PSD boycott: predicting the collapse of the football ticket market
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... ]
November 11th, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^
My audiologist has three kids in college and hopes I renew my season tickets.
November 11th, 2013 at 4:36 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 4:39 PM ^
Are you a fan, or a sheep?
November 11th, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 4:56 PM ^
So, what you're saying, is the more money I throw at the athletic department, the bigger fan I am?
Makes total sense.
That's pretty insulting to a lot of fans out there. Sure, if I was a millionaire, I wouldn't care how bad the team was, and I would continue to pay whatever asked for tickets, but I'm not. Just a guy with a wife, 2 kids, and an ailing mother who has priorities that may be different than yours.
November 11th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 5:08 PM ^
I think you should read my post again, or stop twisting to your benefit. I never said I was going to cancel my seats. Considering it? Yes, but so that I can take advantage of what I suspect will be the more affordable option of buying tickets on the secondary market.
So if you think I'm less of a fan because I still plan on going to all of the home games, just not buying the tickets through the athletic department, then so be it.
And no, not because the team is bad... that's merely a factor. Maybe you shouldn't have stopped reading after I begged the question.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:21 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 5:26 PM ^
You're one of those "have to have the last word" guys, aren't you?
November 11th, 2013 at 6:16 PM ^
And if I'm not mistaken you have let me know after each of my 12 posts on the topic how I must not be a "real fan" or words to that effect if am giving up my seats out of disgust at the product being put on the field.
From the warm of Southern California.
November 11th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 4:53 PM ^
Well the good news is somebody is going to get four wonderful seats in Section 3 - Row 27 starting next year. The view is fantastic and other than the stupid 12 year old behind us who comments on every play our seat mates are great too. The guy to my immediate right played on the 65 Rose Bowl team and he is pretty upset too FWIW.
So if you and Brew Mom are on the waiting list you've just moved up four spots!
November 11th, 2013 at 5:00 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 6:07 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^
November 12th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
So you're bitching about other fans givng up their tickets but then admt that you no longer go to many games? Ok.
November 11th, 2013 at 6:26 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 4:53 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
Nice. I was merely pointing out a possible scenario, hoping to generate a thoughtful discussion and hear what other fans think.
But, hey, I can trade personal insults and profanity with the best of them.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^
Bitching about bitching.
So instead of ignoring the thread since you have made it clear you're sick of the topic, you ... commented on it, and in a snide fashion. OK.
November 11th, 2013 at 6:29 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 7:59 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 8:27 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 4:44 PM ^
That's just a simpleminded throwback at fans who want to or will give up their tickets. There are so many more things at play in 2014 than there were in 1975 or 1985. Ticket prices, the price for the right to buy the ticket, ridiculous start times every week, the marketing of the brand that now is commonplace in Ann Arbor, the wow factor, HDTV's, the product on the field isn't the same, the overall gameday experience isn't the same. Don't make it as simple that someone that gives up their season tickets isn't a fan, that's just garbage.
November 11th, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^
The continuing rise in prices can price people out of the ability to maintain their season tickets. It's already expensive as it is, especially if you have a block of four seats. My family had to give up our season tickets for the Blackhawks a few years back because we got priced out of it when seats went from $35 a game to $90 a game in less than 7 years. Now we go to 4 or 5 games a year as that's all we can afford to pay. As I'm in Chicago and not Michigan, it was never practical for me to get UM season tickets in the first place, but now that they keep raising the prices there's less motivation for me to ever get them for more than 1-2 games a year from Stubhub. So when some people cancel their season tickets, don't call them fair weather fans. They may just be broke instead.
November 11th, 2013 at 4:56 PM ^
I don't think "Mom" was talking about that situation. There is a big difference between getting pissed off about the coaching staff not living up to your expectations and simply not having the money. I think she was going after the boycotters, not those who are being price out.
November 12th, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^
Based on your comment and her comments further down on the thread I realize now that I had misunderstood her words and she was not calling out people priced out of the market.
I just wonder if DB will realize before it's too late that he's pricing longtime fans out of the market for season tickets, and stifling futher growth of the fanbase. I'm a 2nd gen alum and have every intent of my son being 3rd gen alum of our great university. But if the prices keep skyrocketing for tickets it'll be a long time before I can get him up to Ann Arbor to go to a game. When I make trips back to AA I don't typically go to the cupcakes, I like to see an actual game. Plus, with NW now in the other division for the Big Ten, it'll be a long time before he's able to see Michigan easily on the road. I'm already looking forward to the 2019 game @ UW, as he'll be almost 8 then.
November 11th, 2013 at 4:56 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 6:39 PM ^
Not renewing and/or buying tickets from the athletic department is really the only way for fans to have their opinion voice heard from those that matter. I would argue those that are giving up their season tickets are a bigger fan than those who are afraid to (because they may not get them back).
I applaud the fans who are giving up their seats because they are unhappy with the direction of the program. If the Big House is full and DB is getting his attendance and advertising money why is there a reason to make a change?
DB is a businessman, and I believe the almighty dollar is the number one factor behind his decisions.
November 12th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
You can see this happening in other sports. Your point here
If the Big House is full and DB is getting his attendance and advertising money why is there a reason to make a change?
is spot on. You can see that happening with the Cubs for example. For decades under the ownership of the Chicago Tribune, there was zero incentive to field a winning team as the Trib viewed the team as a programming and advertising revenue generator for its TV affiliations with WGN and CLTV, because they filled 3 hours a day on the network 162 days a year. After the Trib sold the team to the Ricketts family, we finally got owners that realize you need to field a winning product, and finally the fans have realized it too as the attendance has finally started to drop as the team rebuilds and sucks worse than normal.
November 11th, 2013 at 4:44 PM ^
the PSD is tolerable - for now. Plus, we like the people who sit around us (no dicks), and it's a short walk from the gate where we enter the stadium. As bad as things seem now, the RR years were worse and we want to support the team. Obviously, things could change, but for now we'll continue to plunk down the money.
November 11th, 2013 at 4:52 PM ^
I got my permanent season tickets in 1996. I had just graduated law school and didn't have to wait on any list. You see, people didn't renew their tickes after the 1995 season that had a 9-4 record and features losses ot MSU and PSU. We got new people in the section after that season as folks found the 8-4 record of 1996 to be unacceptable. People thought that the new coach should be fired and didn't want to support what they felt was an unacceptable football team. A few months later, you couldn't get anything for a reasonable price and the waitlist was a mile long.
I would encourage you to think longterm. If you don't want to go, you can generally find someone to take the tickets off your hands. However, you keep them as your tickets.
If you are selling OSU tickets, please do the rest of us a favor and avoid stub hub. Sell (or give) them to Michigan fans so that we don't have 2009 all over again.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^
I would encourage you to think longterm.
I'm just going to LOL myself right out of this thread.
November 12th, 2013 at 1:54 PM ^
moving around an bargining every year, more power to you, go for it. But if you think you're going to want to be back when the team is really good (under this coach or the next) you might want to think about it. Now the whole attending events live thing is a decreasing problem across the board of all sports and events, so it may never really be a big problem again. But you should definitely be thinking about what you want to do not just next year, but years to come.
Me, them painting the seat numbers has made the two seats on my side to the end of the row one, and I don't think it's been sold half the time and is not a season ticket now. So I'll probably see if I can pick it up. Never had enough people regularly going that if I wanted a spare I couldn't find seats elsewhere, but starting a family I might like to take them down the line. And not wanting to leave the people I'm around in the Stadium, or pay the really big donation prices, I'm happy where I am. So this might be a one time opportunity to increase my allotment in my spot. So I'll use it for now to invite people I could never invite before till my kid gets older. Heck, even if it's empty and creates ass spaced that's better than the law firm that would give them away to opposing teams clients and make me sit next to them the whole game. Besides, if it's open that much, I can always do the MGoBlog "spend a game with M-Wolverine" giveaway.
November 11th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
For what it is worth, there is an FAQ for Preferred Seating Donations (HERE).
The final question is in regards to what will occur if you do not want to pay the PSD. The very carefully phrased answer is:
"As a donor and season ticket holder, you have the first right of refusal on your seats. We will work to accommodate any move into a lower PSD level or adjustment of seats on a case-by-case basis. We cannot guarantee that all requests will be granted. Please contact the Athletic Development department at 734.764.7131 for more information."
November 11th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
Please reach out here on mgoblog.
I paid $2650+ for 4 seats in Section 20 (around the goal line, ~40 rows up). Except for ND, this year, I couldn't sell an extra or a pair for anywhere close to face/paid/greater than $40 each. The dynamic model is selling tickets for less than I paid (Akron) including the PSD, and there were still thousands left prior to that game.
Anyone who thinks there's a waiting list, or hundreds/thousands of people/families interested in obtaining season tickets (replete with PSD payment), please, continue to keep that public face, insistent that my fandom is in question.
I have earned Fandom Endurance Merit badges over the years, paid PSD's, been a season ticket holder over 20 years. I have some number of Victors Club points that put me in the upper quartile/quintile of all Victors Club donors.
And yet...I'm being charged a premium price for an inferior product. I get the following:
Jetpack man
Paratroopers
HD screens with Dave Brandon, stupid costumed students and a few young kids, few actual replays (let alone game stats that are current to the action on the field)
Play calling that is average at best
Rawk music from dog groomers
Splashy videos telling me how my donations make life great for the rowing team, or womens field hockey
"New traditions" that don't take hold, in a sleazy, marketing-driven attempt to replace ACTUAL traditions.
How does all that make my Saturday great?
At the end of the day, I'll buy tickets on the spot market, either StubHub or some other avenue (mgoblog ticket spreadsheet), and spend the $2000 I save on Wings tickets or some other more satisfying endeavor.
See what I did there...still a fan, still supporting the team, my team. Just not getting fleeced by Dave Brandon and his band of henchmen. Thank you, no, I'll be happy to keep my money in my wallet for the next couple years until ticket prices normalize, and become more reasonable to the games actually being played on the field.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
Amen. And thank you.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
Seconded (or thirded). That post should get sent to Dave Brandon's office in a frame.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:31 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
Go ahead and sent it to the Dave Brandon. You do know he isn't going to care, but do it anyway.
Why would he not care? Because the average vocal minority on this blog that is TOTALLY GOING TO NOT GOING TO BUY TICKETS NEXT YEAR GUYS, REALLY! is a really really really small number of people of the entire fanbase.
November 11th, 2013 at 9:13 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 5:53 PM ^
You left out the infantile sky writing messages over opponents stadia.
November 11th, 2013 at 6:02 PM ^
but larry makes some very good points. been a season guy for 33 years. now taking the children to the games and visiting with family down there the night before. the football is fun because we are a football-playing house so there's more interest than just the scoreboard. but the scoreboard sure has been bad lately, and that music is going to degrade my hearing and what little intelligence i have.
November 11th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^
I am also going to suggest that real Michigan fans don't judge the voracity of other Michigan fans. WTF?
(see what I did there?)
Sorry to be grouchy, but as a third generation legacy, double-degreed alumnus, 42 year season ticket holder (football plus hockey), and current faculty, having my my fan-ness questioned makes me want to fucking smack someone. Aren't we all on the same side here?
November 11th, 2013 at 5:27 PM ^
Hold on. You are a faculty member at the University of Michigan? Why in the world did you not negotiate for football tickets as part of your job offer?
November 11th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^
November 11th, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^
hmmm let me guess: Ross?