UConn AD Jeff Hathaway was kind of enough to sit with the media and go over the season ticket price levels for the next three seasons. There are some major changes to the plan, and at the lowest levels the price of the tickets will go up to $30 per ticket after an initial early bird special at 2008 rates ($25 per game) that will end May 1st.
Hathaway said that the economy and a desire to sell out Rentschler and it's season ticket base were the reasons behind the move. The Huskies base of tickets in 28000 including roughly 4500 students. To max out the stadium, the Huskies need a season ticket base of about 34,000. The other 7000 seats are visiting team allotment and other obligation tickets such as band, advertising etc.
"We are cognizant of the economy," Hathaway said. "Some of the areas needed to be tweaked and combined with the economy, we wanted to sell out on a season ticket basis."
The Huskies have revamped their season ticket and donation requirements for club level and chairback seating and are also offering three year terms in season tickets at the reserved level which requires no donation.
The University is offering a price break on season tickets for its lowest plan on the reserved level at $25 per ticket ($150) if they tickets are purchased prior to May 1st. After May 1st, the season ticket price will increase to $180 for the six games.
Here are some other changes.
The major change for the Huskies is at the club level and chairback seating level, the more premium tickets for the Huskies.
Club level tickets, which include a tax deductible donation of $900 (down from $1,400) will cost $1,260 per ticket (including donation and tickets), down from $1,640 a year ago.
The biggest change will be at the chairback level where they will divide the lower and upper level seats that has drawn a vast amount of anger from fans.
The chairback seating used to cost an equal amount with a $650 donation and $210 for the tickets. The chairback seating quality is vastly different in quality, but not in price, and drew anger from many fans. There will be significant reductions at this level.
The chair backs will be sold at three levels, lower, mezzanine and upper.
The lower level chairbacks will have their donation reduced to $500 and a ticket cost of $210 for a price break of $150 from a year ago.
The mezzanine level will see a $400 donation and $210 for the tickets for a cost of $610, a 29 percent savings.
The biggest savings will be in the upper chairbacks. These tickets will have a 49 percent reduction from the last six years. Tickets that went $860 for the donation are now $435, including a donation for $225.
There are no changes at other levels as long as tickets are purchased before May 1st. Reserved seats, which don't require a donation, can now be made for a three year term insuring the same seats for the next three seasons.
Here are some notes:
*It's obvious that the upper chairbacks became the least popular. Hathaway admitted that he didn't think the pricing made much sense and was fair at that level. These are the hardest ones they had to sell.
*The most popular tickets are the reserved for $150, and $150 donation. This price won't change if purchased by May 1st. It is possible to take a 3 year term out on these tickets.
*The Huskies want to sell out the stadium more so than maximize revenue, which they will take a minor hit.
* Buying tickets early will put you in line to get better seating. Even in non-donation seating, it's first come first serve with assignments coming out in May.
Other thoughts:
*There are no plans at this time to look at basketball tickets according to Hathaway.
* This was part due to the weakening economy, but also with the hope that the Huskies can sell out their season ticket base.
2 comments:
In the past, seating assignment was determined by points. You indicate a particular want. Are you saying that the seats will be on a first come basis? Not points?
Please explain again.
Thanks
Let me be clear, it is a bit complicated. Points system for seats is still in place. The key is, that they start seating in May.
If you get in after May 1st, then the seats come -- first come first serve -- because all the priority point seats will be doled out already. I am sure there will be seats left, but the better seats may already be doled out to the early bird.
They begin seating in May based on priority points. When those seats are doled out, even if you have a ton of priority points, you won't get the better seats if you re-up in August.
The point being, for best seats, get in before May 1st and the priority points will decide where you sit. After they are done seating, most choice seats will be taken up.
If you have priority points, they won't help you as much in July as they do in May.
Chances are if you don't buy by May 1, you are going to get stuck at a lesser seat.
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