Annual Season Ticket Holder Survey
The annual Michigan Season Ticket Holder Survey is out. If/when you have seen it and responded to it, feel free to discuss your repsonses and comments in this space.
Some of the noteworthy things about this year's survey:
- As usual, there are no questions about the team's performance. You won't get to vote on firing the Offensive Coordinator. That doesn't bother me in the slightest. What would I say? "Gosh, I'd like it if we won all of our games"?
- There's nothing about schedules, opponents, etc.
- They did not ask about whether night games are good, bad or indifferent. I don't know if that might telegraph anything about the possibility (unliklihood?!?) of a night game next year. I seem to recall the question in last year's survey, although I may be incorrect in that regard. My preference is zero night games. Anyway, they didn't ask.
- Main questions are with the game-day experience. Parking/shuttles; Stadium staff; concessions; bathrooms; ticketing; resale/StubHub; marketing promotions; digital platforms; cellular service. And, naturally stadium rock.
- I got a kick out the fact that they asked about the "Fire Up!" and "Let's Go!..." videos. I had forgotten how awful those things were until they asked.
One thing they didn't really ask about (there is space for other narrative comments) is about the use of the video boards for instant replay. Can anyone explain why every big play, every big penalty, every disputable play isn't replayed? We've got a platoon of cameras, a network television crew, and two video boards each of which is larger than an adult Blue whale. Oh; and 110,000 people who might want to see what the millions of people who paid exactly nothing for the game are watching at home.
December 20th, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^
December 21st, 2013 at 7:46 AM ^
I actually believe that your response was rational, well thought out, and coherent, as opposed to the ranting/venting/swearing that other people seem to be submitting. Hopefully they listen to yours.
December 21st, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^
This is exactly what I said when asked about my feelings about ticketing:
"I have paid for four season tickets since 1987. Two were in my name and four were in my brothers name. I am ending my 35 years of financial support to the Athletic Department after this year and will not be renewing my four seats (my brother will retain and use the two now in my name) as I am so tired of paying top dollar for tickets to watch an exceedingly mediocre product on the field. I know Coach Hoke thinks the world of Al Borges and supports his play calling 100% but I do not so I'm registering my dissatisfaction the only way I know how and that is by ending my attendance and financial support."
And this...
Please add any comments/suggestions you have for the Michigan Athletic Department involving your overall experience as a 2013 Football Season Ticket Holder.
I would hope that the Michigan Athletic Department understands that EVERYTHING, even one's long-time support for their alma mater's football team, has a breaking point and I've reached mine. The combination of steadily escalating ticket prices plus expensive annual seat licencing fees to watch a team barely over 500 since 2008 (40-37)has ended it for me.
December 21st, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
Like I said, I knew you would do it the right way.
December 20th, 2013 at 11:57 PM ^
In the student survey there was a heavy emphasis on whether or not we were content with the performance/attitude of the event staff. It seemed like they honestly thought the reason so many students hate the AD is because of the event staff's behaviour on gamedays...oblivious.
December 21st, 2013 at 12:35 AM ^
December 21st, 2013 at 12:57 AM ^
December 21st, 2013 at 5:07 AM ^
December 21st, 2013 at 8:29 AM ^
Yes; they are asking for names and email addresses with every survey form.
As for the survey contractor; I am not sure, but the survey software is by Qualtrics. Can the University just do something like this on its own, with Qualtrics-suite products? I don't know.
December 21st, 2013 at 8:38 AM ^
December 21st, 2013 at 6:26 AM ^
Cellphone internet service is awful
Lets go blue and fire up campaigns were poor
2014 home schedule is very poor for fans
I don't much care about the price of tickets but they need to worry less about marketing and more about the product on the field, holding the leadership accountable for the on-field product. I know they weren't asking about that, but they will still read it.
December 21st, 2013 at 9:04 AM ^
December 21st, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^
FWIW there was an entire section devoted to freaking Seat Cushions but not ONE question regarding the team itself - you know...the actual PRODUCT people are paying to watch. I told them that was borderline insulting to ask me four questions about seat cushions but not ask even one about the team or our annual seat licence fees.
To me it was one of those surveys comissioned by marketing in an effort to provide support for positions they already hold or to use in future advertising. It seemed like they were completely and utterly disconnected from the average unhappy fan.
December 21st, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
Notes/Disclaimers:
You know I like you.
I haven't had season tickets since I was a student.
I have no idea if you still have your Browns season tickets, I know you used to have them.
I have absolutely no idea how much Browns season tickets cost and if they even have PSLs.
I have absolutely no idea the time/energy/travel that takes for you to get to Cleveland Browns games.(I seem to remember you live in or near Cleveland).
I completely understand your decision and reasoning to abandon your Michigan season tickets. Totally fair.
Questions:
Assuming you're still a Browns season ticket holder, why haven't you abandoned your Browns tickets given their history? What would be your breaking point for the Browns?
If you're no longer a Browns season ticket holder, what was the breaking point?
Do/did the Browns/Cavs send out similar surveys to season ticket holders? Do they survey your opinion on the quality of the product?
Conclusion:
Like I said, there's no need for you to answer this. I was just curious because I know you have experience with NFL season tickets and have been a season ticket holder for other sports.
December 21st, 2013 at 11:57 AM ^
I have no problem answering these at all:
Assuming you're still a Browns season ticket holder, why haven't you abandoned your Browns tickets given their history? What would be your breaking point for the Browns?
My wife's late father was a charter season ticket holder (started in 1954) and we got the PSL as a wedding gift. Our seats are in the third deck but row #1 and directly on the 50 yard line. I go as much out of respect for my wife and her putting up with my Michigan antics and the fact it's a 25 minute drive instead of 3 hours. Plus they are fantastic seats. The long drive does come into play but let's face it - I made the drive for 30 plus years so it wasnt THAT big of a deal to me.
If you're no longer a Browns season ticket holder, what was the breaking point?
I still have them and will probably always have them. One big difference between my Browns seats and my Michigan seats is in how they handle the PSL fees. With Michigan I had to pay annually, with the Browns you pay once and as long as you hold the seats you never pay again. And the cost of the seats are CHEAPER ($70/ticket - all games) than Michigan.
Do/did the Browns/Cavs send out similar surveys to season ticket holders? Do they survey your opinion on the quality of the product?
Yes on survey and yes on asking about overall satisfaction with stadium and the team for Browns (or at least they did last year). Plus they assaign a designated represetative to all season ticket holders and they are VERY responsive to email and will take your calls. In short, I have a voice. I used to hold Cavs season tickets but stopped after Lebron left so I dont know if they hold the surveys or not.
December 21st, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
Great responses. I had no idea about the one time PSL. That obviously makes a financial difference and probably alleviates the feeling that you're getting price jacked every year.
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays and all that jazz to you and yours MGrowOld!
December 21st, 2013 at 5:12 PM ^
December 21st, 2013 at 9:53 PM ^
That was the comment I remember from another B1G fan who went with me to a game this year (he's not an MSU or Ohio fan). This year we get pom poms, flyovers, a drunken Mary Sue (that was actually worth $50 to see in person), excessive and loud video board antics, and, last but not least, SKY PAINTING (the chump who paid for the GO BLUE painting over East Lansing looks really dumb given our our seasons have turned out). All this and FIVE losses.
My sister pays for the PSL and I buy most games from her. She got the survey, but expect the same kind of responses.
There's a difference between PANIC (HC firing half the staff every year), IMPATIENCE (AD acting like George Steinbrenner in the 1980s with Yankees managers), and genuine FRUSTRATION, which I never see from any of the coaches. Bo didn't through his players under the bus publically, but it was pretty well understood around town that he was pissed after a loss against a team we were better than (talent-wise), and the players knew they were as accountable as the coaches.
Which is why Bo could follow his 1st 4-loss team with a B1G champion and RB winner, his 6-6 team with a great team that finished #2 and won the Fiesta, and his last 4-loss team and win the B1G again and RB.
Hoke's got one last chance to not be dismissed by the fan base, by surprising on the upside in 2014.
December 23rd, 2013 at 10:41 AM ^
I just completed mine. Ugh. "Are you aware that we are super awesome and are keeping prices the same as last year even though you won't be able to resell more than one game for face value or greater?"
Oh wait, they didn't ask that? Felt like it to me. I responded without regard to the product on the field as it's the off-field stuff that they're looking for and it's bothersome enough. Stupid student seating policy, terrible Jock Jamz, laughable 2014 schedule, constant gimmicks, etc.