Season Ticket holder seat changes

[dxmnkd316]

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.

ALso, the U has NO ONE to blame but itself. They caused ALL of these problems at mariucci. I have no sympathy for them. What WOULD help is slashing the price by 50%, making everything GA, and banning everyone over the age of 65

I'm serious about the GA remark though. The student sections were always empty until they made it GA. Put the real fans in the front and let the rest of the crowd feed off it. Fans who don't really care to show up half an hour before the puck drop or who leave early will be shuffled to the back of the arena. Your passion for gopher hockey will be directly proportional to the row you get not directly proportional to your wallet. and I don't want to hear a single one of you people bit and moan, "Oh i had these seats for 150 years... blah blah blah" If you don't care to stay until the Minnesota March that's your problem. If you can't get there until 7:15. That's your problem. Hell, maybe do it like the student section and make every year a lottery.

Who knows. Obviously these are ideas that would never in a million years be considered. Just my $0.02.

[brickhouse19]

"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."

Couldn't disagree more. Even if the U did not sell out the season tickets, which I think they still would even if they required a donation for every seat, it would not be the worst thing in the world to have some single game tickets go on sale every year. In my mind the U has to do something to get some life in that building and turning over a significant portion of the season ticket base would go along ways towards accomplishing that. It is no different at TCF, I share a season ticket package with someone that has had tickets for over 20 years--pretty good seats. I went to the Wisconsin game and was yelled at by several long time ticket holders for standing up and cheering on the Gopher's defense on third down. Sorry but if you do not want to get into the game and cheer on the Gophs watch the game at home.

[Handyman]

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%.

I am taking Macroeconomics right now so I totally understood that! Sorry, that just made me happy cause I hate that class

Those numbers dont make me happy though...

[gophsb2b]

My family has had season tickets for over 20 years and the past few years at Mariucci has been a brutal snoozefest. I have different people sitting next to me using some corp. seats every game and I can't remember the last time the people stood and cheered or even made a peep. I understand that corp. seats are just a part of it and separating the student section was an epic blunder that amazingly has yet to be fixed after all these years. I am an alum of UND and had the opportunity to experience those games back in the late 90's when that team was on fire. I would still wear the maroon and gold to the games and pay a heavy toll for it but I can't for one minute say that going to a game at the Ralph isn't 100x better than a game at the Mooch. The atmosphere is boring and if they charge me even more money to not be allowed to stand and cheer I am done with it. I get to every game I can and I have never left 1 second before the final buzzer. If they even tried to go GA I'd be so pissed. I am one of those unfortunate souls that works and with the U doing 7 instead of 7:30 starts on Friday it's nearly impossible for me to get home and get my kids fed and then make it to the game at at or before 6:30 which would become a requirement to get a decent seat. UND did GA for the student section (which was half the arena) when I was there and if any decent team came to town you'd have to stand in line for hours unless you knew someone from the baseball team (they worked the doors and could get you in a side entrance).

It's bad business to raise prices when the product isn't up to expectations. To raise it now when support is as low as it's been in ages would be a disaster. Even the late Woog years didn't produce as much dissatisfaction as I have heard about the squad the past few years. I live and die a little too much with every game but even I may not be able to handle a bigger forced donation or a move to worse seats. It's a slap in the face to real fans who's support doesn't fluctuate with the stock market or 4th quarter earnings.

Soapbox rant done. Go Gophs. GFY bucky

[herbie]

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

commie...

Ha! Seemed like a good idea, until you put it that way.

[MnSportsRube]

What about having a rules for season ticket holders to actually use their tickets. There is nothing more disturbing than not being able to get season tickets and to see games on TV and the place is empty.

I know if I wanted I can find a ticket, that’s not what this is about. I'm saying I don't care who is sitting in the seat, just that someone is using said tickets. To me this helps in two ways. Full house means great concession stand revenue and makes the game atmosphere much better.

Say if said ticket isn't used 90% of games, you forfeit right to next years season tickets, more less punish the people who are not going to the game instead of loyal ticket holders.

[herbie]

Here is a link to the Kfan podcast with Louie....starts to discuss the Mariucci crowd around 21:30


http://www.kfan.com/cc-common/mediaplay ... -AM&TRACK=

[Breakaway]

Man, they're right about that stuff. Don't know what can be done to improve the crowd, though.

[Breakaway]

Also, from the Podcast:

"They [the Gophers] are a little bit disappointed in the crowd"

Well, the crowds HAVE been bad lately, I'll give them that...but why don't you try to, I dunno, avoid getting shut out on back-to-back nights? That'll help with the crowd noise a little.

[kmd]

Also, from the Podcast:

"They [the Gophers] are a little bit disappointed in the crowd"

Well, the crowds HAVE been bad lately, I'll give them that...but why don't you try to, I dunno, avoid getting shut out on back-to-back nights? That'll help with the crowd noise a little.

Hard to get fired up for a comeback when the whole crowd is filing to the exit with more than 3 minutes left.

[Breakaway]

Also, from the Podcast:

"They [the Gophers] are a little bit disappointed in the crowd"

Well, the crowds HAVE been bad lately, I'll give them that...but why don't you try to, I dunno, avoid getting shut out on back-to-back nights? That'll help with the crowd noise a little.

Hard to get fired up for a comeback when the whole crowd is filing to the exit with more than 3 minutes left.

Hard to make a lot of noise when the team's down 0-3 for the second night in a row. Not saying it's great that everyone's leaving - I've never left a Gopher game early (nor shown up late), and I'll join the "beat the traffic" cheer every time - but it's a little silly to be disappointed with the crowd when you've fed 'em back-to-back goose-eggs.

[kmd]

Hard to make a lot of noise when the team's down 0-3 for the second night in a row. Not saying it's great that everyone's leaving - I've never left a Gopher game early (nor shown up late), and I'll join the "beat the traffic" cheer every time - but it's a little silly to be disappointed with the crowd when you've fed 'em back-to-back goose-eggs.

You're right, it's completely ludicrous to support your team if they're not winning . And FWIW, I was referring to the end of the Friday game against Denver, when you were only down 0-2 until the ENG with 2 seconds left.

Worst. Fanbase. Ever.

[Breakaway]

Hard to make a lot of noise when the team's down 0-3 for the second night in a row. Not saying it's great that everyone's leaving - I've never left a Gopher game early (nor shown up late), and I'll join the "beat the traffic" cheer every time - but it's a little silly to be disappointed with the crowd when you've fed 'em back-to-back goose-eggs.

You're right, it's completely ludicrous to support your team if they're not winning . And FWIW, I was referring to the end of the Friday game against Denver, when you were only down 0-2 until the ENG with 2 seconds left.

Worst. Fanbase. Ever.

Yeah, 'cause clearly I was implying that the crowd wasn't supporting the team They just weren't being LOUD about it because they were disappointed.

[kmd]

So showing up late, being quiet while you're there, and leaving early qualifies as "supporting the team" in these parts?

[gopher6]

they want a large crowd? they need to quit charging NHL ticket prices

[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

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.

the way it was explained to me was a complete reseat based on those two criteria. Just like the FB stadium was done this year. But they also did tell me with this change the gold seats wouldn't cost more...but if you think about it, they would anyway, that's where the high donation people would sit, so basically still cost more.

W

[WPoS]

Man, they're right about that stuff. Don't know what can be done to improve the crowd, though.

how about not handcuffing the band, ditching the piped in crap, not raising ticket prices to insane levels and letting alum's get a deal?

Oh, yah, and not puposely kill off tradiational cheers and chants that have been around longer than any of the people making these desicions (whom I am pretty sure aren't even alums of this college...go kill your own traditions).

W

[WPoS]

Couldn't disagree more. Even if the U did not sell out the season tickets, which I think they still would even if they required a donation for every seat, it would not be the worst thing in the world to have some single game tickets go on sale every year. In my mind the U has to do something to get some life in that building and turning over a significant portion of the season ticket base would go along ways towards accomplishing that. It is no different at TCF, I share a season ticket package with someone that has had tickets for over 20 years--pretty good seats. I went to the Wisconsin game and was yelled at by several long time ticket holders for standing up and cheering on the Gopher's defense on third down. Sorry but if you do not want to get into the game and cheer on the Gophs watch the game at home.

could not agree more!

W

[dxmnkd316]

Man, they're right about that stuff. Don't know what can be done to improve the crowd, though.

how about not handcuffing the band, ditching the piped in crap, not raising ticket prices to insane levels and letting alum's get a deal?

Oh, yah, and not puposely kill off tradiational cheers and chants that have been around longer than any of the people making these desicions (whom I am pretty sure aren't even alums of this college...go kill your own traditions).

W

Ugh... we need a rule where all administration of the U must have graduated from the U.

[Handyman]

Even if you are kidding, that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Leaving aside the fact that such a rule would be illegal because it is discriminatory, it isn't like there havent been plenty of non Minnesota personnel that have done wonderful things for the school and Minnesota alums who screwed things up royally. It has nothing to do with where people came from, it has everything to do with money.

I mean what is next...only Minnesota alum coaches for all the teams? Only Minnesota alum professors and teachers?

[dxmnkd316]

Even if you are kidding, that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Leaving aside the fact that such a rule would be illegal because it is discriminatory, it isn't like there havent been plenty of non Minnesota personnel that have done wonderful things for the school and Minnesota alums who screwed things up royally. It has nothing to do with where people came from, it has everything to do with money.

I mean what is next...only Minnesota alum coaches for all the teams? Only Minnesota alum professors and teachers?

Of course I was joking. And handy, is that really the dumbest thing you have ever heard? You have what, 3,000+ posts to your name and that's the dumbest thing? Ha, I call BS

[Handyman]

I grade on a curve based on subject matter, poster and what kind of mood I am in. The subject sucks and you are quality poster (meaning I expect more) and I am about to head to Macroecon...it was a trifecta of SUCK!

Plus, I know for a fact there are people that would love such a thing because Minnesotans are so damned provinicial it is bordering on a damned phobia!

[evegoe]

Couldn't disagree more. Even if the U did not sell out the season tickets, which I think they still would even if they required a donation for every seat, it would not be the worst thing in the world to have some single game tickets go on sale every year. In my mind the U has to do something to get some life in that building and turning over a significant portion of the season ticket base would go along ways towards accomplishing that. It is no different at TCF, I share a season ticket package with someone that has had tickets for over 20 years--pretty good seats. I went to the Wisconsin game and was yelled at by several long time ticket holders for standing up and cheering on the Gopher's defense on third down. Sorry but if you do not want to get into the game and cheer on the Gophs watch the game at home.

could not agree more!

W

But what about when the radio and tv is tape-delayed?

[cphockeyman]

6 epmty suites on Sunday

Actually, 11 of the 18 Suites went unsold at that game. The Legislature should reconsider the booze in the Premium areas. They are not doing the U any favors with the current situations.

[cphockeyman]

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?

When I've shot down there, I've found the fastest way to the other side of the arena is to go under the seats. I can always tell when I've hit the student section because it reeks of beer and beer drips down from the seats. There's a fair amount of drunk people there.

[WPoS]

6 epmty suites on Sunday

Actually, 11 of the 18 Suites went unsold at that game. The Legislature should reconsider the booze in the Premium areas. They are not doing the U any favors with the current situations.

I may have had the football and hockey empty suite numbers switched...just a dang shame they are empty! The cash cow that has been hockey is going dry! I'll be the jerk and say it: why do 3 sports support ones that lose so much money? When they penalize (2 minutes in the box) us hockey fans so other "sports" can work, will end fast when hockey is no longer making much ching.

W

[WPoS]

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?

When I've shot down there, I've found the fastest way to the other side of the arena is to go under the seats. I can always tell when I've hit the student section because it reeks of beer and beer drips down from the seats. There's a fair amount of drunk people there.

I blame the "diamond cutters" from McGoff's last year for my state at the one game...but that bar closed now...so our livers are now safe!

W