As many of you recall last year football tickets single game were raised on a modest level after many years of no increases.

This year the price has been raised 33% for single game tickets from $15 to $20 per game. There are no longer any discounts for ordering tickets ahead of time. Yes I know its a far cry from MSU or U of M ticket prices but we're now getting away from EMU football being family friendly pricing. And what are we getting for these increased prices? Better product on the field? Better facilities? I don't know many people who get a 33% increase in their paychecks annually.

Outside of EMU students the next target audience is high school students who may attend EMU. Apparently they are now expected to fork over $20 which is a bit steep for many high school students. It also makes taking high school family members to games much more expensive. We will not be taking our high school junior to the games this year. Maybe hoops depending on the ticket pricing. I would HIGHLY recommend the EMU administration extend youth pricing to all high school students attending EMU sporting events upon showing a valid current high school ID card at time of ticket purchase.

On the plus side they didn't raise season ticket prices and added an additional game. Therefore I purchased two one for the wife and one for me.

Hopefully they don't increase ticket prices 33% for men's basketball, plenty of empty seats at the Convo to be filled at current ticket prices. Ditto football.

It is Division I football, I feel it is fairly priced. The bigger concern is that there is not one sure victory on the entire schedule. There is a good chance that EMU will be an underdog in every single game...which means that it would take an upset for Eastern to win a game this year. Gonna be tough.

I have to admit that I was shocked last year when they raised ticket prices; not because the price is too high but it's hard to imagine raising prices when the team has struggled for so long. That being said, I think that with the youth prices being $8.00, and adults $20.00, a family of four (two parents, two kids) going to a division one football game for under $60.00 is still a good deal. However, I think A.D. Lyke has maxed out just how far she can raise tickets; we EMU fans may be a solemn dedicated few, but there are limits to how much we will pay until EMU produces a winner. Just like everyone on this board I have other hobbies and interests that could just as easily fill a few hours on a Saturday, and with ESPN3 and the radio, still follow all the games.

On a totally separate note, and one I've mentioned before but is a continuing theme around EMU athletics; I can't believe the media or just the fan base in general hasn't picked up on the dysfunction going on within the athletic department. Having several friends still working within the University and Athletic department, I'm shocked to hear of the vitriol and hatred toward A.D. Lyke, she is described as a tyrant with a short temper and mean streak. Obviously, she hasn't been afraid to fire coaches (not always a bad thing) but her reputation around the inner circles of the University is not winning any friends and she at some point is going to burn to many bridges . She is going all in with her behavior, if it works out she will be in line for a job at a big time University, if she fails she going to end up as the assistant director of athletics in charge of ncaa compliance at a division 3 women's college.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun summer, looking forward to the fall and EMU football. God bless!

Dear Bob,
As far as the schedule goes, I think Eastern has a chance to win three of the four non-conference games ,and maybe a couple of MAC games. Eastern has always had trouble stopping Army's option, but we did win at Eastern a few years back. I think Wyoming and Old Dominion will have new quarterbacks, and that may cause them to have problems early in the season. We may very well be underdogs in most of our games, but if we win some of them, that may change.

(05-31-2015 09:41 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Bob,
As far as the schedule goes, I think Eastern has a chance to win three of the four non-conference games ,and maybe a couple of MAC games. Eastern has always had trouble stopping Army's option, but we did win at Eastern a few years back. I think Wyoming and Old Dominion will have new quarterbacks, and that may cause them to have problems early in the season. We may very well be underdogs in most of our games, but if we win some of them, that may change.

Ken, beating Wyoming on the road will be next to impossible. I just read a major publication stating that they expect them to "go Bohling" this year. Looks like coach Bohl has got their program pointed in the right direction...Eastern barely beat Morgan State in last year's opener, so ODU will be a much tougher task. The rest of the schedule, every team is predicted to be better than EMU. Best chance for a win...Ball State or Akron at home?

Dear Bob,
Without looking at their record from last year, I think they had a losing season, and now they're going bowling? How is it you think that every other team in the world could have a losing season, and then be ready to challenge the world? If that is your philosophy, then why can't Eastern do the same thing? How is it that Old Dominion, and Wyoming with new quarterbacks are going to be Eastern's greatest challenges?
I really think you should be applying your logic for everybody else, to also include Eastern.

(05-30-2015 07:17 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  It is Division I football, I feel it is fairly priced. The bigger concern is that there is not one sure victory on the entire schedule. There is a good chance that EMU will be an underdog in every single game...which means that it would take an upset for Eastern to win a game this year. Gonna be tough.

In the corporate world Bob I wouldn't recommend a marketing strategy of raising prices 33% for a product that others view as inferior and is struggling with sales (ie attendance) already. I would venture 90% of business in that situation would try a different solution to increase sales rather than a 33% price increase in one year. Rather they would either try to improve the product to merit that type of increase in the future and go with a more modest inflation adjusted price (ie maybe a $1 per ticket) until the product has "earned" a higher price.

I point out that EMU and its alum primarily been a teachers school. The standard of living for many teachers over the past few years has actually declined as teachers face many school district financial problems due to lack of funding, pay more for medical and pension benefits and either take pay cuts or no cost of living increases. Whether you agree with that or not I leave up to you, but it does impact the ability of a significant amount of EMU alumni to either contribute or increase contributions at all to the school. That's the reality. I saw this happen with my own daughter at Lansing Sexton who is and was a bright community involved teacher ( who taught four Div I hoops players by the way) and left high school teaching. She left for financial reasons despite loving being at Sexton.

Its hard to get support from Ypsilanti and surrounding areas when its costs $40 for a father and one child to attend a game. Maybe there should be a discount for City of Ypsi residents.

Youth tickets are $8.00 not $20.00

I should have clarified that I was speaking about one parent and one HIGH school student.

If EMU is going to improve their attendance they will need to connect with students, the Ypsi community and high school students which represents potential future enrollment. EMU sports can be a "gateway" to introduce students to EMU.

(06-01-2015 08:36 PM)emu79 Wrote:  I should have clarified that I was speaking about one parent and one HIGH school student.

If EMU is going to improve their attendance they will need to connect with students, the Ypsi community and high school students which represents potential future enrollment. EMU sports can be a "gateway" to introduce students to EMU.

The home game with WMU should boost attendance.

One thing about the price of goods and services:

If the price of a good or service is too low it has the effect of devaluating the good or service offered.

And when too many tickets are 'dumped' into the market (comps, reduced price, freebies, etc.) customers say, "I paid full cost. That isn't fair."

Curious, how expensive are EMU season tickets? I attended the NIU/EMU game last year and was highly impressed with the stadium and easy access into and out of the parking lot. Rynearson has a larger seating capacity than Huskie Stadium

(06-03-2015 11:27 AM)Policiious Wrote:  Curious, how expensive are EMU season tickets? I attended the NIU/EMU game last year and was highly impressed with the stadium and easy access into and out of the parking lot. Rynearson has a larger seating capacity than Huskie Stadium

http://www.emueagles.com/news/2015/2/3/F...50955.aspx

The one interesting thing I noticed too is that on the seating chart, the side of the stadium opposite the press box is now listed as the "Corporate Suite Area" and the visitors seats are now on the press box side. Just a couple of interesting things I noticed looking at the seating chart.

(06-03-2015 06:24 PM)TheCrumbIsHere Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 11:27 AM)Policiious Wrote:  Curious, how expensive are EMU season tickets? I attended the NIU/EMU game last year and was highly impressed with the stadium and easy access into and out of the parking lot. Rynearson has a larger seating capacity than Huskie Stadium

http://www.emueagles.com/news/2015/2/3/F...50955.aspx

The one interesting thing I noticed too is that on the seating chart, the side of the stadium opposite the press box is now listed as the "Corporate Suite Area" and the visitors seats are now on the press box side. Just a couple of interesting things I noticed looking at the seating chart.

Moving the visitors to section 114?????

Wow, I have no idea what 'Corporate Suite Area' is about!! Do they plan to 'remodel' or do work on the East side stands?????

Unless there is a big, big error, this suggests there is a bigger story here because it looks like those stands will not be used for seating this year.

20 bucks sounds like an excellent deal to this dude! Does that include tailgating or is that a separate thing?

I doubt I'll be able to make the trip up there, but I have a good friend who lives in Ann Arbor so it would be great to watch ODU football and visit him at the same time.

(06-03-2015 08:26 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 06:24 PM)TheCrumbIsHere Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 11:27 AM)Policiious Wrote:  Curious, how expensive are EMU season tickets? I attended the NIU/EMU game last year and was highly impressed with the stadium and easy access into and out of the parking lot. Rynearson has a larger seating capacity than Huskie Stadium

http://www.emueagles.com/news/2015/2/3/F...50955.aspx

The one interesting thing I noticed too is that on the seating chart, the side of the stadium opposite the press box is now listed as the "Corporate Suite Area" and the visitors seats are now on the press box side. Just a couple of interesting things I noticed looking at the seating chart.

Moving the visitors to section 114?????

Wow, I have no idea what 'Corporate Suite Area' is about!! Do they plan to 'remodel' or do work on the East side stands?????

Unless there is a big, big error, this suggests there is a bigger story here because it looks like those stands will not be used for seating this year.

I know NOTHING, but if it were me (and not Heather and Chris):

1). Build a 'suite level' into the East Side Stands.

2). INITIALLY use them as a temporary press box (2016).

3). Demolish the West Side Suites and Press box (after the 2016 season).

4). Rebuild the press box and add suites or loge seating on the West Side (2017).

I assume that EMU would like to have much more suites than now and heaven knows the press box is ancient by current telecomm and television standards...

EMU needs to get into the 2010s... That Press Box was built in the dark ages of electronic media... televised games in the 70s? ESPN? There was no ESPN in the early 70s.

(06-04-2015 10:26 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 08:26 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 06:24 PM)TheCrumbIsHere Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 11:27 AM)Policiious Wrote:  Curious, how expensive are EMU season tickets? I attended the NIU/EMU game last year and was highly impressed with the stadium and easy access into and out of the parking lot. Rynearson has a larger seating capacity than Huskie Stadium

http://www.emueagles.com/news/2015/2/3/F...50955.aspx

The one interesting thing I noticed too is that on the seating chart, the side of the stadium opposite the press box is now listed as the "Corporate Suite Area" and the visitors seats are now on the press box side. Just a couple of interesting things I noticed looking at the seating chart.

Moving the visitors to section 114?????

Wow, I have no idea what 'Corporate Suite Area' is about!! Do they plan to 'remodel' or do work on the East side stands?????

Unless there is a big, big error, this suggests there is a bigger story here because it looks like those stands will not be used for seating this year.

I know NOTHING, but if it were me (and not Heather and Chris):

1). Build a 'suite level' into the East Side Stands.

2). INITIALLY use them as a temporary press box (2016).

3). Demolish the West Side Suites and Press box (after the 2016 season).

4). Rebuild the press box and add suites or loge seating on the West Side (2017).

I assume that EMU would like to have much more suites than now and heaven knows the press box is ancient by current telecomm and television standards...

EMU needs to get into the 2010s... That Press Box was built in the dark ages of electronic media... televised games in the 70s? ESPN? There was no ESPN in the early 70s.

Just to let you know the interim president hates the athletic department and even the rec/im. The rec /im was scheduled for 4.5 million dollars refit mostly with donated money and she canceled it. She also canceled all new money for the athletic department.

They started doing some of the outside work in the park, sidewalks, steps but once she officially in office she canceled all the work orders and the physical plant changered the rec/im for all the work done so far.

Where did you hear that, Super? Martin is still in office until July. I've personally seen Schatzel at basketball games, and she somewhat frequently tweets/retweets about athletics on her Twitter account. Not exactly what I'd expect from someone who 'hates the athletic department.' Also, I don't think the interim president can just "cancel" money that's already been allocated by the Board of Regents.

In any case, she's only the interim president. She won't be appointed full-time.