We Out: A student view of the new ticket policies

Submitted by Michigan Eaglet on

I know that the new tickets policies for football and basketball have been discussed at length here, but this article has been getting a lot publicity today by many Michigan students, especially among basketball season ticket holders. It more eloquently gives the argument as to why the author and many other students (including myself) have sold back our student basketball tickets and how this athletic department continues to erode their image in the eyes of students and future alumni. It's decently long, but worth the read, especially by some of the fan base that are easy to dismiss the students as apathetic.

http://droptheglovesblog.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/we-out-the-totalitarianism-of-the-michigan-athletic-department/

TheGhostofChappuis

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:13 PM ^

First of all, why is it that anytime a student voices displeasure about something, it's "whining"  or "petulant whining" or "throwing a tantrum"?  Are they not allowed to make arguments against something they think is wrong?

Second, if you think non-students show up in droves and on time for cupcakes, you haven't been to Crisler in a very long time.

KyleMac

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:21 PM ^

Well, my post was clearly about football.  But if you want to bring basketball into the mix, I have season basketball tickets and from the WMU game onward, Crisler had an excellent attendance rate.  Once the team proved they were for real, sell-outs were common.  They are going to be even more common this year.

Also, at least adults with jobs and kids have a reason not to show up to Concordia - although that still doesn't entirely excuse no-shows.  The students live on campus and rarely have class at 7pm.  You can always find a 3 hour break twice a week in your studies.  Its a 5 minute bus ride to get to Crisler, or a 15-20 minute walk.  Some normal season ticket holders have a 45+ minute drive into Ann Arbor.

Simply put, there is no excuse for buying season tickets and then not showing up.  If you don't like the policy and want to hang out outside the stadium during games, don't buy tickets.  The most sensible approach involves selling season tickets to as many students who request them, and eliminating the right to buy tickets for those students who don't show up for at least 6/7 home football games or 80+% of basketball games.

TheGhostofChappuis

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:28 PM ^

Well-attended after Western?  Did you go to the game against Binghamton?  How about Central or Eastern? 

Even if that was true, Western was the 10th game of the season, and there were only 4 non-conference games left after that one.

goblue20111

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:33 PM ^

Some people need to work to be able to afford luxuries. My parents didn't pay got anything. I paid my way through scholarships, working, and loans. Sorry Concordia on a Tuesday wasn't a priority for me. If I wasn't working, I'd have been studying with the game on mute in the back.

Doc Brown

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:50 PM ^

As a high school teacher, I am very tuned to pick up whining. The blog post was whining when it was referencing the football ticket policies. I have zero sympathy for students when it comes to football. You pay less than 50% of what I do for my tickets in the boring alumni sections. Don't give me the tuition argument. I just started paying for my student loans. You can't make it on time because you want to get wasted with Pat Stansik. Put down the booze and walk down Hoover to Kipke and make it on time. I made it to every single game at least one hour before kick off and I was still wasted most of the time. It can be done. Where is the damn effort? 

When it comes to the basketball policy. Students have a legit beef. I GSI'ed for chem 130 and 125. I know we typically schedule midterms on weekday game nights. I feel for you if you are pre-med in chem130. We didn't intentionally schedule them on game nights, it is just the way it works out with room scheduling and the curriculum. 

Marty Bodnar, the previous head of ticketing, for all of his bone headed decisions during his tenure, at least listened to student feedback. I served on the Rackham student government to improve collaboration between students and the athletic department. I really feel for student basketball fans. You guys got hosed. 

Owl

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:56 PM ^

Hey. Keep in mind that "at least one hour before kickoff" would be late for ND (and I'm anticipating for Neb and OSU) this year depending on what seats you're expecting/ wanting.

"Where is the damn effort."

 Just curious, why do you think attending a recreational event should require effort? 

Owl

September 23rd, 2013 at 8:13 PM ^

No, it isn't. But that's not exactly all that's involved. 

For example, I'm not in a frat, but I'd imagine it could get difficult dealing with gameday logistics under GA for big groups like that. 

For an example that does apply to me, instead of arriving an hour early like I did every year prior to this,  I now have to play roulette with a few thousand other students in order to get into my preferred spot in section 26 or 27, row 50-70 or so. 

I'm not about to write some overly dramatic manifesto like the linked guy did, but it does seem a bit unnecessary to me.

Owl

September 23rd, 2013 at 8:40 PM ^

And that's why we'll never be able to have a reasonable discussion about this.

"Excuses" implies that students have done something wrong they need to account for. I just disagree with that. I'm not one of your high school students, and I don't need to answer to you. I enjoy going to Football and Hockey games, so I go to them. I really don't feel obligated to go to them though.  

Doc Brown

September 23rd, 2013 at 9:48 PM ^

When your reasons for not showing up on time is involves the molecular formular of CH3CH2OH, it is ringing hollow. Seriously, I showed up to every game on time drunk for a good majority while also working on a thesis. It all comes down to time management. 

I used to think the same as you did a couple years ago. I would get all pissy when an alum would get crotchety about the students. Things change when you are paying student loans while also cutting the AD checks for the PSL and season tickets. 

If you don't feel obligated then find someone to use them. It was embarrasing to see the half empty student section for Akron. If you don't feel embarrased for your fellow students who fail to show up on time, then we will never agree. 

Owl

September 23rd, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^

I do not feel embarrassed about that. It's their decision. Obviously I don't agree because I made a different decision, but that's a separate issue. I don't see why I'd ever be embarrassed about that. 

So you're saying that now that things are more expensive for you, you're going to act super bitter towards people who are now enjoying what you once did? 

miaamark

September 23rd, 2013 at 9:58 PM ^

Your argument works for football. Not basketball. Student attendance for basketball is much better than general admittance. Obviously the problem for basketball should be handled by giving students the lower tickets if season ticket holders miss a game or two. If the general admittance people don't show up for even one game we should give the rest of their tickets to students. The old fan doesn't bring any passion to the game anyway. Maybe we should just get rid of the lowered tickets for anyone but students. The lower bowl non students are an embarrassment to the school.

LightTheLamp

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^

the students should just be happy they get the best seats in the house for basketball and not upper deck behind the hoop. If you want to prove a point show up to every single game and pack the place to over max capacity.

SysMark

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:15 PM ^

Whatever happened to just going because you like to watch basketball and root for your team?  Why do students need a "championship" caliber team to motivate their attendance?

Ridiculous IMHO.

TheGhostofChappuis

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:17 PM ^

I'm not sure the student section was ever filled because people just liked to root for the team.  Can you point to another time period when students regularly filled the arena to cheer on a bad team against a bad opponent?

oHOWiHATEohioSTATE

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:15 PM ^

is so concerned about filling the seats why not make it easier to transfer the tickets to a non student? Perhaps let the each student ticket holder transfer 2 tickets pear season to a non student without the upgrade fee?

Luminous

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:19 PM ^

While I recently graduated, I was still able to use a student ticket off another student.  I went to the Notre Dame game, and while the game was good, the new system was certainly a detractor to my experience.  I arrived 2 hours before the game, ended up in the endzone less than 1/4 way up.  Sitting there for 2 hours crammed like sardines was certainly not enjoyable in what I would think were ok seats.  The area was predominantly freshmen who clearly did not know what to do during a game.  I even got heckled for being "too loud" when Notre Dame was on a third down.  On a positive note during the game the row lightened up (maybe people moved up?) and I was able to stand comfortable, but the 2 hour wait was not fun.

 

My memory of the 2011 Notre Dame game in row one of section 26 is much fonder.  Arrived simply an hour before the game started with no problems getting to my seat and ample room to sit.  The stadium filled up easily before pre game.  Of course I was with mostly seniors who knew what it took to be a good student section.  The area I was sitting in knew how to generate noise and my ears were ringing by the end of the game.  While it did get somewhat crowded where I was sitting probably from people sitting where they weren't supposed to, people were courteous and respectful.

 

Rather than pure GA they probably could have developed a hybrid system and allow greater incentives to go to cupcake games (As big games never had a problem of getting filled).  Right now there isn't really anything for students to do during the wait other than talk with strangers around you.  That and the inadequate infastructure on gameday in regards to cell service makes using your cellphone nearly impossible in the stadium.  Getting out of your seat usually means that you won't be able to get it back, so you can't just walk around and enjoy the stadium while keeping your seat.

TheLastHarbaugh

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:20 PM ^

I had basketball season tickets every year I was in school and I probably only made it to 70%-75% of the games.

It's just not feasible and there are too many other commitments that get in the way.

Study groups, papers, tests, events, etc...

If it comes down to attending a game against Northwest South Generic State University at 8pm on a Tuesday night, or studying for an exam I have early Wednesday morning with a group from my class, I'm probably going to study.

I'm not Cardale Jones.

I ain't come here to play FOOTBALL. I come here to play SCHOOL.

snarling wolverine

September 23rd, 2013 at 8:16 PM ^

They don't pay the same amount of American dollars as everyone else.  Nor, it seems, do they actually bother using their tickets as much as everyone else.

Students who actually show up have nothing to fear.  The "I bought season tickets just to see MSU" crowd, well, they're out of luck.

 

 

snarling wolverine

September 23rd, 2013 at 8:44 PM ^

Oh please, don't try to turn this around.  I have season tickets and don't have a problem paying for them.  The poster above is bitching about not being treated the exact same as the people who pay far more than they do.  Students get subsidized tickets.  There are strings attached, yes, but if they care enough to go to most of the games those strings aren't too harsh.

 

 

 

 

 

Owl

September 23rd, 2013 at 8:28 PM ^

"Students who actually show up have nothing to fear.  The "I bought season tickets just to see MSU" crowd, well, they're out of luck."

You're completely missing the point. If that behavior wasn't ok, they should have been warned beforehand. If you don't make the conditions explicit from the beginning, you shouldn't get to dictate how people use what they paid for.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:31 PM ^

I lost interest in the article when it became clear the main thrust of it was "but we have better things to do and shouldn't be punished for it."  I see the athletic department trying to come up with rewards for people who express an interest in watching the game instead of not watching the game, and the people who don't fall into that category consider the lack of reward a punishment.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

September 23rd, 2013 at 9:09 PM ^

It'll be interesting to find out if there will actually be people in that situation.  I don't know if the system will allow the department to find out how many people want tickets to a particular "pod" and don't get them.  Right now it's all theoretical and worth at least a shot.  People who choose not to use what they paid for, of which there are quite a few, won't have room to complain.

blueblooded14

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:31 PM ^

it seems pretty demeaning to have non students tell me how I, and my fellow scholastic aspirants, should feel about this issue. It seems as though the only way some people on this thread and in the AD will view us is as stupid kids who they can tell what to do. It is my understanding, and some may call this naive, that a institution of higher learning's primary purpose is to serve the student body.

To me it all translates as grouchy if-you're-not-going-to-be-a-good-garden-gnome-gtfo type of talk. I appreciate the numbers but the mgocommunity routinely complains about SEC oversigning but yet over selling tickets gets a pass?

This is a legit problem for the AD, but there need to be solutions that work with the students instead of against them or around them.

snarling wolverine

September 23rd, 2013 at 8:22 PM ^

You are assuming that people are going to hate this policy forever.  I think it's more likely that people will just get used to it.  The people who care enough about the team to show up regularly will get rewarded.  Those who don't, won't - but they aren't big fans to begin with.

 

 

 

 

goblue20111

September 23rd, 2013 at 10:56 PM ^

As a recent alum, this department's actions and the vitrol I read on these topics from other alums makes me not want to donate and without seeing something done by the AD to rectify the situation and acknowledge the mistakes made in how the students have been treated (agree with the policy or not, the process sucked). I'll continue to watch and root from afar but my desire to donate to the AD, buy merch and tix is at an all time low and I seriously doubt it'll change.

TheGhostofChappuis

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:31 PM ^

Personally I think that when you put out a shitty product for almost 20 straight years and then finally manage to get some people to buy it, you shouldn't threaten to take it away from them if they don't use it the way you want them to.

Owl

September 23rd, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^

I read the title of the article and then no more, a bit dramatic for my tastes.  Here's my take though which I've posted here once before: I will NEVER understand those of you that think going to a football/ basketball game is some kind of moral imperative. Actively deceiving consumers is something that I think is clearly wrong, though.