http://northernstar.info/sports/article_...f6878.html

What does everyone think?

(10-02-2014 02:55 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  http://northernstar.info/sports/article_...f6878.html

What does everyone think?

Was just going to post this lol. I think it is concerning but the future games should increase season tickets in the future.

Three Saturday home games, all on back to back to back weekends will do that.

20%...thats a Huge drop, even if the absolute numbers are not that big.

try season ticket prices too. there isn't enough demand to justify $110. obviously the masses are not biting at that price point.

and to those that say, "BUT ITS A GREAT VALUE!!"....obviously it is not judging by the results. people also don't buy 1 ticket at a time....they'll buy 2-4 tickets at a time for any kind of tickets. that makes season tix range from $220-$440...a tough pill to swallow

I expected a bit larger of a drop off than that, but the dropoff is understandable given just the horrendous, extremely non-fan friendly schedule this year. Hopefully its the last time we see this type of schedule for awhile. The price is not the issue here, its the quality of the product. You would have very minimal spikes in sales if you sold season tickets at 60 dollars because the product this year has so little value to fans.

We don't sell out most of the time so for most it's just easier to buy single-game tickets. With the crappy scheduling, I'm not surprised. Still disappointing but I'm more concerned about overall attendance that season ticket-holders.

(10-02-2014 03:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  try season ticket prices too. there isn't enough demand to justify $110. obviously the masses are not biting at that price point.

and to those that say, "BUT ITS A GREAT VALUE!!"....obviously it is not judging by the results. people also don't buy 1 ticket at a time....they'll buy 2-4 tickets at a time for any kind of tickets. that makes season tix range from $220-$440...a tough pill to swallow

But those same people won't hesitate to spend a couple hundred dollars or more on a nice dinner. It comes down to what the potential buyer values more. It's Athletics' job to change people's mindset so that they place greater value and importance on buying season tickets. It will happen, but baby steps first.

As I've said before, increasing the season ticket base is SF's biggest challenge.

Only 3353 sold after winning 46 games the last 4 years? That is hard to believe.

(10-02-2014 03:19 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(10-02-2014 03:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  try season ticket prices too. there isn't enough demand to justify $110. obviously the masses are not biting at that price point.

and to those that say, "BUT ITS A GREAT VALUE!!"....obviously it is not judging by the results. people also don't buy 1 ticket at a time....they'll buy 2-4 tickets at a time for any kind of tickets. that makes season tix range from $220-$440...a tough pill to swallow

But those same people won't hesitate to spend a couple hundred dollars or more on a nice dinner. It comes down to what the potential buyer values more. It's Athletics' job to change people's mindset so that they place greater value and importance on buying season tickets. It will happen, but baby steps first.

totally agreed. the concept is simple...the execution will be/is difficult

(10-02-2014 03:23 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  As I've said before, increasing the season ticket base is SF's biggest challenge.

Only 3353 sold after winning 46 games the last 4 years? That is hard to believe.

Bingo, SF has to get butts in the seats period. He is off to a good start with the scheduling, unfortunately NIU wont see that positive effect for another couple of years.

(10-02-2014 03:23 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  As I've said before, increasing the season ticket base is SF's biggest challenge.

Only 3353 sold after winning 46 games the last 4 years? That is hard to believe.

Yea, that is hard to believe. At least for those that believe you just gotta win and people will show up. I suppose that's true, but only up to a point. I guess part of the problem is that the best weather occurs in September and NIU is almost always playing on the road, unless they're at home against an FCS team which is not going to draw (except for the occasional games against Illinois FCS teams). And even in October a couple of the games end up on a weeknight. It makes it difficult to justify getting the season ticket.

If we start bringing in better teams and we still don't draw, I'll be more worried.

Also, the notion that a bad home schedule is the reason for poor season ticket sales and poor single game attendance doesn't hold water.

Ohio U. has been a better than average MAC program, but not definitely not on our level. For their home opener against Idaho, they drew 25,027. For their next home game against Eastern Illinois, they drew 23,211.

(10-02-2014 03:36 PM)HuskieFanatic Wrote:  Bingo, SF has to get butts in the seats period. He is off to a good start with the scheduling, unfortunately NIU wont see that positive effect for another couple of years.

Not only was our OOC schedule brutal this year but the MAC handed us a steaming pile of schedule dog **** as well. NIU will announce the facility plan at some point and then they will have time to market the new schedule, game day improvements, etc. Assuming we are reasonably successful in MAC/post season play this year I think that number has to increase substantially starting as soon as next year.

(10-02-2014 03:09 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  20%...thats a Huge drop, even if the absolute numbers are not that big.

however, i understand the revenues are up nicely. This will correct next season with better and more even schedules.

The schedule is by far the reason here. The actual days (Thursday night then 3 Sat in a row) more so than the opponent.

I wonder if a Friday night game would be better for traveling alums.

(10-02-2014 03:15 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I expected a bit larger of a drop off than that, but the dropoff is understandable given just the horrendous, extremely non-fan friendly schedule this year. Hopefully its the last time we see this type of schedule for awhile. The price is not the issue here, its the quality of the product. You would have very minimal spikes in sales if you sold season tickets at 60 dollars because the product this year has so little value to fans.

I, shudder, have to agree with MD, not to get into the quality on of the non con games as that has been discussed ad nauseum, but the last 2 years schedules have been very uneven and this year not playing at home for 6 weeks and not in sept and 3 in a row at home hurts. Lets not discuss it because it is being corrected. I do disagree the the comment "the product has so little value to the fans" is a real slap to the players and coaches and everyone who is a fan. MD it is no value to you and only you. I have valued this product for over 45 seasons

(10-02-2014 03:18 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  We don't sell out most of the time so for most it's just easier to buy single-game tickets. With the crappy scheduling, I'm not surprised. Still disappointing but I'm more concerned about overall attendance that season ticket-holders.

Well said, 007. On the whole, fewer and fewer advance tickets sold for plays, concerts etc. We live in a walk-up society.

(10-02-2014 04:03 PM)beachboy Wrote:  

(10-02-2014 03:18 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  We don't sell out most of the time so for most it's just easier to buy single-game tickets. With the crappy scheduling, I'm not surprised. Still disappointing but I'm more concerned about overall attendance that season ticket-holders.

Well said, 007. On the whole, fewer and fewer advance tickets sold for plays, concerts etc. We live in a walk-up society.

What happens if game day ticket prices were $5-$10 more.

(10-02-2014 03:47 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  Also, the notion that a bad home schedule is the reason for poor season ticket sales and poor single game attendance doesn't hold water.

Ohio U. has been a better than average MAC program, but not definitely not on our level. For their home opener against Idaho, they drew 25,027. For their next home game against Eastern Illinois, they drew 23,211.

What does OHIO U usually pull in for better opponents?