🏈 The unintended cost of success - ticket prices and seat relocations

[LeGarrette]

Ridiculous prices.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

30 years a season ticket holder in those seats and discarded like that....they weren’t mine....but if they were...I would be pissed

 

[rammerjammer]

Gal I work with, her dad has been in the same area for 20 years. He is pissed as well. Says he is not renewing.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

@rammerjammer
Don’t blame him.....I wouldn’t either....but they dont care.....
And they are offering seats that are open......to those displaced.....
.....should find some of those buying seats to resale...those that buy many many.....and take some of those good seats for the displaced.....at least.....
I am pretty close to giving mine up....might be last year....

 

[BamaFan334]

As I have said, it's all greed. The AD, Board, and billionaire boosters flaunt this bullshit perception that the only way we stay relevant and good is to throw money at it is "inaccurate" as Byrne used in the article. All this is is a big Johnson swinging contest in the arms race of college football. It's all about ego and cash, not the product or the patrons that have been around since before anyone in the current offices never thought about Alabama.

There is zero difference in what Alabama is doing compared to GM and Ford with all the unnecessary things they put on their vehicles in efforts of charging a premium for. All about the $.

 

[ElephantStomp]

There’s consequences to success in every industry. Same people bitching about this are the same people that would bitch if Bama sucked. Can’t have it both ways

 

[bamachine]

Not going to bitch just going to let someone else have the opportunity for season tickets now. Had mine since 2005. It had gotten down to me selling all but one or two each season anyway.

 

[rammerjammer]

The problem with this, is eventually you will outpace the money and what people are willing to pay. I can see this going by the way of NASCAR. In the late 90's early 2000's NASCAR was on an exponential growth pace. People from all over couldn't get enough. NASCAR sold it's soul to the Devil in order to get these big money TV contracts and did everything it could to distance itself from the back wood rednecks that supported the sport for their first 50 years of existence. After the shiny wore off and all the corporate sponsorship died down, NASCAR is left with 1/2 filled race tracks that have seats painted different colors so it doesn't look horrible on TV. It's like watching the Poinsettia bowl between Utah St and Bowling Green.......nobody is interested.

Will Bama and other institutions continue to financially weed out the average fan and be left with seats filled with wealthy people and those there as corporate sponsored guests? If this were to happen, will people still support it like they do now? Will they continue to buy clothes and memorabilia the same way they do now? In recent years, since the inception of the SEC network, I have had numerous friends give up their season tickets. I know they say there is a waiting list a mile long, but for the people in the circles I run in, that's not the case..

 

[BamaFan334]

There’s consequences to success in every industry. Same people bitching about this are the same people that would bitch if Bama sucked. Can’t have it both ways

The sad thing is how incorrect you are, because the same ones bitching are the ones that kept the university alive during those shitty years. Didn't you read the story? Thirty year ticket holders. The ones coming in now are bandwagoners that want to be attached because of success, not the life blood that was there all the crappy years

 

[OldPlayer]

As I have said, it's all greed. The AD, Board, and billionaire boosters flaunt this bullshit perception that the only way we stay relevant and good is to throw money at it is "inaccurate" as Byrne used in the article. All this is is a big Johnson swinging contest in the arms race of college football. It's all about ego and cash, not the product or the patrons that have been around since before anyone in the current offices never thought about Alabama.

There is zero difference in what Alabama is doing compared to GM and Ford with all the unnecessary things they put on their vehicles in efforts of charging a premium for. All about the $.

You call it greed, others call it business. College sports is a business. The goal of business is to stay in business. To do that, they need to make money to invest in future facilities, personnel, capabilities and equipment. Alabama is in the upper echelon of college sports due to its investments. Where would Alabama be without the expansion of BDS? Where would Alabama be without the hiring of CNS? Where would Alabama be without the renovation of Coleman? Where would Alabama be without the building of the indoor practice facility and the Mal Moore building?

While it's unfortunate that people will be impacted, the results of the BDS improvements will hopefully keep Alabama on the cutting edge of college sports.

 

[mando]

In business it will self correct if it gets bad enough and long enough. BTW I was/am one of those on the waiting list. Have been for 15+ years. I used to buy one of the tickets a friend of mine had every year until about 2015 so I have gone to many games from the early 2000's. Bama football is so ingrained in people and their families it will take a long time to self correct however.

 

[BamaFan334]

You call it greed, others call it business. College sports is a business. The goal of business is to stay in business. To do that, they need to make money to invest in future facilities, personnel, capabilities and equipment. Alabama is in the upper echelon of college sports due to its investments. Where would Alabama be without the expansion of BDS? Where would Alabama be without the hiring of CNS? Where would Alabama be without the renovation of Coleman? Where would Alabama be without the building of the indoor practice facility and the Mal Moore building?

While it's unfortunate that people will be impacted, the results of the BDS improvements will hopefully keep Alabama on the cutting edge of college sports.

Where was Alabama before the renovations? One of the best programs in the history of college football even before Saban's tenure and run.

There is a fine line between greed and business. Can you honestly sit there with a straight face and tell me it's not greed charging people on the waiting list like $35 a year to keep their names on the list? Mind you there is a waiting list while there are tons of empty upper level seats they hold for individual game sales that go unsold because people can't renew if they buy the packages they try to sell? Bumping thirty year donors in favor of newer donors and outpricing the current boosters is greed, plain and simple. All for the sake of saying "oh hey, we have air conditioned areas and food options for those that give us more money". Like the players and recruits give a shit about the posh settings they aren't even privy to as players or lettermen after they leave or even during their tenure. Now if they improved the likes of a rotting facility like Coleman and updated it, boom, that's good business for safety and just utilizing a space to upgrade. Adding amenities for a four hour event seven times a year teeters upon greed. Mind you events that have stood the test of time and technology as is. I'll use the vehicle analogy again in that GM and Ford add so much unneeded bullshit to their vehicles that people are having to finance for seven years now. Now that greed is putting Americans into further debt and they don't give a damn about it unless it starts affecting their bottom line. Their greed appears to be good business, until it all falls a part, like the housing market did. The housing market was "good business" for a while, until it wasn't, and now it is known that greed caused it all. Internet access, sure, go for it. Air conditioned areas only available for an increased price and bumping out perfectly good seats and donors, is greed, not good business. Good business is caring about your donors, no matter how much they put into the program.

You speak of the expansion, but we built so big and are now decreasing capacity, so you're not making a ton of sense with that remark. Especially once the new car smell wore off and we can't legitimately sell a game out. The statistics are correct and college football spending is going through the roof while cord cutting and attendance to games is decreasing. Sooner or later the rubber meets the road and you realize greed was not good business. Remember, building bigger is not always better and wiser.

 

[ElephantStomp]

The sad thing is how incorrect you are, because the same ones bitching are the ones that kept the university alive during those shitty years. Didn't you read the story? Thirty year ticket holders. The ones coming in now are bandwagoners that want to be attached because of success, not the life blood that was there all the crappy years

I did read the story and I also read where the university offered for them to pick other seats, but because they’re not padded and have a cover over them they don’t want them, that’s their right, but don’t bitch about price then.

I’ve seen since I was in school there people bitching when prices started going up, Christ we had a week in an Econ class where we discussed the stupid topic.

I agree with you about life blood, but this is same life blood that would run Saban off the n a heart beat if he started having 9 or 10 win seasons

 

[BamaFan334]

I did read the story and I also read where the university offered for them to pick other seats, but because they’re not padded and have a cover over them they don’t want them, that’s their right, but don’t bitch about price then.

I’ve seen since I was in school there people bitching when prices started going up, Christ we had a week in an Econ class where we discussed the stupid topic.

I agree with you about life blood, but this is same life blood that would run Saban off the n a heart beat if he started having 9 or 10 win seasons

They were their seats for thirty years. Maybe they didn't want other seats. They liked the people they were around and raised their families in those seats, so don't act like they are bitches for that. Were they offered seats in a better area or a shittier area? Doesn't matter, because they are being forced to move for someone else. I'm sure you'd have something to say about it if you were pushed to the back of the line in favor of someone with more money after thirty years of business.

I'm all ears if you want to get into an Economics discussion on this, because demand is not knocking it out of the park in college athletics these days. It will hit Alabama. We're not above the market when it comes to anything. Just look at our attendance and how many people are not renewing. Just take a poll of people on this site and you'll see exactly where it's all heading. Cord Cutting had it's on topic here.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

You call it greed, others call it business. College sports is a business. The goal of business is to stay in business. To do that, they need to make money to invest in future facilities, personnel, capabilities and equipment. Alabama is in the upper echelon of college sports due to its investments. Where would Alabama be without the expansion of BDS? Where would Alabama be without the hiring of CNS? Where would Alabama be without the renovation of Coleman? Where would Alabama be without the building of the indoor practice facility and the Mal Moore building?

While it's unfortunate that people will be impacted, the results of the BDS improvements will hopefully keep Alabama on the cutting edge of college sports.

@BamaFan334
It is business.....no doubt.....it is important business to keep up with other competitors....no doubt.... it is important business period...no doubt.....
It is an arms race..... out the top... get ontop...stay on top.... the staying is going to be harder than the getting....
But .... your customers are equally important....you know what makes bama so bama....are the fans...the loyal...blueblood...sit in the rain...spend kids college money...fans....
...now there may be more to story....but I understood
..that they will have chose of seats.... that are open.... some may be better...some not.... but are there that many quality seats opening up every year...
Seems a lot more concessions should be made to displaced ....
Hopefully they will and recognize the importance of these fans....

 

[ElephantStomp]

They were their seats for thirty years. Maybe they didn't want other seats. They liked the people they were around and raised their families in those seats, so don't act like they are bitches for that. Were they offered seats in a better area or a shittier area? Doesn't matter, because they are being forced to move for someone else. I'm sure you'd have something to say about it if you were pushed to the back of the line in favor of someone with more money after thirty years of business.

I'm all ears if you want to get into an Economics discussion on this, because demand is not knocking it out of the park in college athletics these days. It will hit Alabama. We're not above the market when it comes to anything. Just look at our attendance and how many people are not renewing. Just take a poll of people on this site and you'll see exactly where it's all heading. Cord Cutting had it's on topic here.

Getting pushed to the back of line is different than being offered something in exchange for my spot....far different

People don’t have to renew their seats nor do they have to take the university up on their offer, but then they don’t have a foot stand on to be complaining. The university offered their choice of other seats at a discounted cost compared to what they were paying and they chose not to, nothing to complain about.


Cord cutting is different than spending money on tickets. I cut the cord several years ago, but still have season tickets to Colorado Avalanche games. We all choose where and what we want to spend our money on and successful teams are always going to cost more than crappy ones

 

[ElephantStomp]

@BamaFan334
It is business.....no doubt.....it is important business to keep up with other competitors....no doubt.... it is important business period...no doubt.....
It is an arms race..... out the top... get ontop...stay on top.... the staying is going to be harder than the getting....
But .... your customers are equally important....you know what makes bama so bama....are the fans...the loyal...blueblood...sit in the rain...spend kids college money...fans....
...now there may be more to story....but I understood
..that they will have chose of seats.... that are open.... some may be better...some not.... but are there that many quality seats opening up every year...
Seems a lot more concessions should be made to displaced ....
Hopefully they will and recognize the importance of these fans....

They recognize the importance of those fans, but they cannot die at the alter of those fans. College sports is a business and it has to be ran like a business.

 

[BamaFan334]

Getting pushed to the back of line is different than being offered something in exchange for my spot....far different

People don’t have to renew their seats nor do they have to take the university up on their offer, but then they don’t have a foot stand on to be complaining. The university offered their choice of other seats at a discounted cost compared to what they were paying and they chose not to, nothing to complain about.


Cord cutting is different than spending money on tickets. I cut the cord several years ago, but still have season tickets to Colorado Avalanche games. We all choose where and what we want to spend our money on and successful teams are always going to cost more than crappy ones

Ummm, no, that's not different. Were theyofferefsomething of equal value or forced to choose to spend more or take crappier seats? Either way, they are being forced to move because of money.

You're second paragraph is stating any specifics, just generalities, so no way anyone can base an opinion without knowing the actual facts.

In regards to cord cutting, yes, it has a direct effect. Maybe not with you, but thousands and thousands are cutting cords and staying at home to watch football due to rising costs of attending. Ticket costs are increasing due to renovations and other spending. Cord cutting is happening due to tv contracts and conference channels and the ever increasing costs of cable companies. See, directly responsible for less money being spent campus and around town because of the traffic, the parking,and the costs to attend a game. Look at The Quad and how Corporate it is these days. The school sold out for a few bucks, and now you can barely tailgate on The Quad without paying the costs to have it catered. They are pricing folks out. For every million dollar donor, there are tens of thousands of thousand dollar donors that are getting tired of the increased costs. Remember, attendance is down. Who pays for all of this when folks have enough of the increases and stop renewing? Not everyone on that waiting list is itching to pay the costs. A guy just commented on here about being on the list for 15 years. Think the amount he was set to pay even ten years ago is close to what he would have to pay now? Is he willing and ready to pay it?

 

[BamaFan334]

They recognize the importance of those fans, but they cannot die at the alter of those fans. College sports is a business and it has to be ran like a business.

They are tied together actually. A handful of donors cannot create the loss of tens of thousands of smaller donors. Just like in a political election. California and New York have a ton of people, but there are many many many more out there that change the outcome of the race.

 

[BamaFan334]

@BamaFan334
It is business.....no doubt.....it is important business to keep up with other competitors....no doubt.... it is important business period...no doubt.....
It is an arms race..... out the top... get ontop...stay on top.... the staying is going to be harder than the getting....
But .... your customers are equally important....you know what makes bama so bama....are the fans...the loyal...blueblood...sit in the rain...spend kids college money...fans....
...now there may be more to story....but I understood
..that they will have chose of seats.... that are open.... some may be better...some not.... but are there that many quality seats opening up every year...
Seems a lot more concessions should be made to displaced ....
Hopefully they will and recognize the importance of these fans....

There is a business aspect to college sports, but what does air conditioned seating in our stadium have to do with upgrading facilities in how we recruit? As I said, these recruits and players will most likely never sit in those seats. It's all chest thumping is all it is. Renovating Coleman, practice facilities, and facilities directly associated with a player's way of life while on campus are what makes a difference with on the field product. Auburn's big screen, our air conditioned areas and buffets aren't moving the needle when it comes to getting recruits. The same millionaire boosters are donating regardless of their perks. This is just the university trying to make a statement about superiority.