(07-30-2013 07:28 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  so perhaps the best question to ask now (to JMU regulars on this board) what strikes you as a fair price for JMU-FBS season tickets?

I think we can expect eventual cheapest seat prices of $120, but it also has to do with demand. Ga State and Ga Southern aren't always selling out, so they're not as high. ODU and ASU are always selling out and thus high prices. UMass is the only one that stands out as overpriced for the fan demand level.

(07-30-2013 07:36 PM)brizzock Wrote:  Are we responding to that question for all pricing levels?

I'm in chairback seats, so I'll answer for that price level. It's $270 now, and I would expect an increase of up to 50% (around $400/seat).

Would you think that size increase (50%) might also apply to all other seats?

I think that you will see very much what you've seen ever since we've had football at JMU. There has been a very steady increase. Some years, nothing, and others a little, as to not totally send the fan into shock. We've had a steady increase in the fan experience that has coincided with the cost. I see nothing any different than the path we've been on, hence, an immediate 50% increase will not go over well, but a little bump each year or two, is to be expected.

Furthermore, I think you have to look at it a little different than the simply price to charge of one seat. Its all about reaching a projected revenue number and the matrix to get to that number will be evaluated each year. Some years the family plan price may go up and in other years, the chair back seats will increase. To simply raise all tickets a specific percentage is rarely a good solution.

Finally, they must keep increasing the fan experience in order to keep a steady demand for the product. This is the number one reason we will be FBS soon.

JMU Nation,
I would recommend the following pricing for division 1-A tackle football season tickets...
2013 ECU Season Ticket Prices:
Pirate Club Chairback - $300
Pirate Club Priority - $275
ECU Faculty/Staff - $220 in Pirate Club Priority sections
Economy Plan - $200
Economy Plan Plus - $150
Young Graduate - $150 (offer for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 graduates)

Of course, this would include a challenging out of conference home schedule to include ACC and SEC teams much like we do here in Greenville, NC.
If you continue with weak out of conference competition, then the prices should remain where they are now.
your buddy,
Terry Holland

IF JMU decides to pursue FBS, you will see a slight rise in ticket prices no matter what. Demand will be higher and the minimum donation amount will likely increase (although not by that much). I honestly think that the Duke Club will explode with donations (at least for the first few seasons). It really seems that so many alums...and this is just in my personal experience...are so close to being fully invested in the athletic department if we shed that 'small time' stigma of 1A.

A previous poster made a good point about fans probably not being too thrilled about playing the likes of North Texas, Florida Directional and Tulane, but there will be numerous games per season that will pique the interest of the casual fan. No matter where we end up, I imagine a home game with ODU will happen and there will always likely be some rotation of Georgia Southern, App State and Charlotte with the occasional home game against an BCS school. If JMU moves to the FBS, you will see AT LEAST one of the following visit BFS within the first three seasons, guranteed:
UVA
WVU
Maryland
NC State
Navy
Duke
North Carolina
Cincinnati
Lousiville

Just re-classifying ourselves will pay huge dividends.

(07-30-2013 07:41 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 07:36 PM)brizzock Wrote:  Are we responding to that question for all pricing levels?

I'm in chairback seats, so I'll answer for that price level. It's $270 now, and I would expect an increase of up to 50% (around $400/seat).

Would you think that size increase (50%) might also apply to all other seats?

I think better seats would be sold at a higher premium. I think that club seats and chairbacks would see gradual increases up to 50%.

Maybe gradual increases up to 25% for less expensive tiers, and 15%-20% for family plans?

People will pay for premium seats, and we would still want to keep football as a family friendly event.

(07-30-2013 03:52 PM)JMUDukes20 Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 01:53 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  Has anyone done a study of what the season ticket prices are for MAC, SBC and CUSA teams? Or anybody have an educated guess what JMU's season ticket cost and booster contribution will be if (or when) JMU moves?

I looked around today. This is my rough comparisons of the prices.
1. JMU season ticket prices are pretty much in the same neighborhood with all the schools in the Sun Belt and CUSA, and is equal to or higher than all the teams in the MAC. A couple MAC schools have $50 season tickets.
2. JMU club seats are just about the most expensive ones out there(UTSA and Akron are higher), and they are sold out!
3. The donation numbers at JMU are a little lower($50 to $100 in most cases) or equal to everyone else as well.

That is only looking at football season tickets, no parking information included or other sports like basketball.

"don't bring those kind of rational concerns about FBS around here!"

The ticket prices honestly don't matter that much to me. It's not like there's no limit to the price I'm willing to pay, but realistically, JMU football tickets are not going to escalate to a point that would impact my purchasing decision. In an extreme scenario where JMU ticket prices escalate to VT prices, I would still be fine with paying. I say that because in order for prices to escalate to that degree, we would likely have to do incredible things on the field. It's not like ticket prices would inexplicably skyrocket.

A better product will increase demand. Increased demand will push ticket prices upward. I'm fine with paying market-based prices.

Everything Longhorn mentioned is theoretically a concern, but I have total faith in JMU and our fans to be able to come through and show up to anything and everything if we are FBS.

If we can get 22K to show up in a season that features St. Francis and ALcorn State in consecutive weeks as well as Georgia State and ODU during the weekend before Thanksgiving, I think we can sustain an acceptable attendance for any FBS schedule.

(07-30-2013 07:28 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 06:46 PM)rufus Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 01:53 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  Are JMU fans ready for a hefty increase from the current $20 a ticket ($120 total for 6 games), and a $125 Duke Club contribution to support FBS FB? Right now JMU season tickets cost a minimum of $245 (for a 6 game package).

Sigh. Let's think back to econ 101. Ticket prices could rise for one of two reasons.

1) Demand increases while ticket supply stays fixed. In response, the admin would probably raise prices back to an equilibrium price to maximize revenue. So would JMU fans be ready in this scenario? Well, yes. In fact, the strong demand is actually what has driven up prices.

2) The admin arbitrarily sets ticket prices above the equilibrium price. In this scenario, quantity demanded (not demand) would fall, we would likely see flat or declining revenue, and we would be left with a surplus of tickets. The volume of empty seats could in turn negatively impact the game day experience, thus decreasing the demand and creating something of a downward spiral.

I may not be the most vocal supporter of the admin, but I can't see them arbitrarily raising ticket prices without an increase in demand.

Whatever rationale is used to dissect it, I think (if JMU moves to FBS level play) Duke fans can expect to pay more for their tickets. How much more? How quickly will the prices rise? How many JMU fans will pay the higher prices? Those are the unknowns...part of what I would think a good consultant's report might address.My point in starting this thread is not to spin what will happen in any particular direction, or how our fan base will respond. Yet, higher prices will be part of any move up it seems...so perhaps the best question to ask now (to JMU regulars on this board) what strikes you as a fair price for JMU-FBS season tickets?

I agree, but unless everyone here has been tight lipped, Carr is not contacting our ticket holders to survey on this.

Personally, I would expect over a 4 year period from the moment we declare that our ticket prices would be close to the top of C-USA. I would like to think our fans are realistic and would be willing to pony up in an effort to help get attractive OOC opponents.

(07-30-2013 09:40 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 07:28 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 06:46 PM)rufus Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 01:53 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  Are JMU fans ready for a hefty increase from the current $20 a ticket ($120 total for 6 games), and a $125 Duke Club contribution to support FBS FB? Right now JMU season tickets cost a minimum of $245 (for a 6 game package).

Sigh. Let's think back to econ 101. Ticket prices could rise for one of two reasons.

1) Demand increases while ticket supply stays fixed. In response, the admin would probably raise prices back to an equilibrium price to maximize revenue. So would JMU fans be ready in this scenario? Well, yes. In fact, the strong demand is actually what has driven up prices.

2) The admin arbitrarily sets ticket prices above the equilibrium price. In this scenario, quantity demanded (not demand) would fall, we would likely see flat or declining revenue, and we would be left with a surplus of tickets. The volume of empty seats could in turn negatively impact the game day experience, thus decreasing the demand and creating something of a downward spiral.

I may not be the most vocal supporter of the admin, but I can't see them arbitrarily raising ticket prices without an increase in demand.

Whatever rationale is used to dissect it, I think (if JMU moves to FBS level play) Duke fans can expect to pay more for their tickets. How much more? How quickly will the prices rise? How many JMU fans will pay the higher prices? Those are the unknowns...part of what I would think a good consultant's report might address.My point in starting this thread is not to spin what will happen in any particular direction, or how our fan base will respond. Yet, higher prices will be part of any move up it seems...so perhaps the best question to ask now (to JMU regulars on this board) what strikes you as a fair price for JMU-FBS season tickets?

I agree, but unless everyone here has been tight lipped, Carr is not contacting our ticket holders to survey on this.

Personally, I would expect over a 4 year period from the moment we declare that our ticket prices would be close to the top of C-USA. I would like to think our fans are realistic and would be willing to pony up in an effort to help get attractive OOC opponents.

Honest question...do you feel, with 100% confidence, that we will seek the highest quality OOC opponents to play at BFS. I'm struggling to jump on board with believing this will happen. What will make JB and company, with a MM influence, change from current philosophy? I want the ECU model as much as the next guy, but I am having to take a wait and see approach. I'm very much concerned that we'll have a lot of GA State types that we will have home and home agreements with. Hope I'm proven wrong...

Mickey Matthews will not be our coach for long if we go FBS. Coaches rarely stay with a team before/during/after the transition.

(07-31-2013 09:36 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 09:40 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 07:28 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 06:46 PM)rufus Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 01:53 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  Are JMU fans ready for a hefty increase from the current $20 a ticket ($120 total for 6 games), and a $125 Duke Club contribution to support FBS FB? Right now JMU season tickets cost a minimum of $245 (for a 6 game package).

Sigh. Let's think back to econ 101. Ticket prices could rise for one of two reasons.

1) Demand increases while ticket supply stays fixed. In response, the admin would probably raise prices back to an equilibrium price to maximize revenue. So would JMU fans be ready in this scenario? Well, yes. In fact, the strong demand is actually what has driven up prices.

2) The admin arbitrarily sets ticket prices above the equilibrium price. In this scenario, quantity demanded (not demand) would fall, we would likely see flat or declining revenue, and we would be left with a surplus of tickets. The volume of empty seats could in turn negatively impact the game day experience, thus decreasing the demand and creating something of a downward spiral.

I may not be the most vocal supporter of the admin, but I can't see them arbitrarily raising ticket prices without an increase in demand.

Whatever rationale is used to dissect it, I think (if JMU moves to FBS level play) Duke fans can expect to pay more for their tickets. How much more? How quickly will the prices rise? How many JMU fans will pay the higher prices? Those are the unknowns...part of what I would think a good consultant's report might address.My point in starting this thread is not to spin what will happen in any particular direction, or how our fan base will respond. Yet, higher prices will be part of any move up it seems...so perhaps the best question to ask now (to JMU regulars on this board) what strikes you as a fair price for JMU-FBS season tickets?

I agree, but unless everyone here has been tight lipped, Carr is not contacting our ticket holders to survey on this.

Personally, I would expect over a 4 year period from the moment we declare that our ticket prices would be close to the top of C-USA. I would like to think our fans are realistic and would be willing to pony up in an effort to help get attractive OOC opponents.

Honest question...do you feel, with 100% confidence, that we will seek the highest quality OOC opponents to play at BFS. I'm struggling to jump on board with believing this will happen. What will make JB and company, with a MM influence, change from current philosophy? I want the ECU model as much as the next guy, but I am having to take a wait and see approach. I'm very much concerned that we'll have a lot of GA State types that we will have home and home agreements with. Hope I'm proven wrong...

I can't say for certain. After all, there is a certain mom & pop culture in our Athletic Department. But given that only a couple of teams ( no matter what conference we join) will interest most fans, good OOC scheduling is important. It's especially critical now that most of the G5 bowl tie-ins are games amongst themselves and thus not of great interest. The whole bowl matchup/ tie-ins makes me want to puke.

(07-31-2013 09:36 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  Honest question...do you feel, with 100% confidence, that we will seek the highest quality OOC opponents to play at BFS. I'm struggling to jump on board with believing this will happen. What will make JB and company, with a MM influence, change from current philosophy? I want the ECU model as much as the next guy, but I am having to take a wait and see approach. I'm very much concerned that we'll have a lot of GA State types that we will have home and home agreements with. Hope I'm proven wrong...

Moving up invalidates the strategy of scheduling for the playoffs to a great degree. Therefore the real excitement/income ops for us will be our OOC games especially at home. You can't move up and be successful if the strategy remains the same. The first significant OOC opponent will reinforce the new strategy if demand is as high as we all believe. Thereafter BFS will be expanded and the new strategy refined as we book better and better OOC opponents.

I suspect that recruiting is ramped up in anticipation of a move and that our FB staff will be prepared to expand the number of scholarships offered within a moments notice. Despite all the moaning and groaning about our admin, I am confident that significant and detailed work is and has been being performed which will become evident over the next several months.

Enjoy the ride.

(08-02-2013 07:45 AM)AllForDukes Wrote:  

(07-31-2013 09:36 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  Honest question...do you feel, with 100% confidence, that we will seek the highest quality OOC opponents to play at BFS. I'm struggling to jump on board with believing this will happen. What will make JB and company, with a MM influence, change from current philosophy? I want the ECU model as much as the next guy, but I am having to take a wait and see approach. I'm very much concerned that we'll have a lot of GA State types that we will have home and home agreements with. Hope I'm proven wrong...

Moving up invalidates the strategy of scheduling for the playoffs to a great degree. Therefore the real excitement/income ops for us will be our OOC games especially at home. You can't move up and be successful if the strategy remains the same. The first significant OOC opponent will reinforce the new strategy if demand is as high as we all believe. Thereafter BFS will be expanded and the new strategy refined as we book better and better OOC opponents.

I suspect that recruiting is ramped up in anticipation of a move and that our FB staff will be prepared to expand the number of scholarships offered within a moments notice. Despite all the moaning and groaning about our admin, I am confident that significant and detailed work is and has been being performed which will become evident over the next several months.

Enjoy the ride.

If JMU Nation can't sell out a home game against ODU, where there was a revenge factor and a potential playoff spot on the line, I don't see the fans wetting their collective FB pants for a chance to play Duke or whatever other bottom-feeding FCS team JMU can sign to play at the current BFS. Attendance for the ODU game (some 18k+) did exceed the attendance for the game against ASU, but it was still very disappointing to witness. And pullleeesseee...don't come back with excuses that the ODU game was cold, or close to Thanksgiving and students weren't on campus.

I'm not dismissing the fact FCS may well be in JMU's future...and I hope it helps generate even greater interest in JMU and JMU FB, but I just don't see low-level FCS FB as a magic pill that will somehow generate increased attendance and an even better game-day atmosphere (which is already pretty darn special) at BFS. Only one thing will do it, and that's winning.

(08-02-2013 07:58 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  If JMU Nation can't sell out a home game against ODU, where there was a revenge factor and a potential playoff spot on the line, I don't see the fans wetting their collective FB pants for a chance to play Duke or whatever other bottom-feeding FCS team JMU can sign to play at the current BFS. Attendance for the ODU game (some 18k+) did exceed the attendance for the game against ASU, but it was still very disappointing to witness. And pullleeesseee...don't come back with excuses that the ODU game was cold, or close to Thanksgiving and students weren't on campus.

I'm not dismissing the fact FCS may well be in JMU's future...and I hope it helps generate even greater interest in JMU and JMU FB, but I just don't see low-level FCS FB as a magic pill that will somehow generate increased attendance and an even better game-day atmosphere (which is already pretty darn special) at BFS. Only one thing will do it, and that's winning.

1) I'm sorry, but Duke is still a BCS program. I have no doubt that a home game against Duke would still garner more interest than a home game against FCS ODU in November 2012 on Thanksgiving weekend. Don't give their fans the "honor" of being associated with Duke Football. They're still not even close.
2) The officially announced attendance for the ODU game was 23,051. You can argue that you saw 18k butts in seats until the cows come home, but it doesn't take away from the fact that there was 23k reported there. FWIW, just about every other school in the country, ODU included, use tickets sold as their "attendance". So 23k it was then. I watched an FIU home game last season that literally had maybe 100-200 actual fans in the stands, excluding the student band. It said 13,612 persons were in attendance... yeah, if you say so.

(08-02-2013 07:58 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(08-02-2013 07:45 AM)AllForDukes Wrote:  

(07-31-2013 09:36 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  Honest question...do you feel, with 100% confidence, that we will seek the highest quality OOC opponents to play at BFS. I'm struggling to jump on board with believing this will happen. What will make JB and company, with a MM influence, change from current philosophy? I want the ECU model as much as the next guy, but I am having to take a wait and see approach. I'm very much concerned that we'll have a lot of GA State types that we will have home and home agreements with. Hope I'm proven wrong...

Moving up invalidates the strategy of scheduling for the playoffs to a great degree. Therefore the real excitement/income ops for us will be our OOC games especially at home. You can't move up and be successful if the strategy remains the same. The first significant OOC opponent will reinforce the new strategy if demand is as high as we all believe. Thereafter BFS will be expanded and the new strategy refined as we book better and better OOC opponents.

I suspect that recruiting is ramped up in anticipation of a move and that our FB staff will be prepared to expand the number of scholarships offered within a moments notice. Despite all the moaning and groaning about our admin, I am confident that significant and detailed work is and has been being performed which will become evident over the next several months.

Enjoy the ride.

If JMU Nation can't sell out a home game against ODU, where there was a revenge factor and a potential playoff spot on the line, I don't see the fans wetting their collective FB pants for a chance to play Duke or whatever other bottom-feeding FCS team JMU can sign to play at the current BFS. Attendance for the ODU game (some 18k+) did exceed the attendance for the game against ASU, but it was still very disappointing to witness. And pullleeesseee...don't come back with excuses that the ODU game was cold, or close to Thanksgiving and students weren't on campus.

I'm not dismissing the fact FCS may well be in JMU's future...and I hope it helps generate even greater interest in JMU and JMU FB, but I just don't see low-level FCS FB as a magic pill that will somehow generate increased attendance and an even better game-day atmosphere (which is already pretty darn special) at BFS. Only one thing will do it, and that's winning.

Why in the HECK can't we use the fact that our 19,000 students had largely left campus already? We aren't Tech....we need our students to maximize attendance.

And yes, it was close to Thanksgiving, cold, and on national TV. I agree that those factors shouldn't limit attendance MUCH.

Speaking from my own experience....that game was truly representative of the apathy in my tailgate group. It was a night TV game (ended at after 11pm) that required a hotel room or long late night drive. It was cold, so the wives definitely vetoed 2 of my buddies. Those with young kids also opted out. I was out of town at a wedding in the islands. Out of our usual group of b/t 15-20, I think roughly 10 attended. Our tailgate discussions used to be energetic/lively discussions of the future of JMU football. Not nearly so much anymore... We have tons of fun, but the topic has shifted from "Where are we going? This environment is awesome! Look at that stadium!" to "hope we score 17 this weekend. Has the game passed MM by? Man, who is left in the CAA?".

The excitement has waned somewhat in our group. The die hards are still there, but now it is JUST them and not their friends and casual fans. I think that can be traced to a boring O, lukewarm results, and dissatisfaction with our current affiliation.

(08-02-2013 07:58 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  If JMU Nation can't sell out a home game against ODU, where there was a revenge factor and a potential playoff spot on the line, I don't see the fans wetting their collective FB pants for a chance to play Duke or whatever other bottom-feeding FCS team JMU can sign to play at the current BFS. Attendance for the ODU game (some 18k+) did exceed the attendance for the game against ASU, but it was still very disappointing to witness. And pullleeesseee...don't come back with excuses that the ODU game was cold, or close to Thanksgiving and students weren't on campus.

I'm not dismissing the fact FCS may well be in JMU's future...and I hope it helps generate even greater interest in JMU and JMU FB, but I just don't see low-level FCS FB as a magic pill that will somehow generate increased attendance and an even better game-day atmosphere (which is already pretty darn special) at BFS. Only one thing will do it, and that's winning.

I am not discounting winning as a primary motivator. Not at all the direction I was discussing. I expect to win. I also expect a heightened interest and excitement as the opponents coming to BFS improve. Every school has highs and lows in athletics performance. Some less extreme than others. But based on prior performance with FBS teams, I expect our level of play to rise to the occasion. May be some growing pains but not for long. First you have to get the opponents scheduled, then you defeat them, then you continue on your trajectory. Not that complicated and I trust JMU to proceed along the upward path they have been on for the past 40 years.

I think some big time move up to 1A football backers are going to be shocked at attendance decline when we move up! This is a pretty tight bunch when it comes to spending money. A lot of big talkers, but hold the money close to the vest. Hell, they won't even spend a couple of bucks to read the number one source of JMU football news, the DNR.

Ticket prices will double when we move up. So, people who have bought 4 season tickets will cut back to 2. Sad, but true. Sure, there will be some who ramp up their giving. But, it is a numbers game and there are lots of casual fans who buy tickets at today's bargain prices that won't come when tickets jump dramatically. The Law of Unintended Consequences.

So, we are going to need a lot of new people to fill those seats. The opponents we bring to BFS better be names that will draw.

(08-02-2013 08:41 AM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  I think some big time move up to 1A football backers are going to be shocked at attendance decline when we move up! This is a pretty tight bunch when it comes to spending money. A lot of big talkers, but hold the money close to the vest. Hell, they won't even spend a couple of bucks to read the number one source of JMU football news, the DNR.

Ticket prices will double when we move up. So, people who have bought 4 season tickets will cut back to 2. Sad, but true. Sure, there will be some who ramp up their giving. But, it is a numbers game and there are lots of casual fans who buy tickets at today's bargain prices that won't come when tickets jump dramatically. The Law of Unintended Consequences.

So, we are going to need a lot of new people to fill those seats. The opponents we bring to BFS better be names that will draw.

Ticket prices to double in FBS? Umm, pretty sure that would make our tickets BY FAR the most expensive in CUSA/MAC/SBC. Heck, they are already pricey compared to most of that group (Sans departing ECU).

Let's not throw unfounded numbers out there. If we double our ticket prices, then I think we need to demand an audit of our Athletic Department. I firmly expect my club seats to go from $550/ticket to $750/ticket....about a 35% increase. But if they go to $1100/ticket, that is roughly $2100/seat with donation.....and that is firmly in top 25 FBS territory.

I do agree that our cheaper ticket packages could go up by a higher %, but still doubt a 100% increase.