Good News! Our AD isn't the only one gouging students
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/minnesota-blasted-for-forc…
It seems the Minnesota AD was forcing hockey fans to buy football tickets this year. Of course, I laughed when I got to the part where they paid $175 for season tickets to both hockey and football. I'm guessing Michigan students would love that price point.
October 4th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^
Forcing hockey season ticket holders to buy football tickets is pretty much the most Minnesota thing I've ever heard.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
October 4th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
Stupidity aside, $99 for hockey season tickets is a steal. $175 for both hockey and football isn't a bad deal, either.
But, sure, I get the outrage; seems to me, though, that a lot of those kids would be buying football tickets anyway.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
Minnesota is different. College football is considerably more of a fringe sport over there than here. They have a 50,000-seat stadium and struggle to fill it up - and they are the only D-I program in the state.
October 4th, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^
On another note, I just heard MSU hasn't sold out today's football game against Nebraska, which is crazy to think about.
October 4th, 2014 at 11:46 AM ^
IIRC from some of the interviews John Bacon has been in, falling attendance for college football games is a nationwide issue.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:53 PM ^
October 4th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
I never said it was unique to Michigan. And there have been plenty of articles and so on showing that Brandon hasn't been helping the situation here at UM.
October 4th, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^
Seems like the most bad guy of all time. Has some good in him, but we need Schlissel (Mary Sue) to go after his only son for him to come back to the good side
October 4th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
Do they even have enough of a local fan base to support a full stadium? The drive from Metro Detroit to East Lansing blows.
October 4th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
I thought they used to sell out, at least somewhat frequently. Now when they're coming off a Rose Bowl and have (on paper) their best team in forever, it's amazing to me. The drive from Detroit is crappy, but if you think about it, we have plenty of fans who drive further than that to come to our games.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^
compared to Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor?
October 4th, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^
St.Joe/Benton Harbor to Ann Arbor? That's what I've been driving for most of the last 33 years, rain or shine, sleet or snow. 2 1/2 hours garage-to-tailgate when the conditions are perfect, as much as twice that much time in some of the winter weather I've faces at times. And then back home again.
For the tailgating and time spent with family and friends and fellow Michigan fans, the drive is still worth the time and trouble. For the football and in-stadium experience---not so much anymore.
October 4th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
October 4th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
They've always kind of been on the fringe (they'd sell out Michigan/ND, but Purdue would have a lot of patches in the stands), but they also weren't that great back when college football attendance problems were not a thing people talked about. In the end it comes down to if you want to make that drive in the dark to go watch a game in the freezing weather. I know I wouldn't be making that decision to go.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
Ignoring that fact, how is a 60-90 min drive to East Lansing from the metro area that bad? It's the same as driving from Rochester to Ann Arbor.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
Oh they're all Michigan State football fans? Good to know. How many people do you think are motivated to go to a football game in a population? How many do you think even like watching football?
Good point bringing up driving from Rochester to Ann Arbor, because people make that drive to go watch a sporting event all the time.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
I grew up in Oakland County (not Rochester itself, but not far away) and many people made that drive every football Saturday. Telegraph Road and 696 were always full of cars with drivers decked in Michigan gear.
October 4th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
Not sure what to make of your second comment...Rochester, MI is what I was referring to. Not NY? Giving you the benefit of the doubt.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 4th, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
The first could possibly be factor (although I don't believe MSU has nearly as many Jewish students/alumni as we do). The second shouldn't have mattered, though. You'd think this game would have sold out months ago. I would have thought they'd be able to sell out every game through season-ticket packages. They've got a strong home schedule and their best team in forever.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
How is that possible? It's one of the best games of the year plus Nebraska fans usually travel really well.
That's some rather sad news for the state of college football.
October 4th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^
I'm pretty sure we're sold out for the year besides those tickets alotted for single games. Nebraska returned ~1000 tickets and we've been struggling to sell those (about 700 left as of last night).
I have a feeling our student section will not be full tonight though. A mixture of the flu going around, the shitty weather tonight, and the Jewish/Muslim holidays forcing some students to go home have flooded the market with student tickets.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
October 4th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
At least you have the choice to buy tickets or not. The real scandal is how Universities, via government loan and subsidies, screw students with over priced tuition.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
October 4th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
Prices at MSU are similar. Student tickets for football/basketball have been ~$180 for years. Hockey is ~$80-100 with a bunch of freebies thrown in.
October 4th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
I'm a current student, and considering that I had to pay $300 just for football tickets, I would pay $175 for hockey and football in a heartbeat. Of course, that wouldn't be profitable enough for the AD
October 4th, 2014 at 5:05 PM ^