Ticket demand for this weekend low
October 12th, 2018 at 7:04 AM ^
Night game in September at 60 degrees = acceptable
Night game in mid October with a sub 40 deg low= hard pass.
Question, is this the definition of a “fair weathered fan?”
I’ll see myself out.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
It's simply because it's a night game and that puts a decent section of the fanbase off of going, enough so that there isn't a ton of high dollar demand to swoop in... and not that many poor badgers willing to make the trip like there would be for MSU/OSU games.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^
I don't think that is what is affecting ticket prices, and it is not unique to Michigan's fan base. Anyone considering buying a ticket now would need to have a hotel or place to stay if they are driving from anywhere more than an hour or two away. It will definitely make it harder for any Wisconsin fan thinking of making the trip or someone from Chicago.
There is a smaller segment of people that can attend or afford a night game in Ann Arbor. If your demand decreases, the price isn't going to go up. And the Wisconsin ticket was already priced at premium by the Michigan AD like it was an OSU or MSU game.
October 11th, 2018 at 11:24 PM ^
Add on top of this that the Badger fans always travel very well but the Brewers are in the NLCS this weekend at Miller Park. And though this is a Michigan blog as a Brewer fan I am absolutely freaking stoked out of my mind to type that.
Probably more tickets flooding the market from fans who had planned the trip but are now selling. I suppose that's still a small number compared to the M fans for reasons you already mentioned though.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:19 PM ^
I sold my pair and made $20/each.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:20 PM ^
Another reason why night games are annoying. If it's a damn night game, why can't we sell out and rock the place like haloh valley at night...
October 11th, 2018 at 9:22 PM ^
The game is sold out and has been for a while. There is a difference between people showing up to the game, and people trying to sell a ticket for a certain price. The OP is wondering why the tickets are not selling for more, not if the stadium is going to be packed on Saturday.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:35 PM ^
October 11th, 2018 at 9:43 PM ^
That's the Michigan Difference right there.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
My seats -- the ten yard line about 30 rows back -- sold above face in like 10 minutes on StubHub.
MFing fall weddings.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:30 PM ^
did you end up making a profit after the fees?
October 12th, 2018 at 2:37 AM ^
A bit. I have three seats and face was $125 each; got $175 a piece on StubHub, so after fees it was a modest profit -- not that I'd rather just be at the game of course. Like I said, they did sell within 10 minutes, and that was actually last week before the Maryland game and the CGD announcement. Could have just been lucky with someone looking for 3, though.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:01 PM ^
There's a reason for BYE weeks.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:44 AM ^
In the same boat. Got the 3-game package so I got to go to SMU and Nebraska but I was hoping to recoup the cost by selling the Wisky game. Looking like a net loss now.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:25 PM ^
I picked up 4 at less than 50% of face today. I already had tickets but found other Michigan fans that wanted to go.
Haven't looked at secondary but thought that was odd.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:34 PM ^
I think a decent-sized chunk of the fan base is still in wait & see mode with this team. With our recent general lack of success against ranked opponents, I'd guess there are not many thousands of people, who aren't already going, who want to spend $100 and up for tix.
Combine that with a relatively cold night game, it's been overcast, windy and rainy, that will keep it from being a hot ticket---though it will still be a sellout (and hopefully a lively crowd).
October 11th, 2018 at 9:41 PM ^
It's going to be on the colder side, but it won't be freezing. And it looks like it will be dry and relatively wind-free. I think the conditions are going to be good for spectators all things considered. It isn't going to be MSU last year.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:42 PM ^
Not sure where you're seeing rain.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:18 PM ^
If people are seriously not attending a night game against a top-20 opponent because they're still in "wait and see mode" they should give up their tickets permanently. Same for the people who don't want to go because of their pathetic aversion to night games.
October 12th, 2018 at 2:07 AM ^
I don't disagree with you, personally -- I think the weather will be fine for football and there should be no rain, per the forecast.
But I will bet some people have been cautious, as the weather change (in terms of temp) has been so significant this week (it was 85 earlier in the week; it is currently 39), along with just how wet it's been since September (e.g., people getting notices about golf course parking being changed due to wetness).
October 12th, 2018 at 7:38 AM ^
Agree. Not really fans.
October 11th, 2018 at 9:40 PM ^
I have the best seat in the house
October 11th, 2018 at 9:48 PM ^
To be frank, this is not a rivalry game. Folks will chose to watch this one on TV for a multitude of reasons, but if the tilt was versus Notre Dame, MSU, PSU, or OSU the fan base would show big. This night game should have been PSU, not Wisconsin. This arrangement is purely all about national TV revenues - Game Day and Prime Time - not really about the game experience for local UM fans.
October 12th, 2018 at 3:13 AM ^
In terms of game experience, you could argue that October night games are better then Nov (when we host PSU) night games. It just so happens that the forecast for this game is November like weather. So demand is lower.
But your point about the rivalries is correct. This is the 5th most appealing game for M fans on the schedule.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:00 PM ^
Maybe it's because people are waiting to see if Michigan can win some games against decent opponents and make the Penn State game a big deal. Maybe it's because it's so much more comfortable at home with a nice TV, easy access to the bathroom and the ability to bring your own bottle of water. Maybe it's because the parking situation for this game is going to be awful. Maybe it's because beating Wisc is expected, but losing to Wisc will almost singlehandedly end Michigan's season. There is a lot of anger in the fanbase right now at a perceived lack of accomplishment for Harbaugh's 4th year that will erupt after the next loss.
There are a lot of factors decreasing demand for the tickets to this game, and not many factors making people want to go to the game.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:09 PM ^
This is totally off base. There are a multitude of reasons but none relate to your post. Here is my list: (1) night games suck for day trippers, (2) weather is forecasted at a shitty 40 wind chill degrees, (2) Wisconsin is not a rivalry game nor in our East division, (3) College Game Day brings out the looniest folks, stupid people totally unrelated to the UM program, (4) this is fall break and out of state students representing about 45% of ticket holders have left Ann Arbor for the weekend.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:23 PM ^
I did not realize until now that it was fall break Saturday - Tuesday. There could be a big swath of empty seats in the student section which will be a huge buzz killer for the team. I think Warde may have fucked up agreeing to a night game at fall break. Why do we do this shithead stuff?
October 11th, 2018 at 11:28 PM ^
Which part of my post do you think is totally off base? Have you talked to anyone who decided not to renew season tickets? (Hint: I'm one of those people)
October 12th, 2018 at 2:05 AM ^
I don’t think people really care too much about what division Wisconsin is in.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:00 PM ^
It is also fall break for the students. This will probably affect the student section/tickets.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:02 PM ^
I'm not that surprised. It's...1-loss Wisconsin. Gameday I guess helps a bit, but it's a game that will likely end around 11 pm in what sounds like about-freezing weather. Even if I didn't bring kids and it was just adults, that's a big ask for a non-marquee opponent.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:12 PM ^
Exactly I have a pair to sell and it's all Wisconsin for takers. Gotta love our fan base that sprouts non sense and craps at game time
October 12th, 2018 at 7:10 AM ^
I’d take a couple extra. I have season tickets/2 but having my son home from college puts me on the open market searching. The kids going under the knife Tuesday for tommy john surgery so I want his last weekend before hell sets in to be a good one. Assuming we win.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:25 PM ^
I'm not going to get in the night vs. day game debate, but it makes it much more difficult for those of us living more than 3 hours away. And with 4KUHD, plus starting the game an hour late and being able to skip a ton of commercials, and just hop into bed after the game, it becomes very attractive vs. going to the game.
With a day game, you can leave Friday, hit a hotel on the road at 11pm, drive the rest of the way, go to the game, hit the road, and be home. With a night game, you really are forced to find lodging in Ann Arbor or the near vicinity. Not an easy or inexpensive thing to do. Us old farts like day games. Even 3:30pm is easier than 7:30pm.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:39 PM ^
Amen, brother - toe meets leather at 1pm works best for all involved. But the TV contract demands otherwise ... so it will end up being a shitty night game that we might lose as a result of mediocre support. Just sucks for the program - if that all happens I hang it on Warde's poor business skills. I mean, Michigan doesn't need those revenue dollars ... we are just being f-ing sucked by the B1G conference to pay Delany a $20MM bonus. When are we going to stand up to this bullshit ?
October 11th, 2018 at 10:47 PM ^
College Game Day and big night game at the student fall break ... WHAT THE FUCK WAS WARDE THINKING ??? This is on par with a Dave Brandon move IMO.
October 11th, 2018 at 11:18 PM ^
Did Warde really have a choice here? TV dictates kickoff.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:32 AM ^
??? Warde has nothing to say . . . all dictated by TV networks. Fox (and ABC, and Big10,) get to choose which games are night games, as long as chosen just shy of 2 weeks in advance. They don't want tomato can games at 7:30pm. iirc, up to 3 conference night games in a 2 year window? And it is all about eyeballs and the resultant money. Should we win vs. Wisconsin and MSU, I wouldn't be surprised if PSU is a night game (or at least a 3:30pm start.) I can't remember the rule, but I believe the school (Warde) can veto night games in November. However, I could see Warde allowing PSU game to be at night, if the request was made.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:53 PM ^
How do you plan on watching this game in 4K?
October 12th, 2018 at 8:25 AM ^
I'll watch it in whatever resolution it is broadcast in. However, because I'm watching over the air, there is no cable TV data compression or restriction. I don't know all the details, but generally broadcast resolution is higher than what comes through any cable provider. Not that my eye will be able to tell the difference.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:34 PM ^
Night games are for the teens. Give me a noon kick any day.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:50 PM ^
And the teens will all be on fall break watching it on TV. This could be a total AD fuck up.
October 12th, 2018 at 6:59 AM ^
Warde Manuel has nothing to do with the start time of this game. The Big Ten Conference TV contract gives the networks the ability to choose any game outside of the last three weeks as a night game. Stop blaming this on the athletic department.
October 12th, 2018 at 8:43 AM ^
If anything the night game may help with the student attendance. They would have decided long ago if they were going home this weekend. I don't see many deciding to go home once it was decided it was at night, if anything maybe more stick around?
October 12th, 2018 at 10:32 AM ^
Fall break keeps being brought up. Unless there are THAT many homesick students they won't be heading back home, especially considering this 'break' is only two school days. Honestly this should have very little impact on attendance - it may actually drive it up since the kids won't have Mon/Tues classes so they can use that time to catch up on things.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:50 PM ^
Too cold to watch Buckyball at night.
October 11th, 2018 at 11:08 PM ^
The logistics of night games in AA fascinate me. Such a popular event with so few options for overnight accommodations. Night games should be a boon for crowd enthusiasm, like in Columbus; however as this thread makes apparent - that is not the case.
I will hold on to hope that the down in front crowd will be replaced by raucous screaming and standing fans this weekend. Unrealistic, I know.
October 11th, 2018 at 11:22 PM ^
60 inch tv and a fridge 20 feet away is a hard combination to beat. Plus I'm in Seattle.
October 12th, 2018 at 12:20 AM ^
When did weather become such an issue for people living in Michigan??? The NFL has plenty of night games through December that are far colder. Layer up, put on a hat and some gloves and quit crying.
October 12th, 2018 at 12:26 AM ^
Worst fucking thread ever.