Why the Surge in Player & Athletic Department Urging Fan Attendance this Weekend? I Don't Think It's The Boycott
With all the talk on the board right now regarding players statements either directly requesting fan support (Jack Miller) or via the Michigan Facebook page featuring a Dennis Norfleet's quote I wondered if they were responding to the boycott or something else. So I went on StubHub and looked just now to see how many tickets were available this for each of this Saturday's B1G games. Here's what I found:
Illinois at Wisconsin- 778
Indiana at Iowa - 804
Northwestern at Minnesota - 804 (yup same number available as Indiana v Iowa)
MSU at Purdue - 906
Rutgers at OSU - 1636
Penn State at Michigan - 3904
I also just went on Mgoblue.com and requested 10 seats together and was able to secure the order meaning there are a LOT of unsold seats right now. There were also smaller quantities available all through the endzone and corner sections but the fact I could get 10 together for the marque home night game a mere three days before kick-off is not good.
I think that's why there's been a recent surge in player and athletic department urging for fan support this week. Not because of the threat of a boycott IMO - it's because they have a shit-ton of seats to sell by next Saturday night and they're competing with the current ticket holders who don't want to go the game to sell them.
October 8th, 2014 at 12:18 AM ^
I don't even think if given a free ticket I'd go watch the game. Better to watch on TV so that if it gets ugly just switch to another channel.
October 8th, 2014 at 8:57 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 12:33 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 12:23 AM ^
You mean the Facebook group with less than 60 people in it didn't cause them to panic?
Yeah. Probably not.
October 8th, 2014 at 12:40 AM ^
I hope the powers that be realize why people aren't interested in the tickets.
October 8th, 2014 at 12:42 AM ^
That would require them to not care about how much money they are making rather than the product they are truly producing. Which doesn't even seem plausible lately.
October 8th, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^
It's obvious, isn't it? We just don't have enough opportunities for Beyonce to sing the National Anthem, fireworks weren't approved by the Regents and we can only do one fly-over a week.
/s
October 8th, 2014 at 12:47 AM ^
I said 3 weeks ago we might get ~ 80K to Maryland with a 2-3-4 win team in mid November and cold weather and a lame duck coach. I stand by that. I did think UTL3 would be sold out however. The Indiana game wont be >100K other than in David Brandon's abacus. Realistically 92-95K IMO. But close enough that they will probably announce 101,232.
They are going to have a tough time lying thru their teeth for the Maryland game though when I expect entire upper sections to be ghost towns.
October 8th, 2014 at 12:47 AM ^
I agree this might be a secondary motive. But Brandon is a snake-in-the-grass corporate type of guy and I'm sure his #1 motivator is making himself look good so he keeps his job and doesn't go down as one of the worst AD's in Michigan history. However, if this were for ticket sales, wouldn't they mention something about ticket sales on the marketing ad that was posted in another thread? I don't know, but Brandon can go to hell
October 8th, 2014 at 1:03 AM ^
The only thing that gives me a modicum of comfort is that Penn State fans are not going to swoop in and grab those 4000+ seats, not with the year they are having.
In other news, and this doesn't pull me from these Michigan doldrums but it helps, WOOOOOT Vogelsong! Viva Los Gigantes!!!!!!
October 8th, 2014 at 8:20 AM ^
but among the Penn State fans I know and talk to, there's a fairly high amount of energy about Saturday's game. Many already have tickets and/or are just going to drive up Saturday and plan to purchase then.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I anticipate quite a few PSU fans there Saturday. If Michigan doesn't play well Saturday night, could lead to some crowd shots that won't look good for David Brandon.
October 8th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
I would say a large percentage of those able to are going and with the amount of fix available I wouldn't be surprised to see even more last minute decisions to go.
Conversely there is zero enthusiasm for the present state of Michigan football. I was at a party last weekend and the ones I spoke with don't even care anymore. They plan on watching but will also be watching other games at the same time. Consensus was that everyone is just waiting for basketball season and to see who the new football coach will be.
October 8th, 2014 at 1:03 AM ^
Last time Michigan was 2-4 (1967) they didn't fill Michigan Stadium either.
This is not a surprise.
Also, Penn State beat Rutgers on the road, so there's that.
Plus MIchigan football fans are fed up and pissed off at David Brandon. Can you fault them for wanting to tell Dave and his marketing dolts loud and clear to fuck off?
But he's not going to give a shit about 4,000 tickets, since the PA system will announce a lie anyway.
October 8th, 2014 at 2:57 AM ^
Maybe it is just the angle but either the wall looks shorter back in 67, or the field seems higher.
Also interesting to note how entire lower bowl rows had 2 people in them - I mean that had to be 45,000-50,000 in the stadium.
October 8th, 2014 at 4:22 AM ^
in the late 80s or early 90s UM lowered the field a bit; 4-6 feet. this was done to give fans in the first few rows a good view of the field; especially along the sidelines. imagine that, the admin caring about the game-day experience of the fans. how times have changed.
October 8th, 2014 at 6:42 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 8:48 AM ^
It must've been the 90s, because I can remember it pretty clearly and I was born in 1983. In fact, I have pictures of myself in the stadium in 1989 and I'm almost certain the wall is short then.
Also, Wikipedia says 1991.
October 8th, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^
1990 was the last season with turf. I was at the final home game, against Minnesota. A bunch of fans rushed the field and people had brought pocket knives and were cutting chunks of turf to take away. Crossing through Allmendinger on the way back to our tailgate, my Dad ran into a guy selling some and got a piece. Still in his gameday basement pub today.
October 8th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^
Wow, I was in my mother's womb.
October 8th, 2014 at 6:13 AM ^
We won the opener, and then lost five straight. We finished the season at 4-6.
Why the hell are PSU fans disgruntled? They're 4-1, have a favorable schedule, and their new coach is supposed to be hot shit.
October 8th, 2014 at 7:07 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 1:14 AM ^
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October 8th, 2014 at 1:22 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 1:41 AM ^
What's the point of a protest? Why would people sacrifice Michigan football to get rid of Dave Brandon? I'd rather 109901 chant Fire Dave than there be 40,000 people at the game. Do people really want all our recruits to decommit and to lose the 100,000 streak?
October 8th, 2014 at 4:04 AM ^
you haven't been keeping up with ace's recruiting posts have you
October 8th, 2014 at 5:59 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 7:45 AM ^
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October 8th, 2014 at 8:13 AM ^
we have a 220-something plus streak of games at over 100,000. Its part of the "Big House" lore.
for Brandon to be the AD who loses that streak is a smear on his reputation. The end of The Streak is likely to be its own news story. How can the man who blew the Big House Big Streak be a capable Governor? (or Senator or whatever we are his stepping stone for)
we may fall behind our rivals on the field, but the AD can put that on failure on others. The 100,000+ streak is clearly on Brandon's resume. so it must be maintained even if it means gving tickets away with big bottles of Coke.
October 8th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
And pout on TV about how hurtful the chants are to him and his family.
October 8th, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^
The recruits that haven't already decommitted are in the process of doing so, I'm sure.
October 8th, 2014 at 3:09 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
Normally they do their best to not show empty stadiums on TV regardless of the teams playing. If you see less wide shots and the view of the field only include the first few rows of fans you can be sure it looks bad in person.
This is most obvious at lesser bowl games, MLB, and NASCAR.
October 8th, 2014 at 3:57 AM ^
Chants will be heard just like all other chants are. Why don't we show that we are the best fans in the land and have everyone show up? Dave Brandon doesn't care if the student section is empty at kickoff if you've already purchased the tickets. This will hurt the team more than Dave Brandon.
October 8th, 2014 at 8:15 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 4:25 AM ^
Mid 30s, so you will have to bring your coat and boots along with your Man Card.
I think the players like the fans to be there for cheering support and the loud factor. The athletic department likes the coin as one can imagine. Its hard to twist these two together in my mind as a conspiracy suggested by the original poster unless the players are trying to help support their salaries (which they obviously don't get).
Personally, I go to the stadium to watch the game of football. Its somewhat sad that attending the game has morphed into a lever for protest but its a spinoff from the dichotomy of having huge profits associated with a game where the players are paid nothing. But, its the age we live in, you have to change with the times. I will still be there as I have for the last 34 years.
October 8th, 2014 at 4:58 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 5:52 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 7:14 AM ^
I don't think people dream about starting off 2-4 either.
October 8th, 2014 at 6:18 AM ^
but if I did I would not be boycotting. Empty seats are a big "fuck you" to the players and their families, and including them as collateral damage over our anger at Brandon and/or Hoke doesn't make sense to me. If the record stinks this season the pressure on Brandon (or whoever) to make a coaching change will be huge, even if the stadium is as full as it was in 2010.
October 8th, 2014 at 6:38 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 7:42 AM ^
You just contradicted yourself.
"I don't have season tickets...no skin in game"
"Empty seats are a big "FU" to players"
So by you NOT attending, you just said FU to the players. Jump in a car, buy $25 tickets.
You choose to boycott the program by not buying season tickets.
It doesn't matter if you live 8 hours away. You could still buy season tickets, sell games you cannot afford to attend.
You made the rational economic decision that attending football games at UofM is not worth the time, money and hassle. It's a poor investment for little or no economic and small personal gain.
You and thousands of fans have already decided to boycott Michigan games - years ago.
So I don't agree that not attending is a FU to players. It's a decision where COST >>> RETURN.
If Michigan had just won the NC, and was 5-0 and ranked #1, people like you would be complaining that the ticket prices were $500+ each, and would be jumping on airplanes to attend.
So it's NOT the players, it's the overall poor product experience.
By your logic, every alum or fan that doesn't drive to the game this Saturday and fill the seats is saying FU to the players. I think that's disingenuous - do what I say not what I do.
October 8th, 2014 at 8:17 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 8:29 AM ^
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October 8th, 2014 at 8:55 AM ^
Actually, that's not true. I didn't have tickets in '97 because I didn't have the time to attend games and couldn't afford the prices even back then. Because of my current work schedule—16 hours a day, 7 days a week from now until mid November—I wouldn't be able to go even if I could afford the cost, which I can't anyhow.
I'm talking about the people who have bought tickets and now aren't going to go because of Brandon or the team's performance. I understand the anger at Brandon and disappointment over how poorly the team has been playing, but I think there are ways of expressing views and opinions without emptying the stands.
October 8th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
But how is that different?
You decided with your limited vacation time and cash that is was not worth going to this game. The biggest home game this year. You boycotted this crappy game a year ago.
A person that decides not to go this week - decides not to accept that free ticket from a friend, decides it's not worth the traffic and gas, decides he'd rather go bowling - is making the same decision.
How if someone decides not to go this week, rather than a year ago, is now a bad person that is saying FU to the players?
October 8th, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^
You are spot on with the economics. But, I just can't agree that not buying tickets amounts to a boycott. Boycotting is "to refuse to buy, use, or participate in (something) as a way of protesting; to stop using the goods or services of (a company, country, etc.) until changes are made." http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boycott
Don made a rational economic decision not to purchase season (or individual game) tickets because it's too expensive and his schedule does not allow for it. Many fans have made this decision. I used to have season tickets, but gave them up for economic reasons. Because I live in Texas, the cost of having season tickets, plus traveling to Michigan for games was more than I was willing to spend. I took such a large hit on selling other tickets that it did not make sense for me to purchase an entire season package. Instead, if I am going to go to a game, I will purchase that individual game's tickets, and save myself an otherwise huge economic loss. Note, this decision had nothing to do with the terrible product on the field, as I made this decision a couple of years ago. Decisions like these are not a boycott.
October 8th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
Not renewing one's season tickets (due to the increasing prices, crappy schedule, crappy stadium "wow" experience, crappy AD, etc.) would be considered a boycott...and by extension (not yours), a big FU to the players.
I suspect many here would reluctantly agree -- given extensive discussions on the topic over the past 2-3 years -- that not renewing one's season tickets is, unfortunately, about the only recourse we (as loyal and invested fans) have to voice our displeasure to the tone-deaf AD.
October 8th, 2014 at 7:57 AM ^
October 8th, 2014 at 7:01 AM ^
Every time Michigan scored, before the field was lowered.
Maybe that is what we are missing, an incentive plan.