OT-sih: How do I get Season Tickets?

Submitted by tigers17fan on

Hi all,

 

I'm graduating from college this year in Grand Rapids and want to get season tickets to Michigan Football. However, I have no clue what the process is for this and nobody I know has them so I can't ask them about this. I tried looking on mgoblue.com but all I could find there was some stuff about how Season tickets are no longer on sale. I don't expect to be able to get them for this year's season, but going forward, what do I have to do?

 

Thanks

GoBLUinTX

April 27th, 2014 at 11:16 PM ^

Neither the buyer nor the seller are obligated to buy or sell.  If the buyer refuses to buy at the quoted price the seller can either lower the price to entice sales, or keep the prices high and accept lower sales.  Many times sellers keep their prices as is, absorbing potential losses, so when demand regains strength the price point won't have to be immediately raised to reflect the new demand.  

In business that's called not giving away product.  Further, you can only be "gouged" if you agree to buy.  Don't want to be "gouged", don't buy.

mvp

April 28th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^

I guess DB's interpretation of "corporate buddies and higher income individuals" is "customers."  It is a strategy, to be sure.  I think the point, however, is that the experience is chaning becuase of it and the long-term loyalty and tradition that comes from emotionally invested fans won't be there.

The poster above, however, is right -- customers set prices.  If people stopped buying, the price would fall.

rob f

April 27th, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^

before I started getting season tickets, I remember my Dad (who was a Notre Dame fan) getting mailings from Don Canham advertising Michigan Football Tickets.  Though my mom tossed most of them in the trash, I did get ahold of one and kept it for several years.  No idea what happened eventually to it, but I sure wish I still had it now.

LSAClassOf2000

April 27th, 2014 at 5:47 PM ^

I believe you can still sign up to be on the Interest List somewhere on MGoBlue. Typically, information about next season will trickle out over the summer, as I recall - you should be able to find the link to "M Insider" under the Ticket header for football. 

Sports

April 27th, 2014 at 6:02 PM ^

My best advice would be to call in. The website may not be fully updated, as there have been multiple deadline extensions. The official deadline has ended, but given the circumstances, there could have been a general extension like there was for students and faculty.

 

The two listed numbers are:

(734) 764-0247

(866) 296-MTIX

 

And their email is [email protected]

 

Best of luck and Go Blue!

MichiganG

April 27th, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^

I would second this. It will take a few minutes to call or email and you may even be able to get them now if you want. Otherwise, get on the email list on MGoBlue.com and buried in all the spam you'll receive you will eventually get information about next year's season tickets.

AR-15

April 27th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^

drive to Ann Arbor and buy tickets from a dude on the street. you won't have any trouble this year and you'll save a bunch of $$ in the process

ND Sux

April 27th, 2014 at 6:18 PM ^

season tickets three times on Ebay.  There are ALWAYS people with circumstances that make them want to sell for a single season without giving up their seats long-term. 

I've bougth three separate seasons on Ebay and had no problem.  Do your research, and start watching the listings.  Follow it for a while and you'll know the right deal when you see it. 

ND Sux

April 27th, 2014 at 6:27 PM ^

a nice selection at good prices until the tickets actually mail out from the university.  Some people will list theirs before the mailing, but the market really heats up AFTER the mailing.  Good luck.

Wolverine Devotee

April 27th, 2014 at 7:08 PM ^

I've heard this interest list is nothing but a cheap way to suck your wallet and there is any easier and cheaper way to get them.

I've heard StubHub is perfect, but quite frankly, I'm a snob. I want the sexy official ticket design instead of that paper crap anyone can print. You know, the fancy tickets people get in the mail?

ijohnb

April 27th, 2014 at 7:10 PM ^

The looks of our half empty stadium during most of our games last year you may just have to go Ticketmaster......

In reply to by ijohnb

Wolverine Devotee

April 27th, 2014 at 7:58 PM ^

It could always be very much worse.

This is the average crowd of a 50s/60s Michigan Football game when the opponent wasn't state or ohio.

This photo is not doing the state of the crowds any justice back then. It was baaaad from some photos I've seen.

GoBLUinTX

April 27th, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^

Boy Scout troops and HS Marching Bands from across the state were invited to attend games, to make the stadium more photogenic.  People either don't know or tend to forget the 100,000 streak goes back only to 1975, fully six years into the Schembechler regime.  From 1970 through 1973 Michigan lost exactly three games yet those four seasons still had some low attendance games.

So yeah, I suspect season tickets will be cheap on the secondary market for the next several years.  I suspect Michigan would have to play the next five seasons, with no more losses over those seaons than occured alone in 2014, before attendance figures regain stability during the 2020 season.

treetown

April 27th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^

Even under the great Golden Age of Bo, the games were not all 100,000+ crowds.

They even threw open the chain link fence gates (look through some old Ann Arbor News pictures - there was once a pretty industrial chain link fence around the place) in the second half of many games and people could wander in.

It won't be hard to see just a few people dissatisfied enough to jeopardize the 100,000+ streak. Uninterested or unhappy students + dissatisfied general fans = loss of record.

I saw an article that proms will be held at the stadium (Today's Ann Arbor News) so I guess the Athletic Department is trying to get as many uses out of the place as possible - Weddings, Proms, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse.

 

RP

April 27th, 2014 at 7:13 PM ^

If it's just you or maybe just you and one more person, you should be able to scalp some tickets easily on game day or a few days before on like stubhub. It will probably be easier this year too.

And good on you for keeping the faith in Michigan Football. Better fan than I am, i suppose.

RockfordMaize

April 27th, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^

I've got six tickets and am trying to sell them for the upcoming season. I'll sell them in pairs for face value ($455/seat). My dad is and will be going through chemo and we won't be able to attend.

I dumped the Dope

April 27th, 2014 at 8:21 PM ^

...to the negativity.  Michigan Football is an awesome event, socially and typically for the game experience too.  Nothing like seeing those highlight plays before your very eyes.  Some amazing stuff has happened at Stadium and Main, no year has completely disappointed me enough to give them up.  This is a golden opportunity to "buy low" and get on the actual season ticket holder list.  As I see it from my view out here amongst the cornfields, my prediction is in 5 short years or less the fanbase will be griping incessantly about the 7 year waiting list again..

If you're young and have tix, its always a good dating opportunity to find a female companion to take with you when the weather is nice.  If its raining sleet sideways better take your old hunting buddy who already owns rain gear and long underwear, is my free advice.

HELLE

April 27th, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^

I agree with the social benefits of having season tickets. I tend to think most fans canceling their season tickets went to games for just the game, and didn't make a full day of it. No matter how bad it gets on the field (results, schedule, cost, etc), I'm not giving up my tickets because I would miss the tailgating and the occasional post game meal at Pizza House. Good times with your friend trump all. Go Blue!

rob f

April 27th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^

with your advice.

But the waiting list re-forming?  Sorry, but I don't see that happening for a long time, if ever.  Our AD has essentially cut off that part of the lifeblood of Michigan Athletics by alienating a lot of fans who otherwise would be lining up for future opportunities to buy season tickets to watch Michigan Football.  Seat license fee increases, ticket price increases, dynamic pricing, etc., etc. 

I still keep my seats though.  For the good reasons you listed above, as I have had the same block of seats with friends since 1980 and have made many new friends in my section over the years.  Michigan Football Saturdays aren't just about the game, but about the all-day event of tailgating and socializing with the people I'd otherwise not see as often.  We're there, good weather or bad (I have several so-called "fan badges", from not only attending but staying 'til the very end of those very WORST-weather games, but thats a story for another thread on another day) , good teams or not.  Its just what we do in the fall.

slamalamadingdong

April 27th, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^

Donate $500 or more to the athletic department and you will get offered tickets if they are available. They likely will be available this year but the deadline technically has passed.

I would call the Athletic Department and see if you can be eligible to buy season tickets this year. The deadline was April 15 but I bet they would allow you do it this year. They are pretty reasonable. I'd do this tomorrow since new season ticket offers are going out in early March.

When Michigan goes undefeated next year, the fair weather fans who did not renew will be scrambling to get them back. So best to get them now when demand is low.