(03-17-2013 03:58 PM)memphis88 Wrote:  Getting to the forum is apparently a deterrent for most students.

Toche'

(03-17-2013 06:32 PM)mattfromdburgdburg Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 06:16 PM)MemTigerFan Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 03:34 PM)mattfromdburgdburg Wrote:  Thought some of you would like to know about this... I was told today that Blue Crew will suspend it's "first come first serve" free ticket policy to students this year. In past years, the Blue Crew has provided free tickets (usually 50), but students were responsible for their own travel/hotel arrangements. I was told the change was done by Blue Crew's advisor in the Athletic Marketing Dept. to save money for marketing and football events in the fall. Blue Crew might offer discounted tournament tickets to students, but an official announcement won't be made until tomorrow or Tuesday. This will be the first NCAA/NIT game(s) that I have missed since being in college. Thoughts on the change?

wait, so the fact that you'll have to pay an extra $30-60 at most on top of the travel expenses is why you're not going to the tourney this year??? Funny how $30-60 out of hundreds more can make or break a trip.

Or was that last statement thrown in just to try to rile things up?

We're playing in Auburn Hills, MI. Michigan and Michigan State are also playing there. It isn't so much the price of the tickets offered by Blue Crew as it is the security of knowing that as long as the Tigers keep winning, I would have a guaranteed ticket within Memphis' allotment. The absolute cheapest route on tickets for the 2nd and possible 3rd round would be about $200, with finding a ticket to the 3rd round being nearly impossible and very expensive (Michigan and MSU probably playing) if I waited until after our first game. So, yes not having a guaranteed, free ticket is keeping me from going.

did you check Ticketmaster?

They are selling tickets to EVERY GAME in Auburn Hills for $150 per book ...

(03-17-2013 04:32 PM)TIGER7880 Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 04:10 PM)jgardne Wrote:  if the students can't show up in the forum, why give them highly valued tickets they won't use in the ncaa tourney? makes sense to me

This is a pretty stupid statement. There are some students that are there every game.

the only way to assure the tickets go to somebody who's going to use them is to sell them. It's not a big deal for home games at the forum but for the ncaa tournament discounted tickets is just a good idea. The students won't waste money if they're not going whereas they might just grab them and not use them if they're free.

Maybe I'm old school, but students deserve every possible consideration. This isn't a pro franchise. It's actually a university we're cheering for. They're a pretty important part of that.

Tough break for some good kids.

(03-17-2013 09:15 PM)Browning Hall Wrote:  Maybe I'm old school, but students deserve every possible consideration. This isn't a pro franchise. It's actually a university we're cheering for. They're a pretty important part of that.

THANK YOU! I think that a lot of you are missing the point. Why should the athletic marketing staff have the right to dictate what a registered student organization does with their resources? As for the whole "the students are just going to sell their claimed tickets"... When we got tickets for the tournament, we had to present a photo ID to the will call staff at game time to claim our ticker. No students were traveling to Columbus, OH last year to get a ticket and sell it on the street at game-time and go back home to Memphis. So, your point makes zero sense.

(03-17-2013 06:32 PM)mattfromdburgdburg Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 06:16 PM)MemTigerFan Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 03:34 PM)mattfromdburgdburg Wrote:  Thought some of you would like to know about this... I was told today that Blue Crew will suspend it's "first come first serve" free ticket policy to students this year. In past years, the Blue Crew has provided free tickets (usually 50), but students were responsible for their own travel/hotel arrangements. I was told the change was done by Blue Crew's advisor in the Athletic Marketing Dept. to save money for marketing and football events in the fall. Blue Crew might offer discounted tournament tickets to students, but an official announcement won't be made until tomorrow or Tuesday. This will be the first NCAA/NIT game(s) that I have missed since being in college. Thoughts on the change?

wait, so the fact that you'll have to pay an extra $30-60 at most on top of the travel expenses is why you're not going to the tourney this year??? Funny how $30-60 out of hundreds more can make or break a trip.

Or was that last statement thrown in just to try to rile things up?

We're playing in Auburn Hills, MI. Michigan and Michigan State are also playing there. It isn't so much the price of the tickets offered by Blue Crew as it is the security of knowing that as long as the Tigers keep winning, I would have a guaranteed ticket within Memphis' allotment. The absolute cheapest route on tickets for the 2nd and possible 3rd round would be about $200, with finding a ticket to the 3rd round being nearly impossible and very expensive (Michigan and MSU probably playing) if I waited until after our first game. So, yes not having a guaranteed, free ticket is keeping me from going.

I'm actually in favor of the blue crew getting their 50, but ultimately it's up to the school.

But, sorry, this is opening weekend of the tourney, where 8 different schools come to play, and as such ticket allocations are all over the board. That makes tickets extremely easy to get for at or below face value. To use no tickets as an excuse is simply trying to cause a stir, and doesn't really hold water.