Good Minnesota ticket deal worth checking out

Submitted by Zoltanrules on
"Michigan Day & Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day". As part of this Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day, all Faculty and Staff of the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses can take advantage of an exclusive ticket offer "only available to them".(I doubt they would turn away anyone else). For only $42 (42 signifying the number of B1G championships Michigan has won), Faculty/Staff can receive the following: - 1 ticket to Michigan vs. Minnesota; ticket located in North Endzone of Michigan Stadium - 1 Hebrew National Kosher Jumbo Hot Dog; made locally in Quincy, Michigan - 1 Michigan Football T-Shirt To purchase, use promotional code HAIL at http://mgob.lu/promocodeHAIL. There are limited tickets available for this offer and the offer expires this Friday, September 19 at 5 p.m. There is an eight (8) ticket limit to this offer. I just tried this code on the website and it is legit and no one asked for any employee number, ID ,etc.
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DetroitBlue

September 16th, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^

Is it? Trying to fill up empty seats is a good business decision (not looking to get into the reason why there are so many empty seats), but how is it a good deed? If people were willing to pay full cost, they would've and Brandon would've taken their money. Clearly people aren't and he decided that getting something is better than nothing so he lowered prices. Whether or not it's a good deed doesn't even enter the equation.


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Zoltanrules

September 16th, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^

probably worth more like half that, but still that makes a ticket for $29 for a B1G game at the Big House. I hope some who can't afford seat licenses and $75 tickets, take advantage of this; and those who have season tickets see will only see this as a short term solution to sell out games.

Personally, I think DB should do more things for current season ticket holders who are riding the storm out: Free tix to Slipery Rock, free bottled water, framed picture of Brady, something more as a good will marketing move.

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alum96

September 16th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^

Right but I can't get those things for "what they are worth". ($13) I have to pay retail, so if $26 is the number for hotdog and Tshirt I get a Big 10 game for $16.   Beer at Tiger Stadium is not worth $8 (well maybe during some of those save opportunities) but that is the retail cost when you are in a captive environment.

Now the larger picture is this is what I see happen in sales in some companies I've worked for - everyone is trained to hit numbers on a quarterly basis so customers just wait until the last 10 days of the quarter when "prices drop" and they get their best deals.  That trains them not to really engage the other 80 days of the quarter.

So the worry for Mr. Brandon is the more of these deals that go out there the more trained the buying public becomes to waiting for the Groupon, Amazon local, "alumni association (not)" deals rather than engage the university for actual PSLs, season tickets, or even buying single game tickets at face value.  

Of course a winning product changes that dynamic as do more appealing home games but in the interim that is the danger, as we are in year 7 of "rebuild".  It will be a slow suck on revenue.

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Zoltanrules

September 16th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^

I used this "value scenario" since one is being forced to buy a dog and shirt which are obviously overly priced. I normally wouldn't buy a dog or shirt unless it was a good deal. If the dog and shirt was priced at $40 retail, I wouldn't say "wow a $2 ticket!". 

I'd rather just get a ticket for $33 on Stubhub, BUT if your gonna give me a really good deal on a dog and shirt, I am willing to buy more things, so hence my logic that this deal for me is worth about $29 for a ticket. Anyway, it's a marketing deal that everyone looking for seats can evaluate with their own utility values. If you love dogs and shirts then it is even a better deal for you.

As you say, winning will change things PDQ. Also next year's home schedule has several big games, so I would expect fewer "deals".

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MI Expat NY

September 16th, 2014 at 5:07 PM ^

I think he views it as having a little leeway this year to push these sales and deals without conditioning the buying public to expect it next year.  And he's probably right.  Next season should reset the picture with a much better home slate.  We'll presumably sell more season tickets and be able to package the lesser games in with MSU/OSU for single game tickets.  As long as Brandon doesn't jack up prices for next season under the reasoning of "hey, this year's slate is so much better than last year's!!!!", we should be ok.  The following season is when it gets interesting again, but Wisconsin coming back onto the schedule helps a bit.  PSU presumably will also be really good by then.  If Colorado/UCF/Illinois/Indiana/Maryland provide just one reasonably quality opponent, it shouldn't be that hard to sell tickets.   

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reshp1

September 16th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^

Not to be Debbie Downer, but this is in the corner above the student section, probably the worst seats in the house. That section was about 50% filled last week, FWIW.

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M-Dog

September 16th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^

Those seats are not that bad.  It's fun being near the students and you are usually on an angle, not dead in the middle of the end zone.

They are much better than the ones you get from the alumni assoc. which are at the very top of the south end zone, mixed in with the opposing fans.  I usually leave those seats in the second half and go over to the top of the student section.

 

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WCHBlog

September 16th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^

"1 Hebrew National Kosher Jumbo Hot Dog; made locally in Quincy, Michigan -"

It's like a Russian nesting doll of branding.

 

Also, not sure how discouting tickets you couldn't sell counts as a "good deed".

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aiglick

September 16th, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^

I think Brandon has changed the tide on declining ticket sales. Heck people on MGoBlog are starting to believe him. Never in a million years I would have thought that. Offering Minnesota tickets, a hot dog, and an option to buy t-shirts is a good start.

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robpollard

September 16th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^

I'm going to this game, and I've been watching StubHub. I think it's quite possible I can get ~20 Yd line tix for $50 (definitely for $60) a piece.

I don't even want to think what prices will be if we, God forbid, lose this weekend. 

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rb4kb8

September 16th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^

adds to the discussion other than compare contrast...

Living in Central New York, I became a Season Ticket Holder for Orange football... no, not because I care a lick about Syracuse, but because the whole season is $99.  Games versus Clemson, Florida State... it's a great deal.  No PSL or anything just a straight $99.

We don't really get gifts... we got a free ticket to the home opener this year for each season tickets we had... but that was Villanova.

We also get priority to buy away games and basketball games.. which is good because Syracuse Basketball is NOT Syracuse Football....(Althought I don't root or really care for etiher, it's a great environment for hoops.)

Also the football games really have no re-sale value... because tickets are so cheap to begin with... depsite the Carrier Dome only holding 50K for football.

I realize Syracuse football isn't Michigan football, but I thought I'd share what another school does.

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othernel

September 16th, 2014 at 6:30 PM ^

At this point, I basically see large blocks of open sections at every major program. It's been this way for the last few years. 

 

I used to the feel the same way about the Yankees for big games, but last week when they played the Red Sox, tix on Stubhub were selling for $13, which is unheard of for such a big rivalry (even if they're both not making the playoffs). 


This is sports wide problem. 

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M-Dog

September 16th, 2014 at 9:05 PM ^

You mean demand is not inelastic?  

Holy crap, my econ professor was right.  Here I thought he was just some voo doo witch doctor rattling off meaningless incantations while I tried to sleep.  I think Dave Brandon was in the same class as me.  I heard him snoring a lot.

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Rochester Blue

September 16th, 2014 at 9:20 PM ^

Needed 1 extra ticket for the Miami(NTM) game for my 6 year old. Didn't care where the seat was. Paid only $19 on StubHub. There were seats on the 50, on the visitor sideline, on Saturday morning, for $30. I think if we unfortunately (please don't) lose to Utah, you'll be able to get 2 Minnesota seats on the 50 for $42. Not sure why anyone, other than those who don't know how to use StubHub, would pay $42 for 1 seat high in the end zone.

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cobra14

September 16th, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^

Outside the stadium 2 hours before kickoff and it will be good seats for that price. You guys who use stubhub are nuts. Always tickets avaliable on the street for cheaper.

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Bosch

September 17th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^

some see the value on having tickets in hand (and knowing where you will be sitting). you can focus on enjoying the tailgate and don't have to negotiate with scalpers.

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Maize and Luke

September 17th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^

I received an email from UM during the week prior to the App St game.  There was a promo in it for KIDSZONE seats for $40 + tshirt (for the kids).  My boys had never been to a game so at $40 a pop I jumped on it.  There was a miscommunication regarding the tshirts so we didn't get them.  I didn't really care I was just happy to get $40 tickets.  They sent me an email the following week apologizing for the screw up with the tshirts and offered to mail me the shirts AND complimentary tickets to an up coming game (select games of course).  I had already purchased 6 tickets at the $40 KIDSZONE pricing for the Minn game.  I asked for possible credit toward the tickets I already bought and they said they can't refund tickets so it was either 3 tickets to another game or MDen gift cards.

I thought it was great they offered to correct the oversight but found it pretty interesting they were going to give me 3 free tickets just because they screwed up on giving my kids $10 tshirts.

Another thing that I never thought I would see....When I went to pick up my tickets at will call (at Crisler) people were just walking up and buying tickets.  The cashier/attendant even asked "where would you like to sit".  Seriously?  Obviously things are down right now but I never thought I'd see the day you could just walk up and buy tickets the day of like going to a minor league baseball game.  Made me a little sad.

I think you can still get the KIDSZONE deal just by using the promo code KIDSZONE.  There is very little choice of seats but I didn't really care my boys are only 5 and 8.

One last thing.  When leaving Crisler after getting our tickets we walked up the stairs and into the stadium right behind Levert and Irvin.  It was pretty cool seeing them up close like that.  Not everyday you see dudes that tall walking around.

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rob f

September 17th, 2014 at 5:59 PM ^

aren't pulling any punches as they try to push those tickets.  Driving home from work late this afternoon, I heard a local (St Joe, MI) radio ad for a bus trip to Ann Arbor for Michigan vs. Minnesota.  Here's a link to the "Radio Super Saver" deal they're offering (which includes tickets, bus ride, tailgating, tent canopies, food and drink, among other perks:

http://www.mwfb2.com/shoppingCartMI/viewItem.php?id=1205&station=ra

...all for just $129 per person!

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