Delaware Blue Hens: As seat fees loom, UD crowds shrink

[BDKJMU]

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/2 ... -1/RSS1205" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So after 44 straight games over 20k, now 4 straight games under 20k. Whats going on UD?

[State Line Liquors]

economy
1 meaningful conference home game (ty hofstra, NE & Tom Yeager) and 1 meaningful OOC home game
lack of consistency in results
displeasure with new 'donation' policy
stubborn old people
lack of customer service


read more in every 2nd or 3rd thread at http://www.gohens.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[93henfan]

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/2 ... -1/RSS1205

So after 44 straight games over 20k, now 4 straight games under 20k. Whats going on UD?

You did read the title you cut and pasted, no?

But yeah, State Line pretty much nailed all the salient points. UD's athletic department was on cruise control for, oh, about 40 years and finally, after some other programs have neared UD in terms of success and facilities, they've gotten the message that they need to move into the 21st century. Getting back into the playoffs and moving back on top in facilities will bring the crowds back.

[HensRock]

Getting back into the playoffs and moving back on top in facilities will bring the crowds back.

But inbstead, the UD Administration seems more intrerested in fleecing the season ticket holder sheep.

[grizzaholic]

Getting back into the playoffs and moving back on top in facilities will bring the crowds back.

But inbstead, the UD Administration seems more intrerested in fleecing the season ticket holder sheep.

So basically what happens in Montana each year.

[State Line Liquors]

Getting back into the playoffs and moving back on top in facilities will bring the crowds back.

But inbstead, the UD Administration seems more intrerested in fleecing the season ticket holder sheep.

you're not a season ticket holder?

[jd of de]

Getting back into the playoffs and moving back on top in facilities will bring the crowds back.

But inbstead, the UD Administration seems more intrerested in fleecing the season ticket holder sheep.

Single game sideline tickets (Excluding sections D & K) are $27/ticket and general parking is $15/game. A couple attending one game pays $69. My 2 season tickets, parking (Section J & Gold Champions) and mandatory UDAF donation bring my per game cost to $83, The extra $14 is change to long time ticket holders, but it sure can't be considered fleecing. And next years seat fees will add $8 a game to my pair of tickets TOTAL.

Lets hear from the masses; App State, JMU, Montana. 2-tickets, parking and mandatory Athletic Dept donations. $42-$46 a seat, per game sound out of line for 40 yard line seats?

[00bluehen]

Getting back into the playoffs and moving back on top in facilities will bring the crowds back.

But inbstead, the UD Administration seems more intrerested in fleecing the season ticket holder sheep.

Don't talk like you're one of the "basher brigade" on GoHens. You're not. I doubt you'd even like to be.

I am a season ticket holder. I donate. I demand performance. I don't feel like a sheep when I can email a very personable AD who understands my concerns. If you don't want to pay, that is your decision, and I don't think you/they have to label me a sheep because I do.

...uh, unless your comment's tongue-in-cheek, which I'm realizing it may be

[houndawg]

You have to pay to park?

[93henfan]

You have to pay to park?

Yep. For reserved parking, the entry level is $250 ($150 plus $100 required donation) for an average of $35.71/game (7 home games this year). There is no additional fee for the playoffs, so three home games could bring the average down to $25/game. There are also single game general admission lots for $15 if you want to pay as you go, but those are a sizable hike from the stadium.

[State Line Liquors]

The new ticket policy is certainly testing the boundaries of what a UD fan is willing to pay, given economic difficulties, recent failures on the field, and an aging fan base.

1) Putting good football on the field is the easiest way to get people to attend games and spend money. Winning games being part A. Offering an appealing matchup that fans want to see is part B. The home schedule this season was mostly out of the current admin's power from a schedule standpoint, but it sure is a pretty boring offering. Delaware football has been, is currently, and will always be about the FOOTBALL, not these donation policies.

2)They may need to scale back their ticket plan some (I.E. limiting the seat donations to fewer sections). D & K are prime seating, so I can understand the desire to price those up some. But requiring the seat donation in basically every section besides the NEZ, is overshooting IMO. Those who do pay the money expect to be treated to outstanding customer service. My understanding is that the UR away tickets were not even in the hands of those who they'd been awarded to until this past Saturday. The ticketing and service staff seems in over their heads. Service, without question has been a problem. Find people who can efficiently run the ticket office either through hire or outsource.

3) A third item that could reinvigorate some of those sitting on the fence would be firm plans about stadium renovations. I recognize that they're looking for more money from fans to help offset the costs of a new facility, but the University does have the ability to create a fundable debt offering that could pay for the project itself. The University may not have the dollars in cash right now to do it all by itself, but they do have the financial stability to offer an interest bearing bond, at a competitive market rate of interest (historically low right now), that they could use to improve the facility.

Referring to those who open up their wallets as 'sheep' is a remarkably simplistic and frankly ignorant comment.

[89Hen]

There are also single game general admission lots for $15 if you want to pay as you go, but those are a sizable hike from the stadium.

Not true... at least as long as we keep getting less than 20k. We pulled in at 5:10 on Saturday and parked in the lot next to the baseball field. Basically 200 yards from the NEZ entrance. You can't name many 20k venues where you can park GA that close to the stadium/arena less than an hour from gametime.

[89Hen]

BTW, while the East side may have had a lot of empty seats, the West side was pretty full and the NEZ was the most crowded I've seen it since the DelSt playoff game.

Student attendance is way down. Duquesne brought all of 100 fans. So it's not just economy.

[93henfan]

There are also single game general admission lots for $15 if you want to pay as you go, but those are a sizable hike from the stadium.

Not true... at least as long as we keep getting less than 20k. We pulled in at 5:10 on Saturday and parked in the lot next to the baseball field. Basically 200 yards from the NEZ entrance. You can't name many 20k venues where you can park GA that close to the stadium/arena less than an hour from gametime.

Well, no offense, but I wouldn't sit in the NEZ. I love the convenience of the gold lot. I get there when the lot opens, take my pick of a space, relax for a few hours with a cool beverage and some grilled delicacies, enjoy the game, and then make a left turn on 896 and I'm home in under an hour. I'm 3 for 3 on green lights leaving the lot so far this year!

[mcveyrl]

Not true... at least as long as we keep getting less than 20k. We pulled in at 5:10 on Saturday and parked in the lot next to the baseball field. Basically 200 yards from the NEZ entrance. You can't name many 20k venues where you can park GA that close to the stadium/arena less than an hour from gametime.

Well, no offense, but I wouldn't sit in the NEZ. I love the convenience of the gold lot. I get there when the lot opens, take my pick of a space, relax for a few hours with a cool beverage and some grilled delicacies, enjoy the game, and then make a left turn on 896 and I'm home in under an hour. I'm 3 for 3 on green lights leaving the lot so far this year!

Jinxed.

[89Hen]

Well, no offense, but I wouldn't sit in the NEZ. I love the convenience of the gold lot. I get there when the lot opens, take my pick of a space, relax for a few hours with a cool beverage and some grilled delicacies, enjoy the game, and then make a left turn on 896 and I'm home in under an hour. I'm 3 for 3 on green lights leaving the lot so far this year!

The point is, parking at UD is a dream compared to just about any other sporting venue I've been to with 20k +/-.

I would love to get to the games a few hours ahead of time, but Saturday schedules rarely allow for that.

[89Hen]

I'm 3 for 3 on green lights leaving the lot so far this year!

Jinxed.

I'll go ahead and jinx myself too. We pulled out onto 4 and nailed the light at 896 too. Our trip up was 1:35 (100 miles) from driveway to paying the parking guy. Home was 1:45 because I usually go a little slower that late.