Per the OU @ TU game...
I have whatever they now call tier 2 season tickets (I think it is Gold?). Not in a box, not in a suite, and on the 50 yard line on the east side. Platinum is on the 50 on the west (press box/home) sideline. At TU the loge/suite seating is heinously expensive because they are occupied by big names and/or companies that want to entertain (but generally aren't big TU fans), if you don't have $100 million+, you probably aren't in there. [probably the same in any metro area with one football team]
Anyway, my ticket to the game had a face value of $75. The value for the Platinum ticket was $90. If I add all the season ticket face values up, I do get the cost of my season tickets.
- - -
On attendance, Tulsa is in a tough spot on attendance. Here is what people need to understand about Tulsa:
We have 4000 students, and that includes 1000 graduate students (who generally don't adopt their grad school's athletics teams). So we have 3000 undergrad students who are potential fans.
1/3 of those are out of state - when they graduate, they generally leave the area.
1/3 are international students. They almost always leave the area eventually. Many don't care about "American football" at all. They may come a time or two out of curiosity, but they are not helpful in building a fan base.
1/3 are from Oklahoma. Many grew up OSU or OU fans. Some stay OU or OSU fans.
Realistically, in any given year Tulsa graduates may 1000 kids that will stay within ~5 hours of Tulsa and have the potential of being long term fans. I think that number is probably high. And that is a huge setback in getting butts in the seats.
Also, within four hours of Tulsa we have OU, OSU, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU, North Texas, SMU, Arkansas State, Missouri State, probably a couple other smaller football options. Drawing "casual" fans is difficult when the odds are they can drive to their favorite team in short order.
Many, maybe even most of our season ticket holders are fans of other colleges. They love college football. Going to a game is fun, and TU is a good value. HOWEVER, the season ticket holders near me where split between blue and that awful crimson color this weekend. OU is their team, but they hold season tickets to the local team. Still others sold the ticket for above face value well before the game, when season tickets cost $300 and you can sell on for $150 for a game that will likely be a blowout... it can be tempting to a casual fan.
Hence, the red/purple/blue stadium when we play OU. It isn't as bad, but still difficult when we play OSU.
- - - -
I know other places have troubles too. Competing local colleges. NFL competition. Beaches. Just trying to illustrate our struggles. I think a couple colleges in the AAC have frats with as many members as our freshman class. :)
PS. Winning helps