 per game would you drop? $10 per game? $20? How about if you now sit in section 17, row 15 and they move you to say, section 2, row 24. Does that impact your decision.

This topic came up last night at home and we really had a hard time figuring out what price increase would cause us to discontinue our season tickets. Wondering if others had thought about this at all. As we've sat in the same seats for so long the location change was actually a bigger deal than the price. Of course when the renewal comes in 2011 and the total bill is $2200 that might change.

Good question. For me the price point is $37.50 per game ($862.5 if you get 23 games). $40 a game ($920) is the absolute maximum I would be willing to pay assuming all else is equal. Any more than that and I can't justify it and I don't see a lot of other people being able to either.

[Orion]

Can someone give an idea of what season tix cost over the years? What were they five, ten, or twenty years ago?

[QueenofGopherHockey]

Can someone give an idea of what season tix cost over the years? What were they five, ten, or twenty years ago?

In 1987 a reserved regular ticket in the old barn cost $8.00. Once the new arena was in the works, the tickets went up approximately $2. per year for about 3-4 years.... before we even got IN the new arena. Been going up ever since.

Nasty business.

If tickets go up and my seat does NOT change or require a donation, I am good to $40 per ticket. Any other options and I am outta there. I have had this season ticket for 22 years, been a fan for 38 years. I NEVER in my wildest dreams would have guessed I would even THINK about not getting a season ticket. And it's a depressing thought.

QoGH

[Greyeagle]

Can someone give an idea of what season tix cost over the years? What were they five, ten, or twenty years ago?

In 1987 a reserved regular ticket in the old barn cost $8.00. Once the new arena was in the works, the tickets went up approximately $2. per year for about 3-4 years.... before we even got IN the new arena. Been going up ever since.

Nasty business.

If tickets go up and my seat does NOT change or require a donation, I am good to $40 per ticket. Any other options and I am outta there. I have had this season ticket for 22 years, been a fan for 38 years. I NEVER in my wildest dreams would have guessed I would even THINK about not getting a season ticket. And it's a depressing thought.

QoGH

The other variable in that time frame was the North Stars sneaking out of town leaving the Gophers as the show in town for hockey complete with a new arena (apparently) a license to dramatically increase ticket prices. I keep thinking at some point it has to level off given the success (at the box office) the Wild have had which must have eventually have a negative affect on corporate ticket sales.......but thus far I have been wrong. I think it comes down to the U getting spoiled on revenue from hockey and not being able to compensate as they begin to reach a point of diminishing returns.

[bringbackjiffypop]

Can someone give an idea of what season tix cost over the years? What were they five, ten, or twenty years ago?

In 1987 a reserved regular ticket in the old barn cost $8.00.

And gas was about $1.05/gal, Ford was debuting the Edsel, and the Charleston was sweeping dance floors all over the country!

[mnwildfan79]

This is pretty simple economics. One of the suits figured out that since there are so many people on the waiting list, demand exceeds supply. So, how do you shift the supply-demand curve? Why, raise prices of course. The best possible scenario for the University is a demand curve that slightly exceeds supply. They will figure out when they reach that point as they inch up prices for tickets or add donation fees. When the time comes that there is more supply than demand prices will level off. Given the performance of the hockey team these past few years, I'm guessing that only a small price shift upwards will change the curve.

Now, this is how bean counters run businesses, and I can appreciate that. However, this is a university that feeds from the public trough and one that shamelessly solicits donations for no-strings-attached money from the same citizenry it purports to represent. If the average Minnesotan is taxed proportionally by the state according to their income - in the tax world, this is defined as fairness - to provide subsidies for the University to build a Physics building, fund research projects or build hospital wings, then should not the University in turn have some compulsory obligation to grant equal access to the average citizen for not only education but other collegiate experiences as well, such as sporting events? I'm sorry, but you can't have it both ways. If you take the pay off, you play by somebody else's rules.

The problem with going that route is if you push too hard and go too far with your price increases it is very hard to get those fans back. Also the harder you push the less likely it is for those on the waiting list to actually buy tickets.

Check out the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL for a good example of raising ticket prices too far. Not long ago they had that incredible record sellout streak. Just last night despite being in 1st place with an exciting young team they drew 11k to their game. They had a waiting list for season tickets just like the Gophers but they kept pushing the ticket prices up (they are 2nd highest in the NHL behind Toronto) and alienated a big part of the fan base.

[kmd]

Who's made the road trip to Mankato? They play in an off campus arena and I believe they sell alcoholic drinks during the games. Is the place rife with out of control drunk people?

Haven't noticed any problems in the handful of games I've been to there.

[Neely]

Can someone give an idea of what season tix cost over the years? What were they five, ten, or twenty years ago?

In 1987 a reserved regular ticket in the old barn cost $8.00.

And gas was about $1.05/gal, Ford was debuting the Edsel, and the Charleston was sweeping dance floors all over the country!

To add some perspective, since 1987 ticket prices have risen just under 7% per year. The CPI has changed at an annual rate of just over 3% during that same period. The average annual wage has risen at ~4%.

[herbie]

A little birdie told me that in 2011, the U will be redistributing Season Ticket holder seats based on the following:

1. longevity

2. DONATION amount (CHING CHING CHING)

also heard that the seat costs will be all equal (no more extra $$ for the Gold seats)

I figure of the two criteria, donations will drive where your seats will be. SUPRISE!

Also, I figure they will use that time to maybe join the two student sections into one. My guess is going from 3.5 sections to 2.5 and putting them in the 1, 2, 3 part of the arena away from the attack side, which is stupid.

Furthermore, I figure this will make getting season tickets even HARDER for those on the wait list as the DONATION end will be the main driver of who gets seats in the future...

Welcome to CORPIEVILLE!

W

Did the birdie suggest it would be a complete reseating like football where each account was given points based on the above factors and everyone ends up with a new seat? That would surprise me. Also, by the cost of all seats being equal I would presume that is based on location. Surely, the seats between the blue lines will cost more similar to football seats on the 50 yard line. I bet they follow that road map.

[herbie]

I heard Louie on Kfan earlier this week and there is definately some concern at the U about empty seats and the atmosphere at Mariucci. Maybe the idea is to charge the donation for everyone but keep it small or at least reasonable so they are not as dependent on the corporate crowd? I pay an extra $1025 per seat to the Gopher Fund right now for seats at center ice. If the U decides to force everyone in the building to pay some sort of additional donation.....that amount could be far less and the U would still come out ahead and most importantly with less dependence on corporations which would be good. Also, would be good to create a secondary market ticket resale site for these companies to resell their tickets so they dont go unused. Would be nice to have a full house at Marriucci again. I'm sure that is a big driving force behind this as well.

[dxmnkd316]

If the U decides to force everyone in the building to pay some sort of additional donation.....that amount could be far less

commie...