2014-15 Basketball Season Ticket renewals

[tornado]

Got my renewal package this morning in the mail ... here are several things I noted...

-ticket package pricing remains unchanged in 2014-15 from last year (after the price hike last year)

-there is no specific mention of how many games will be included in the season ticket package - but there are almost always 15 or 16 (in recent years)

-the flyer does state one exhibition and the Red-White game (this has never previously been part of the season ticket package) are included in the season ticket packages.
In almost all prior years season tickets were not even available for pickup until after the Red-White game so they will need to get them out earlier this year.
No mention of the dates for any of the early or preseason events - that will obviously be finalized later. Recall - one of the early preseason events last season - with an intrasquad scrimmage - cost $125 to attend!

- "at least one" of the games in all of the season ticket packages will be played at Renaissance Coliseum.
The wording seems to be saying that quite possibly it will be MORE than one.

-also included in this mailing are application for women's basketball season tickets, promo to join the Braves Club, and bonus prizes if you refer others for ticket purchase.

I don't know about everyone but my $$ will be in the mail soon for 2014-15.

[mexicobufan]

It sounds like they are reaDing this board. Didn't someone on here say they should add the Red-White game to the season ticket package? It sounds like they are trying to fix some issues for the fans? I hope attendance is back up this year.

[tornado]

Mex- I have heard otherwise....
the Red-White, the exhibitions, and the early season games at RC are all events that have a far smaller attendance for a reason..
it's because many season ticket holders just aren't as inclined to want to go to those games, but if required to buy tickets anyway because they are automatically forced to do so by including those games in the season package (like it or not) -
then I have heard some people who are upset enough about this that they plan to only buy selected individual game seats and NOT get season tickets....so in the end if enough people feel that way it hurts way more than helps.

[LongTimeFan]

I would think a fan would like to attend the Red/White scrimmage to see all the new recruits. When I lived in Illinois we always went to every game and the Red/White. However, it was more interesting when the freshmen vs varsity was a full game.

[basketball nut]

-
then I have heard some people who are upset enough about this that they plan to only buy selected individual game seats and NOT get season tickets....so in the end if enough people feel that way it hurts way more than helps.

I have heard the same thing along w/ some that sit around us that have had several tickets and said they were only getting what they needed for themselves-no extra tickets anymore. Heard this from other people also throughout the arena.
Also several that said they were looking to get tickets for each game because they can get better seats w/o the extra donations and don't have to pay for games when they are going to be gone.
All this means less season tickets sold.

[Rhino65]

Mex- I have heard otherwise....
the Red-White, the exhibitions, and the early season games at RC are all events that have a far smaller attendance for a reason..
it's because many season ticket holders just aren't as inclined to want to go to those games, but if required to buy tickets anyway because they are automatically forced to do so by including those games in the season package (like it or not) -
then I have heard some people who are upset enough about this that they plan to only buy selected individual game seats and NOT get season tickets....so in the end if enough people feel that way it hurts way more than helps.

So people are angry they're getting additional tickets in their package without seeing a price increase? Doesn't make much sense to me...

[tornado]

.. they're getting additional tickets in their package without seeing a price increase?

Rhino - where have you been?
There most certainly was a price increase - did you not notice? Everyone in the lower bowl and some in the upper bowl began paying considerably more last year and the increase is far, far more than the value of the games at RC...
(my seats DOUBLED in price and contrary to their promise that maintainence fees would not go up - my maintainence skyrocketed)

[tornado]

The recent season ticket renewal package everyone got in the mail also highlighted the "20 Prizes for 20 Days" promotion to get people to re-up quickly...
this year's 20 days span was from May 9 through May 28 - so most of the 20 days have already come and gone and I have yet to hear anything on who the winners were this year.
Last year's 20 Prizes promotion was May 20 - June 14, 2013, and was very well promoted.
BUT neither the releases on the BU website or the newspaper releases about ticket renewal do not mention this year's 20 Prizes promotion whatsoever.

BTW - Other schools are doing the same thing...look at the prizes being offered by FAU (football) - they include tickets to NFL (Miami Dolphins) games, NBA (Miami Heat) games, MLB (Marlins) games, $100 vouchers for their bookstore, weekend junkets at hotels, and more....wow..

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/fau/genrel/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/20for20prizes.pdf

[tornado]

The recent season ticket renewal package everyone got in the mail also highlighted the "20 Prizes for 20 Days" promotion to get people to re-up quickly...
this year's 20 days span was from May 9 through May 28 - so most of the 20 days have already come and gone and I have yet to hear anything on who the winners were this year.
Last year's 20 Prizes promotion was May 20 - June 14, 2013, and was very well promoted.
BUT neither the releases on the BU website or the newspaper releases about ticket renewal do not mention this year's 20 Prizes promotion whatsoever.

BTW - Other schools are doing the same thing...look at the prizes being offered by FAU (football) - they include tickets to NFL (Miami Dolphins) games, NBA (Miami Heat) games, MLB (Marlins) games, $100 vouchers for their bookstore, weekend junkets at hotels, and more....wow..
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/...or20prizes.pdf

well, the 20 Prizes in 20 Days is over (it went from May 9 thru May 28 )
Here's the link to the brochure, it loads slowly but scroll to page 6 in the brochure to see the prizes awarded in the promotion...

http://www.bradleybraves.com/pdf9/2722639.pdf?ATCLID=205671540&SPSID=25070&SPID=1498&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=3400

Anyway - there hasn't been much on this but I do know someone who just told me they received a notice, a letter in the mail that they had been selected as the winners for one of the prizes.....
a mention of at least some of the winners is on this Facebook page - LINK



btw - just saw this release - LINK
Xavier - coming off a good year - have LOWERED many of their season tickets - even though their attendance was significantly UP last season over the prior season,
plus the caliber of their homes opponents is impressive (Marquette, Butler, Cincy, Creighton, Georgetown, Villanova, St. John's, etc..) and they have 17 home games plus an exhibition!
Actually most of their seats are less expensive than you'd think...
Courtside $750, front row "Club Section" $500, upper bowl (17 games & exhib) $200!

[tornado]

Missouri State just mailed out their season ticket brochures....
and they have an upper bowl family plan that offers some season tickets for $85 - which beats the $110 packages BU was offering as the lowest prices in the MVC...

They have also eliminated all maintenence fees for all seats in their upper bowl except the 1st row seats

[tornado]

Vanderbilt did very poorly this past season, they were under .500 and were just 7-12 against SEC opponents
including a very disappointing 2-8 in their final 10 games and they went nowhere in the post-season.

they know what needs to be done to get attendance back up - and they are working on that but in the meantime -
THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED SEASON TICKET PRICES!!

-They have a large number of seats available IN THEIR UPPER BOWL for a season ticket price of $105
"A 2014-15 renewal in those levels will have a 23% price reduction, with a season ticket costing $105."


-ALMOST ALL THEIR OTHER SEATS are $20 to $25 lower than they were last year!

http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042514aaa.html

[tornado]

Seattle University just released their new lowered season ticket prices -
They have complete season ticket packages starting at $78 - the lowest price I have seen anywhere in Division I...
They are in the WAC and have an exciting shooting guard, Isiah Umipig that returns with a 20 ppg shooting average - one of the top returning scorers in the nation.

[tornado]

Saw a couple interesting articles about season tickets...

-Wisconsin wants to keep their arena filled - their maintenence is $50-$300 - nobody has to pay $1000

http://supportthebadgers.athletics.wisc.edu/tickets/mbbNewTickets.aspx

-interesting article about Michigan season tickets -- for football...

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/road-saturday/201406/college-football-fan-stadium-students-business-tv-ncaa-michigan-tickets

they thought their product was in such demand they could really stick it to the fans..
so they "re-seated fans", raised prices, scheduled poorly and jacked up maintenence - all to "maximize revenue"...
now for the first time in years - despite their success - they are way down on attendance and students aren't coming!

"Just because you can charge them more .. doesn't mean you should."

"Tickets used to be underpriced .. Now they're overpriced
The wait list is long gone. The department has been sending wave after wave of emails to former ticket holders,
retired faculty members and even rival fans to assure them, "The deadline has been extended!"
Beg your former customers to come back five times, and you don't have a deadline, and you don't have a wait list.
This fall Michigan is in danger of breaking its string of 251 consecutive games with 100,000-plus paid attendance..
"If you treat your fans like customers long enough, eventually they'll start behaving that way,
reducing their irrational love for their team to a cool-headed, dollars-and-cents decision to buy tickets or not.."

[Buesch N Chips]

Why anyone would pay an inflated maintenance fee is beyond my comprehension. Also, I have heard bradley is now requiring a doctor's note to purchase handicapped seat season tickets.

[Da Coach]

Why anyone would pay an inflated maintenance fee is beyond my comprehension. Also, I have heard bradley is now requiring a doctor's note to purchase handicapped seat season tickets.

I think many of them have renewed despite all that, just because of the incredible loyalty Bradley has enjoyed from its fans. But I am afraid BU is just about to squander all that loyalty and dedication from fans. I have talked to quite a few these past couple months who are not renewing. Many of them are fans who have not missed a year for many decades.