Season Ticket Holders

i flopped a $1k into the victors club a few weeks ago.  i was in the area, and hand-delivered the check.  clearly this was past the deadline, but the donation officer said it would be in time to apply for the upcoming ticket cycle. 

have to say, i didnt get the impression that they were really grateful.  it's a decent chunk of change for me, but i have received warmer receptions paying parking tickets than i did for this donation.  i know it's chump-change for the department, but im young and an alum and expected a little more that a sticker and a polite thank you.  dont they know the story?  This week he moppin' floors, next week it's the fries...

long story short, they were very cryptic when i inquired as to if this would get me off the waitlist.  i, too, failed to join upon graduation and only signed up very recently.  ideally id just like to get regular "blue" tickets, but im guessing (based on the response i received from the v-club) that ill be going through scalpers this season and ponying up more money next year.  the donation amount might have been low during the RR era due to BoMoLlo fan attrition, but it seems like things have moved forward and back to business as usual since the coaching change.

Facebook marketplace is your friend.  There are tons of students up there selling for each game, so getting a non-validated student ticket to use with your MCard shouldn't be a problem, especially if you are only looking for a single.

Find a foreign student who doesn't care about football. Have them log in to the ticket system and then pay for them yourself and have them shipped to you. If they know you well, and really don't care about football, they'll let you do that without paying any sort of commission on the tickets.

find a friend or someone who is studying abroad, it was possible to even change the address for where they get shipped.

Surprisingly, there is much less 'reward' for being an Alum.  I think it's 10 points.  It's equivalent to donating a $1000 one time.  What's even more surprising is that if you are a letterman, you only get 5 points.   So, being an ex letterman is only worth a $500 donation.  

If I was designing the system, I would double or triple those points.  (if not more)

By the time I graduated, I had accumulated enough credits to be on the edge of the student section (around 35 yard line) where all the hand sitters would yell at me to sit down (do students still stand the whole game?)  As you might imagine, I asked them in the most polite way I could muster to get off their asses and cheer.

I didn't want to go back to the endzone after graduation, probably because I was (?am) a spoiled moron.  Get back on the waitlist, it costs nothing and you know you'll want to go to the games at some point.

i joined the alumni association right away and paid the dues - eventually becoming a liftime member.  i jumped to the head of the waitlist and didn't miss a single season.

You can get a single season ticket.  In fact it's easier to get and you'll get a better sight line. (few people want them and they are sprinkled throughout the stadium)

How dare you suggest that my mindless internet banter contributes less than your cold, hard cash! For shame!

did you have before you received season tickets?

They disperse the visiting fans around the very top of the stadium in sections 7 thru 9 or 10.

My first year out of U of M, Paul Goebel (UM All-American and All-Pro) called me up and encouraged me to become a member of the Presidents Club. One of the best moves I ever made. If you are in need of tickets they will always find you a pair. I have had season tickets for longer than most of you are old, but if I need an extra set no problem.

So how does one come up with 30K the first year after graduation? Buy a 20 year life insurance policy made out to the University of Michigan. At the time I took my policy out it was only a $250 annual premium. It will open many doors for you and get you started into the habit of annual gifting back to the University.

Once that wonderful degree, you have attained from UM, starts producing the big bucks you can up your donations. Whether it be 10 years or 30 years until you feel comfortable to increase your contributions you have your self covered when the Alumni office calls you up asking for donations. In the meantime all your buddies will have thought you hit the lotto by becoming a member of the Presidents Club.

GO BLUE

donation on 26JAN11.  They originally told me it would be updated end of Feb.  Then when it was not updated I called.  They said end of March.  Then early April still no updates.  I called again with a little more anger in my voice and they updated it that day.

I would recommend that you call them once a week until it gets updated.

Yet another unfavorable anecdote about the V-Club.  When I signed up for the new waitlist, I sent all of my information: years of graduation, etc., because I wanted those 5 points.  I also sent information about my season tickets in college, but those don't count unless you keep buying them year after year.  Nevertheless, my first membership statement last year said 2 points.  I was like, what?  They supposedly fixed it after I contacted them, but reading stories like yours doesn't instill confidence in their recordkeeping.

Keep in mind that the giving year is from July to June, so they probably don't feel all that inclined to update points until June 30:

http://www.mgoblue.com/victorsclub/honor-roll.html

Granted, if you made a contribution (large or otherwise) in January to improve your point standing for the upcoming season, you'd understandably want your total to be credited properly before they start making decisions about season tickets.  Now that you've sufficiently worried me, I'll be contacting the V-Club on Monday.