Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

[HarleyMC]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

A ticket costs $735 without a donation? Are there 21 home games on the ticket ($35 per game)? Does anyone else think this is getting a little ridiculous for a college sport? What exactly is the points system donation plan? Does that mean they have to donate even for the worst seats behind the nets now as new ticket holders?

And 735+700 for a season is insane - that comes out to nearly $70 per game. Even with the tax deduction, it still amounts to paying an extra $525 at the 25% marginal rate - for a grand total of $1260... which is $60 per game. May as well go to NHL games at that price and have an actual atmosphere.

The Plan was just announced for basketball and hockey. Every season ticket holder will be reseated in 2012-13. The plan was used last season at the TCF. Points will be assigned based on # of season tickets, years of owning season tickets, U alumni, letterwinner, UMAA membership and donations. Those with the highest number of points get first pick of the seats and so forth. The tics behind the nets are the non-donation seats for $735/season. The waiting list letter states the Preferred Seating donation is considered an 80% tax deductible donation.

Given the economic climate, lack of enthusiasm at Mariucci, losing seasons, outrageous ticket prices, I think the potential for this thing to blow up in their face is high.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

Given the economic climate, lack of enthusiasm at Mariucci, losing seasons, outrageous ticket prices, I think the potential for this thing to blow up in their face is high.

Any family on a budget can't afford season tickets, that's for sure - even the non-donor ones. Imagine trying to take a family of four to a game - that's nearly $3 grand for a season. If you're in the minimum donation tier of seats, that's nearly six grand per season.

I imagine anyone on the fence about this will bail if this season isn't a good one. You'll see a shift away from buying season tickets, and people will opt to try to get tickets off the street instead.

It'll be like the frozen four situation only worse. In that case, people realized the lottery isn't worth it - your reward is a **** seat in the rafters, yet it costs you over $50 per game. Why pay that when you can score tickets on the street for face value and sit in a much better seat? The same will happen here.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

Any family on a budget can't afford season tickets, that's for sure - even the non-donor ones. Imagine trying to take a family of four to a game - that's nearly $3 grand for a season. If you're in the minimum donation tier of seats, that's nearly six grand per season.

I imagine anyone on the fence about this will bail if this season isn't a good one. You'll see a shift away from buying season tickets, and people will opt to try to get tickets off the street instead.

It'll be like the frozen four situation only worse. In that case, people realized the lottery isn't worth it - your reward is a **** seat in the rafters, yet it costs you over $50 per game. Why pay that when you can score tickets on the street for face value and sit in a much better seat? The same will happen here.

I think you're exactly right, fans are going to bail on this big time. And then rather than buy off the street, it's very possible some fans (families) might turn elsewhere to more wisely invest their sports entertainment dollars.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

We're on a budget and have 3 season tickets. May be the last season of them though.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

We're on a budget and have 3 season tickets. May be the last season of them though.

They have a similar "donation/ticket structure" at the Kohl Center. I noticed everyone between the blue lines were 60ish couples. They are the only ones who can afford the "donation & season ticket" prices.

 

[Handyman]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

The waiting list letter states the prices as follows: $735/seat/behind the nets (sec. 11-12, 15, 1-2, 23-24), $735 + $700 annual donation/seat/blue lines, (sec. 4, 5, 9-10, 16-17, 21-22) $735+$1025, annual donation/seat/red line (6-8, 18-20), and $740 + $1900 annual/club ($1100 annual per seat/$800 per barstool donation).

Those numbers are no longer correct. I quote hubbabubba on GPL:

Don't send your angry emails just yet. Come back from the ledge for a second. I just got an update on the proposed donation levels and it's not quite as bad as what they were originally planning. (Also, it appears Sid actually got it right in his column).

Donation levels
Student Section - Sections 12, 13, 14
$0 - Sections 1, 2, 24
$100 - Sections 3, 4, 11, 15, 22, 23
$250 - Sections 5, 6, 10, 16, 20, 21
$500 - 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19

Notice that the $500 seats are heavier on the side of the ice that the Gophers attack twice. I did not get the donation levels for the club room, but I would expect it to be $500 or more for the seats and a little less for stools.

Those are annual per seat donations on top of the cost of the season ticket. As reported, the donation program won't go into effect for current season ticket holders until the 2012-13 season. New season ticket holders (in the last two years and going forward) are under the donation plan that had levels of $700 (for seats from the goal line to blue line) and $1,025 (blue line to blue line), but everyone will pay the lower levels come 2012-13.

For me, this is much more palatable than the original donation levels that doubled (or more) the cost of attending a Gopher hockey game. There won't be many non-donation seats under this plan (only three sections), but there will be nine sections with a donation level of $0 or $100.

That being said, for college hockey, these costs are unlike most anywhere else (save for North Dakota, perhaps). When this goes into effect, Minnesota will have the most expensive 1) single game ticket ($35 or so), 2) season ticket ($734.50) and 3) donation plan ($0-500) in all of college hockey, based on my limited research.

The numbers you quoted are only for the new buyers and they will be lowered when the points system goes into effect. Still way too ****ed much for a sport that is niche at best.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

We're on a budget and have 3 season tickets. May be the last season of them though.

For the amount you're spending on those tickets, you could fly to the Cayman islands and kick it on the beach for a week.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

For the amount you're spending on those tickets, you could fly to the Cayman islands and kick it on the beach for a week.

With a kid in school who plays hockey and soccer, it's tough to find a week open to go to the Caymans.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

With a kid in school who plays hockey and soccer, it's tough to find a week open to go to the Caymans.

Have him stay at a friend's place (that plays on his team) for a week and take the wife. You'd bank enough points with her for the remainder of the year to get away with murder.

 

[scsutommyboy]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

Wow, I thought SCSU tickets were to high at $400 for a season ticket. Of course I have to drive 55 miles each way, which adds a big cost to my tickets....

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

How 'bout taking the kid with? Teach 'em a little priorities in life. That way he won't end up with 22,000 posts in some internet forum when he/she grows up!

Real original.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

Yep. My buddy's parents have had season tickets since the Mooch opened, and this year they finally got to improve their seats. And there are ways to jump over the waiting list, and obviously it's through donations/etc.

Similar here, our tickets have been in the family since ~'73 and in my name since the new arena opened. About two years ago we moved from low in section nine to right in the middle of section 8 and no donation was involved.

Unfortunately I think it's getting close to a no-go for us too and I wonder how accurate the waiting list numbers really are? I ask because the waiting list shot up when 1) the new arena opened so there was a lot of "I need to be seen there" involved , 2) there was not an NHL team in the Twin Cities, 3) the team was very good & fun to watch, & 4) games were still fairly priced. I just don't get the sense there is a lot of demand for people to own season tickets anymore because the public knows they can get tix on the street or watch on TV.....I'm thinking unless the team and atmosphere in the building improves dramatically the donation for a seat deal could backfire badly.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

Those numbers are no longer correct. I quote hubbabubba on GPL:



The numbers you quoted are only for the new buyers and they will be lowered when the points system goes into effect. Still way too ****ed much for a sport that is niche at best.

Yeah but they are correct for those on the waiting list and that was my point. It explains why the ticket office went over 900 names deep on the waiting list this summer because obviously people refused to pay those prices. Considering a lot of fans are uncertain as to whether the team this year will just be a repeat of last year, the prices look even more ridiculous to those on the list.

My view is if the team and atmosphere don't change, the points system will not meet expectations in two years even with the adjusted donations. I agree with GE, having season tickets for the Gophers is not really in vogue anymore. And given the tight economy, allegiances can change easily to other more affordable/popular options of buying tics off the street or investing in another popular local team with cheaper or comparable prices.

 

[4four4]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

If I had to choose between paying the exact same amount between the Gophers and the Wild I will see you at Xcel. The beer imo is the difference maker.

 

[Blackheart]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

...I agree with GE, having season tickets for the Gophers is not really in vogue anymore. And given the tight economy, allegiances can change easily to other more affordable/popular options of buying tics off the street or investing in another popular local team with cheaper or comparable prices.

Well the Swarm have plenty of seating available...bring the whole family!!

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

Well the Swarm have plenty of seating available...bring the whole family!!

The who? Lacrosse is for p*****s who can't skate.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

If I had to choose between paying the exact same amount between the Gophers and the Wild I will see you at Xcel. The beer imo is the difference maker.

You wouldn't pay the same at the X unless you sat in the upper level. IIRC, upper level side seats are $45 per game - which would put those on par with the cost of Gopher games *if* you were donating $250 or more (roughly). The cheapest lower level seats (ends) are $65-69 per game, which is a level you wouldn't hit for Gopher games unless you were donating $700+ (and even the $700 level would be slightly cheaper due to tax deductibility).

Of course, the atmosphere at the X is far better, so that must be considered - and of course, the skill level involved is significantly better since it's the NHL.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

You wouldn't pay the same at the X unless you sat in the upper level. IIRC, upper level side seats are $45 per game - which would put those on par with the cost of Gopher games *if* you were donating $250 or more (roughly). The cheapest lower level seats (ends) are $65-69 per game, which is a level you wouldn't hit for Gopher games unless you were donating $700+ (and even the $700 level would be slightly cheaper due to tax deductibility).

Of course, the atmosphere at the X is far better, so that must be considered - and of course, the skill level involved is significantly better since it's the NHL.

I don't disagree but would say sitting in the upper deck at the X, even at the drink rail, is not a negative like it is at many other arenas. Heck, I like it up there.

My guess is one can get a 20 game package for the Wild that is about equal to the cost of full season at Mariucci and the positives at the X now far outweigh the positives at Mariucci and the way the seat license deal is being structured I don't think anyone in Gopherland takes this into account.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

My point was that while you could attend Wild games for a comparable cost, your relative seat location wouldn't be as good. If the other aspects of the X such as being able to drink / better atmosphere overall matter to you, then attending Wild games would probably look more appealing than Gopher games despite the seat downgrade.

Personally, I'd take sitting at the end the Wild shoot at twice in the lower level over a blue line to blue line seat at Mariucci. Technically the seat at the X is "worse", but I've long preferred end seats over center ice ones (at least when the end seat is on the attacking side for 2/3 of the game).

 

[Handyman]

Re: Time to drop a deuce: the second MN Gopher Offseason Thread

The fact that the X has a sound system that actually works makes it more enjoyable than games at Mariucci Seriously, it astounds me that they put all that money into that place, they bring in bucketloads of cash every year and yet they have a sound system that is worse than the cheap boombox I had in middle school!

This is the wrong time to be implementing such a plan and the Athletic department is going to take a huge hit because of it.