ADept having trouble selling season tickets for Football?
Just an observation but I haven’t seen the athletic department aggressively promote becoming a football season ticket holder in quite awhile. Not since 2014 when they were desperate to get sales going.
For example, at MDen there are leaflets at the front counter thats an ad for buying season tickets. I’ve been getting bombarded with emails telling me to join and get season tickets. MGoBlue’s release about the spring scrimmage practice yesterday said everyone who joins the interest list will be offered season tickets this year.
In 2017, I was waitlisted. Since then demand has gone down from where it once was according to the annual charts they release on % of interest list donors offered tickets.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:18 AM ^
Not surprising. Play better and demand/enthusiasm will go up. If you charge premium prices, you expect a premium product. School loyalty only lasts so long.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:22 AM ^
Plus - the home experience is getting better. No lines for bathroom, cheaper food/drinks, more comfortable seating and The growth of HD TV technology.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:35 AM ^
Agree. I'm slowly transforming my basement into that house everyone wants WD to buy. I painted the walls blue a couple nights ago and put up fatheads all over last night. I still go to a game or two year and maybe travel to an away game every other year. I'm definitely much happier since I gave up my season tickets after 20 years.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:48 AM ^
Unfortunately for me, it just became too expensive to be a season ticket holder and take care of five kids. If you look at the cost of going to seven football games (tickets, gas, food, etc), you could build the man cave of your dreams.
One thing I can't replicate, that I don't think I'd want to, is the walk from downtown on Main St. the morning of games. I miss walking past houses where cars are parked in the driveway and kids are throwing around maize-n-blue footballs. I miss the sights and sounds of the blue collar postal workers trying to scalp tickets to help pay the bills at home. And I miss making my way uphill until the Big House starts to appear over the horizon.
They're little things. And fortunately, I can still do those things even if I can't afford the tix anymore.
February 21st, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
That is one aspect that can't be replicated you are correct. This is always best in the early season and the early kickoff games. Nothing like walking down Main or State St and seeing hundreds of undergrads decked in maize and blue on a clear sunny fall day.
However, once it gets to November, it gets to the point where you want the least amount of time in the cold as possible.
February 21st, 2020 at 10:37 AM ^
This is the same experience that I remember from 41 years ago. The throng ascending on the hole that Yost dug. Filing by the student ghetto and the frat houses. Pizza Bob's. Harvey Wallbangers before the game. Man, what memories.
February 21st, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
The walk to the Big House was always one of my favorite parts of game day. My wife's from Houston and we had been to Ann Arbor once before (during fall break), but she got her first real UM experience last fall when we went up for the Notre Dame game. We didn't have tickets (would have picked some up if the weather was good, but decided to watch from the brewery instead), but we spent the afternoon walking around campus, watched the band's step show and made the walk up to the stadium with the crowd. We both loved it and can't wait to get up to a big game again soon!
February 21st, 2020 at 12:36 PM ^
Very well said. There’s nothing like it
February 21st, 2020 at 11:34 AM ^
Great minds think alike. I completed by basement a couple of years ago. Complete with:
1) 6' Fathead of Michigan Stadium UTL 1
2) Painted the walls blue with a huge (4') Block M in Maize
3) Detroit News posters of Michigan (Glenn Rice and Woodson) and Detroit sports teams championship
4) 75" Samsung large screen
5) Built in bar
Makes me wonder why I even make the trek to the Stadium sometimes. Although I do take my sons once a year......
February 21st, 2020 at 12:22 PM ^
I've had the UTL one for a few years. I didn't realize the block M fathead existed until this week. It looks great on the blue wall. I was originally and likely unsuccessfully going to try to paint it myself. I also bought the state of Michigan with the block M.
February 21st, 2020 at 1:32 PM ^
I have those posters - what a great set!! A purchase that has given me a lot of joy over the years.
February 21st, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
Agreed, especially with the games dragging longer and longer. Some games it seems like they go to a TV timeout after every possession in the first half.
February 22nd, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
Agreed, the length of game is way too long. TV commercials are ridiculous. The NCAA should take the NFL model. Problem is, NCAA is too greedy.
February 23rd, 2020 at 8:28 AM ^
Plus, the people sitting next to me get uncomfortable when I watch Pornhub during commercial breaks and that is never happens when I’m at home.
February 21st, 2020 at 5:09 PM ^
I hardly go to sporting events anymore. It takes an entire day to go to a game. The cost for tickets, parking and food is crazy. I can sit in a comfortable chair and have everything including a close bathroom right there. If the game sucks change the station or go do something else
February 22nd, 2020 at 7:16 AM ^
Pause the set during long commercial timeouts then fast forward. At the game, everyone is yelling at the loser in red to get off the field. Its an event for commercials not the fan.
February 21st, 2020 at 10:04 AM ^
Play better and demand/enthusiasm will go up.
To be fair, the team's home record under Harbaugh is very good (save for against a single opponent).
February 21st, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
It's pretty bizarre that Michigan is 1-5 against MSU and OSU at home (with both MSU losses being Michigan shooting themselves in the foot) and undefeated against everyone else over 5 years.
February 21st, 2020 at 10:32 AM ^
The Sparty record was just an oddball thing that was never likely to continue: 1) Losing on the last play of the game with a 99.8% win probability and 2) in extreme weather conditions with a backup QB.
OSU, that's them being better.
February 21st, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
What’s crazy is that we’re a Dave Brandon away from being undefeated at home vs all non-osu opponents.
had it not been for Brandon being an ass at the meetings, we would’ve had sparty at home in 2016 and 2018.
February 21st, 2020 at 12:21 PM ^
Not that I want to defend Brandon, but this seems doubtful. I can't really buy that the B1G deliberately changed our schedule pattern forever to spite an AD who wasn't going to be here forever.
Plus, MSU has this same issue, having to play Michigan and OSU on the same rotation, too. It's easier for me to just assume incompetence on the league's part.
February 21st, 2020 at 1:23 PM ^
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. An important truism. It extends to Brandon, though, too. If he weren't a fool (at best), he would've pointed out this little problem to the league.
February 21st, 2020 at 3:22 PM ^
That I can agree with.
February 21st, 2020 at 10:21 AM ^
Sorry but a game like Army last year was brutal to watch even though it was win.
February 21st, 2020 at 10:26 AM ^
How about ND and MSU last year?
Of the knocks you can make against Harbaugh, "His teams don't play well at home" has to be down the list. He's won in the neighborhood of 85% of home games and his average margin of victory is quite high.
I think the bigger issue here is that fans aren't as fired up about even years when neither rival comes to town.
February 21st, 2020 at 11:58 AM ^
Two observations:
1) this is probably cyclical due to the MSU and OSU (and the past two seasons ND) home and away whipsaw (thanks Dave Brandon v B1G)
2) My sense is the speculators who bought season tickets last year expecting a premium on those three games, lost their shirts when the prices collapsed post Wisconsin and they are hesitant to go all in again
February 21st, 2020 at 2:11 PM ^
If you charge premium prices, I would expect premium opponents. Non-conference home games against Ball State and Arkansas State. B1G games vs. Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, Maryland, and Indiana. Wisconsin and Penn State are fine. I realize they can't do anything about the B1G schedule but still between that and those two NC cupcakes? IMO, this is why more people are watching from the comfort of their homes and maybe will try to pick up single game tickets for the big games.
February 21st, 2020 at 6:39 PM ^
I'm not sure why others aren't going to games. I'm sure there's a million reasons.
Personally, until UM shows it can compete with (and occasionally beat) OSU, I'm not interested. I'm not going to sit through four-hour sludgefart games against Army/App State for $$$$.
That's me. I'm burned out.
YMMV.
February 22nd, 2020 at 6:54 AM ^
Agree. Where are the championships? Any expectation for one in 2020? Depends on whether QB play takes a jump and is healthy. There you go.
Another issue. The fans get it. The fans are the customer and Warde ignores the customer. Assume Warde doesn't read these posts and is he does, he ignores and raises prices.
Games are not a fan friendly experience. Like the idea of pumping $ into my own sports den. Problem is ... down the road, there may be no game to watch due to empty stands.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:26 AM ^
Are you including your season tickets in the sale of your house?
February 21st, 2020 at 9:26 AM ^
Home slate isn't very good this season. Wisconsin and PSU but otherwise no one of note.
Continual worsening of the in stadium experience related to other options will persist because no one is willing acknowledge the problem and address it.
Also, disappointing ends to the last 2 seasons definitely hurts morale.
February 21st, 2020 at 12:12 PM ^
The last 2.....try 13 of the last 17 seasons ended in complete failure
February 21st, 2020 at 9:27 AM ^
I gave back my tickets recently. It wasn't really about the prices or the quality of the product (although lord knows both can improve), but about the fact that the games are just too long now. It became intolerable to just sit there idly during those countless commercial breaks.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:30 AM ^
I agree. At this point I've considered ending my season tickets and just going on stub hub for the big games. Nobody wants to sit through commercial breaks that are >10 minutes in the sun while we play a MAC team. I can't tell you how many times a break would be over and I'd have completely forgotten what was going on in the game.
The fact that high definition TVs have become standard in households, which cost less than a pair of season tickets, and you can stock your own beverages and food with whatever you want, no lines, etc. Is only extra motivation.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:33 AM ^
I advise against it. You're gonna get screwed hard on fees and inflation on stubhub. Face value for the big games is worth having them if you can afford them.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:38 AM ^
They offered two game packages last year. Pick one of Notre Dame, MSU or OSU and take one shit game. This was offered at face value and was perfect for me. I take the kids to the shit game and get one of the big games at face.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:43 AM ^
The thing is, this year the only good home games are Penn State and Wisconsin. That's asinine. So, >$600 per seat for a season with two games that are worth my time, vs maybe $125-$150 per seat for better seats in just two games, is a huge savings, and i don't feel obligated to go to the boring ass cupcake games that feel more tedious than fun. I've kept my tickets for now because in off years we will get MSU and OSU. But the AD is asking for this with the scheduling and the shitty fan experience.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:45 AM ^
Whats more expensive, 2 - 3 games a year from Stubhub, or a seat license and season tickets? I went to the Stubhub option 7 years ago, and I have a much better experience.
February 21st, 2020 at 10:10 AM ^
As a season ticket holder, living on the west coast, I'm strongly debating not renewing my 3 seats moving forward.
There are some games that I practically gave the tickets away for free on StubHub.
Nowadays on any given Saturday (big games included) you can always find cheap tickets on StubHub the day of.
February 21st, 2020 at 12:15 PM ^
Compare overpaying for a single big game versus the price of an entire season ticket package, you're coming out ahead with Stubhub.
February 21st, 2020 at 2:22 PM ^
Maybe they need to give away scholarships (for students) and houses (for everyone else) during the commercial breaks. These schools are raking in tens of millions of dollars and we're suffering through 5-minute commercial breaks because of these TV deals.
Use some of that TV money to entertain the folks in the stands.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:27 AM ^
It's just been too long since Michigan really mattered in football. You can only sell history for so long. Football seasons are basically taking on a only a hollow, "hypothetical importance" at this point.
Taking a slogan that used to be kind of thrown around as a joke here, "it doesn't really matter until we beat Ohio State."
It's that simple.
February 21st, 2020 at 9:51 AM ^
I've been curious about this, especially with this topic and yesterday topic on the spring game, where people's level of fandom is right now for Michigan football??
Myself I can honestly say I watch a few games a year now. If they will I'm glad,if they lose I'm like whatever. 20 years ago I never thought I would be this way
February 21st, 2020 at 11:09 AM ^
I'm in the same boat. However I don't think that's all about the product on the field. In fact, I'd be a little concerned with myself if I was still as wrapped up in watching every game and living and dying with the results like I did as an undergrad. Perspective, time, and other priorities are normal healthy things in growing older. No this is not a thinly veiled shot at WD or people who still live and breathe Michigan sports - just saying for most of us, you begin to realize that this shit isn't worth ruining a Saturday over. I think even if we turned into Alabama tomorrow, I still would only watch some of the games and be pretty meh if we lose. But maybe I'm just getting old.
February 21st, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
Isn't there an option in between where you can watch every game, but not let it ruin your day? I guess thats where i fit in.
February 21st, 2020 at 11:43 AM ^
The 2009 RichRod season taught me to watch the games, but don't let the results ruin the rest of your day. That was one tough season for my Michigan fandom.
February 21st, 2020 at 12:38 PM ^
Part of that recipe is staying away from MGoBlog and Twitter from kickoff ‘til maybe Tuesday.
February 21st, 2020 at 1:28 PM ^
The thing is 99% of us on this board are not affected by what this team does. We could finish a season as national champions or 0-12 and it would not change anything in our life.
February 21st, 2020 at 12:23 PM ^
Ditto for my experience/emotions as well. Sad to admit, but true all the same.
February 21st, 2020 at 1:18 PM ^
I watch them all, pretty much same as always except the first year of RichRod. I miss a bodybag game here or there though. I've never been one to rend my garments after a loss though.
I record them all though, and rarely start watching on time, except OSU. I don't get the negativity. Other than the domination by OSU, which sucks I grant, Michigan is about where they've been W-L wise my whole life, including Bo (who never won a CFB championship either).
131 or so teams aren't champions every year. About 115 of them would love to be Michigan. I'm fine with that.