Were the stands really packed??? Guess it depends on how the data is processed. That varies from individual to individual as does the definition of "success". Generally, my definition of "success" would be defined as 5,989 people making totally voluntary decisions to make a purchase and paying for it with no outside pressures applied to them and absolutely no freebies of any kind. Keeping that in mind there is the following to consider.
1) At pickup time for RPI season ticket holders, they were handed a memo asking that any of their Mayor's Cup tickets expected to not be used be resubmitted to the school so that they could be given away. Though we have absolutely no idea how many, it is my and our understanding that tickets for this event were given away (mostly to groups) like penny candy above and beyond any that were resubmitted. If anyone can confirm this, refute this or provide reasonable estimates, feel welcome.
2) General public Union season ticket holders were given a Mayor's Cup ticket at no additional cost. This was confirmed by Union season ticket holders I come in contact with both through my work and socially. Regardless of how many and what they said, a call to Union's box office back in the fall further confirmed this fact to my satisfaction (I pretended to be a potential new customer). The only missing piece of information here is exactly how many general public season tickets Union sells. If anyone is aware of this figure, please fell free.
3) RPI season ticket holders were simply forced to pay (believed to be the full $15) for the Mayor's Cup ticket regardless of whether they wanted to trek to downtown Albany or wanted to go to this game period. Refusal to do so would have put the seat I have held since 1977 and surrounded by friends up for grabs to any new customer or anyone who wanted to change seats. For $15 I would have had to take both that risk and also risked exposing my friends to a new neighbor in their mists they may not have been thrilled with. Believe me, I specifically asked for a season ticket that did not involve going to an area at night that I am quite familiar with (worked in that area from 1979 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2010) and, at age 60, simply is no longer comfortable being in. The request was summarily refused. It was cough up the $15 or take the above risks. In addition, I would also lose stand to lose my spot on the parking lot list and be left with no on site parking. Sorry, that is not a voluntary purchase with no outside pressure. It more resembles strong arming or a out and out shakedown. RPI general public season ticket holders number around a thousand. Exactly how many, especially the many older ones, did not want to go and ate this ticket will probably never be known.
In conclusion, "success" would probably best be defined as 5,989 minus the totals of 1, 2 and 3. If whatever that answer is would still be termed a "success", so be it and great. Having this event turn out to be the "success" that it was makes me very happy since next year no one should feel compelled to shake me out of $15 for an event I simply do not want to attend. For those who do support this event, wish for it to continue and are willing to attend it, that is great too. However, morally and ethically, you should be the ones who foot the bill for it without any help from or reprecussions to anyone who does not wish to.
