Season Ticket Advice
So over the last few days it has dawned on me that I should look into buying football season tickets. I graduated in 2009 and am trying to figure out my plan of action.
I live in DC so can probably only attend 2-3 games per year, but I mostly want to get season tickets so that I can have really awesome tickets when I'm older that will help me brainwash my kids into loving michigan.
From what I've gathered you have to donate a fair amount of money to get off the waiting list.
Does anyone know how much/how long this usually takes?
Is it worth going on the wait list now, or should I just wait until I'm older and richer and can just donate a big chunk of money?
Most of the seasoned gentlemen around here will tell you that if you wait until you are older and richer to donate it will never happen.
Your $500 donation will get you the option to purchase tickets in 2011 - 2010 window closed 1/31/10
From there, you contribute $250 a year to maintain your seats (more the closer to the 50 you want to be).
2 tickets will run you aroud $800 a year. I sell the season and buy at the game if we decide to go.
This is general information on preferred seating donations, but keep in mind that those are the minimums.
http://www.mgoblue.com/victorsclub/preferred-seat-donations.html
I remember getting something in the mail several months back, right before the deadline for the year-end preferred seating donations and it had projected donations amounts for the different seating areas. Don't quote me on this, and I'll try to find the mailing, but to get in to the 20-yard line area on the visitor's side, about halfway up (>row ~50), it would have required a donation of around $1000 per seat... also remember, that didn't include the actual prices of the tickets, so tack on another $400-500 for each ticket.
Remember too, a large portion of those preferred seating donations can be deducted on your next tax return.
Again, don't quote me on that... but use the link I gave as a reference, and basically double or triple what you see and you'll probably be in the ballpark of what you would need to donate.
You also have to remember that there is the point system too, which you'll benefit to some degree by being a grad (I think that's worth 5 points).
does anyone know when/if the All-In ticket packages will be offered? I got on the list last year with a $10 donation and was able to buy non-renewable season tickets and was hoping to do the same this year.
If I am not mistaken, the All in packages were available for one year only due to the stadium construction. They probably aren't available this year.
"ontarioblue;" The"All In" package took the place of the formerly known "Go Blue" package if I remember correctly. "Go Blue" packages in the past allowed the ticket holder to purchase tickets for every home game during the season excluding homecoming. My seats never changed when I carried this package, but other package owners often noted their seats changed from game to game. I think last yr was the 1st yr the "All In" package formerly known as the "Go Blue" package included homecoming most likely due to the recession and the lack of season tickets being renewed. I feel pretty safe in stating that the “All In” package will still be available this year, but will more than likely exclude homecoming once again if ticket sales have picked up again.
Well I got on the waiting list in 2002 I think....and paid the lowest donation every year and last year I finally got full season tickets. If it does help - I never didn't get tickets. When I first got on the list I got to choose a package of 3 tickets. Usually two crappy games like Indiana and EMU plus an OSU, MSU, ND or PSU. So it took me 7 or so years to get off of it paying the standard donation. I can't remember if it's $250 or $100 for the donation. I think it's $100.
$100 to keep your Priority Points active
I get confused, I send so much money in to get my tickets it's hard to keep track.
i second that. i have 4 sets of season tickets and between the ticket cost and the mandatory donations, i just cut one big check.
you have to amass enough priority points to get your tickets? And you have to pay $250 to keep them moving up. Is this correct?
Also, once you have good tickets, do you still need to donate more that $100 each year?
It's something like that. I think it's $100 every year to keep the tickets. You get 1 point per year doing it that way, however, I did graduate the same year I got the tickets as it gives you 5 points to your priority points for being an alumni.
It's a $100 a year for (2) seats if you want to maintain your "Endzone" seating, if you want to improve your seating by upgrading to the Blue, Maize, sections etc you will need to donate more per seat to maintain them. For example based on the above examples to maintain your Blue seats you will need to donate $125 per seat, for Maize you need to donate $250 per seat.
My parents live in Arizona and have kept their tickets since moving out there. They usually attend 3 games and sell the rest. On any games they sell they at least get face value if not more.
Tickets run about $400/seat, plus the mandatory donation.
If you want to get tickets, my best advice is to work with the victors office, and offer an unrestricted donation of a few thousand bucks. I'm guessing since you graduated last year, you don't have this kind of cash sitting around.
I would start by giving $100/year to the victors club. It will at least get you some sort of history when it comes to buy actual tickets. Plus, by getting to know some people at the victors club, you can get access to some of the benefits, including possible access to Ohio St and ND tickets.
Before season tickets were reasonable for them, my parents followed a similar plan. I came out brainwashed just fine, and am 4 weeks away from my degree here UM. I plan to do the same.
EDIT: By few thousand, I mean two or three thousand, not like fifteen thousand.
I’m sure “jcgold’s” suggestions would work out just fine, but for what’s it’s worth I started donating $100 dollars in 2006, so not exactly a “down” year. I think in 2007 I sent in $150 and each time I was offered the “Go Blue” package which allowed me to purchase tickets for every home game excluding homecoming which is usually a cup cake big ten school anyway. In 2008 I was officially offered season tickets. Don’t ask me how as despite all the literature and priority point systems in place there’s so much gray area in the ticket office it’s ridiculous. Long story short if I lived in DC I wouldn’t even worry about season tickets if you’re only planning on making it in for 2-3 games a year. For every $50 OSU ticket you get so you don’t have to pay $100-$125 to a scalper there’s also that $50 Delaware State ticket you have to try to sell that you’ll never get face value for.