PSD boycott: predicting the collapse of the football ticket market

Submitted by RakeFight on

As if the game wasn't a bitter enough pill to swallow, many of us came home to horribly-timed envelope requesting our mandatory Preferred Seat "Donation" to maintain season tickets for next year.  Having sold my extra Nebraska ticket for $20 ($65 for season ticket holders, $95 face, "dynamic" price $110), I started thinking...

1. What exactly happens if I don't pay my PSD?  Do I lose the right to any tickets at all?  Or do I just get worse tickets?  Or placed at the back of the "line?"  This led to the next thought...

2. What if a significant number of fans refuse to pay their PSD for next year?

Before two weeks ago, I think the expected response would be that the games will always sell out, so they would just boot you and find someone else willing to pay.  But let's examine the situation...

1. Plenty of people are pissed by the PSD increase last year.

2. By all accounts, everyone on the "list" last year was able to get season tickets.

3. The coaching/team is dreadful.

4. The 2014 home schedule is stinky.  (Which raises the question, which two games are going to be the two $95 premium games?  Penn State and Indiana?  Maryland?)

5. Given #3 and #4, it's almost guaranteed that you will pay less for a full season of tickets in the secondary market then you will if you shell out your PSD and season ticket cost.

6. Given #5, those season ticket holders that buy extra seats to sell for a profit are likely to let those extra seats go.

Given this "perfect storm," it seems likely that demand for tickets will be at an all time low, and if there was ever a time to have a PSD revolt, it is now.  Can the athletic department afford to penalize everyone who refuses to pay the PSD?

Discuss.

[EDIT: I suppose if there's a bright side, it's that this may be the year to improve your seat tremendously]

[EDIT II: It's a sad state of our fandom and blog when a post intended to spur discussion has degenerated into a pissing match amongst fellow Michigan fans (and respected members of the board) about who the "real" fans are... ]

 

NOLA Wolverine

November 11th, 2013 at 4:10 PM ^

Taking a Latin phrase and incorrectly translating it into English while keeping the meaning from Latin is just nonsensical. Next to no one uses this phrase correctly because it doesn't make any sense in English. 

AAB

November 11th, 2013 at 4:43 PM ^

is a very useful concept.  People really do beg the question all the time, and it's nice to have a pithy phrase to describe the fallacy.  If people would just start saying "raises the question" when they mean "raises the question," everyone's life would be better.   

Gulogulo37

November 12th, 2013 at 4:51 AM ^

Yes, thank you. I was a philosophy major but I'm also aware of the fact that "begging the question" is a terrible phrase for what it's supposed to mean. Criticizing someone for saying it in the sense of raising a question is like criticizing people for calling people from the nation of India "Indians", correcting them that it should refer to native populations of the Americas.

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2290

WolvinLA2

November 11th, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^

Agreed. Those sort of things make me stop paying attention to the post and start thinking about all the things people say incorrectly.

In response to the post - it's a gamble. There are literally thousands of people who will pay for their tickets regardless of W/L record. It's an event they do with their family or friends, it's a reason to go back to campus, etc.

I also think the argument that it's cheaper to buy tickets each week on the secondary market is a bad one. Most people, particularly older people or anyone who sits in a group of more than 2, don't want to deal with that even if it saves them 20 bucks a game (which is still debatable).

So keep in mind that although you are frustrated with the team, we weathered the RR storm and that was during a worse financial time for the state. You very well might lose your tickets.

MSHOT92

November 11th, 2013 at 6:20 PM ^

RR rodriguez storm bullshit...it's fucking Michigan football and it's a program that has had problems beating Ohio State (fuck brady and his ohio insult at this point) when we can't beat appalachian state with one of the best "teams" in a while this isn't something you can just hang on one coach.

While perhaps the program took a step back, when you create a whole different system things take time to develop and so many radical asshats wanted Rodriguez crucified from the first snap of his career here...yet because hoke has one 11 win season he's some savior...well you are staring 6-6 down the barrel and possibly 6-7 if we become bear bait in some half ass bowl vs auburn et al...wake the hell up people, hoke isn't doing ANY better, and while Rodriguez didn't resurect the hallows of Schembechler, neither has any coach since Bo...Wake up to reality. Because many of you have some undying loyalty you feel it makes you a better fan...bullshit. the program is in trouble and you are foolling yourself in your blind arrogance.

As to the OP, I'm at a point, screw the seat donation, screw the tickets...If I decide watching football from the comfort of my couch is ever worth it again, I might tune in, otherwise after sitting through this season and in particular the abomination Saturday, staring at a pile of burning leaves is taking on greater significance in my life...and tossing my Ohio State tickets int that pile never felt so good, fuck hoke and his manball and fuck DB and his plan...it's broke and there is no sign of fixing it with such a dillusional fanbase.

GoBlueMAGNUS

November 11th, 2013 at 4:08 PM ^

There are enough people that want tickets that every single season ticket holder could be replaced.

What good would it do you if they decide to replace coaches after you boycott?

bluebyyou

November 11th, 2013 at 4:29 PM ^

If you think that there is an endless supply of people waiting in the wings for Michigan tickets, I would suggest you start looking at schools like Tennessee and Florida where attendance has dropped significantly except for big games.  NCAA attendance at games is NOT going up.  

In the last few years, large HD TV's have become inexpensive and all major games have live TV coverage.

Look at what is going on in our student section.

Michigan has been very lucky to date, but I'd bet that won't continue without a good product on the field.  DB has to be worried.

lexus larry

November 11th, 2013 at 4:56 PM ^

Always amazes me there are those who INSIST someone else will buy tickets if I forego the opp.  Stunningly, on the dynamic mgoblue.com link, I could have bought 6 tickets to the Nebraska game if I wanted to.  And I can buy up to 4 tickets for the OSU game.

Akron was a different story altogether...and 2014 is filled with Akrons, not ND's and OSU's.

His Dudeness

November 11th, 2013 at 4:11 PM ^

OSU tickets are still going for $145 per.

Who is buying these tickets? Ohio State fans.

If you don't buy them you can be damn sure someone else will. Except when we play the cupcakes.

Bodogblog

November 11th, 2013 at 4:15 PM ^

The people I've met in my section and become friends with over years are the primary reason it's more than just an economic argument for me.  They're not bad business contacts either.

robpollard

November 11th, 2013 at 4:21 PM ^

If you just enjoy going to the game, it financially makes more sense to not buy season tickets and then select (via StubHub, friends, etc) the 4-7 games you want to go that season. You will virtually always come out ahead (e.g., you won't waste $150 on that Akron game you really didn't want to go to, assuming you are buying two tickets).

However, there are many people who really enjoy their seat "mates" and that keeps them invested (as it were). Same if you are currently in a suite (which again, is big for kibitzing/deal-making).

But if that's not you, get rid of those tickets. Trust me, for the last few years and for the forseeable future, you'll be able to go to all the games you want for less money if you don't pay the PSD and ticket price.

robpollard

November 11th, 2013 at 6:16 PM ^

It might have been close before the recent collapse, but as noted by Brian: you could get good tix for $50 the day before the game (and Nebraska was supposedly one of our "big" games), which is half off (if not more) if you count the amortized PSD price.

Personally, I would have been easily able to go--even in Sept/Oct--to all the games this year for less than it would cost me for a PSD and buying all the tix. I have a number of friends who have tix, so that helps, but I don't think that makes me unusual.

Perhaps if you are out of state, it would be hard, but for someone who lives in SE Mich, tix are always floating around.

dahblue

November 11th, 2013 at 4:27 PM ^

The timing is horrible, not just given the poor performance of late, but mostly because of the low-grade 2014 schedule.  Combine that with the new "Be a Victor" fundraising email from Dave Brandon today and even the UofM vs. A2 billboard battle and what comes out of the Athletic Department feels a lot like, "We don't give a shit about you or Ann Arbor...now give us money"

mGrowOld

November 11th, 2013 at 4:27 PM ^

Based on the comments in this thread it may be a boycott of just me but I have already decided to not renew my four tickets next year.  I will take my chances with Stubhub if (when?) there's a game I want to see in-person again.

I will watch on TV and root from my couch starting next year.  Hoke-Borges have managed to crush my interest in something I've loved since I was about 10 years old ( i still remember watching the 69 OSU game with my dad).  At least under RR I had hope things were getting better but now it's exactly the opposite.  Things are getting worse and I have no idea where the bottom is yet but I dont think we've seen it and I'm damned sure I don't want to spend $3,000 for the priviledge of seeing us hit it in person.

 

hennesbe

November 11th, 2013 at 4:29 PM ^

Between the increases in PSD and game tickets, the horrific 3:30 start times, the lousy non-conference schedule, and bad coaching I',m inclined to stay away.  God I hate 3:30 games with a passion.  One or two early in the season okay but that's it.

MSHOT92

November 11th, 2013 at 7:05 PM ^

and if that isn't an issue, watching this shit we call football makes it nearly unbearable. It used to be, no games after 1pm in November...it's dark, nd cold, and returning home after 8-9pm with a 45 minute drive sucks. Your whole day is blown. And if your anecdotal cure is alcohol and better tailgating, then you have an alcohol problem. I've sat through probably 30 seasons as a kid, student-athlete, and alum, and it is less and less appealing every season...

Callahan

November 11th, 2013 at 4:30 PM ^

Gave mine up after last season when they jacked up the donation. Not regreting it one bit. Didn't even regret it after the ND game. Trust me, you want to go to a game, there are almost always tickets available.