The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

https://richmond.com/sports/college/virg...9223ba3e1a

Quote:“The ability to fill seats is dependent upon the value of the product on the floor.

Quote:“If those seats the AD kicked me and others out of remain empty, the optics can kill a program: empty arenas won’t sell TV coverage.”

Those two quotes stand out to me. As did this one,

Quote:He added that VCU has already sold more season tickets for the upcoming season than it did for all of last year.

From my understanding, that is definitely NOT the case for ODU.

It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

And they've won 3x as much. 7 NCAA tournaments in the last 10 seasons.

I read an article last week that said Odom's contract has a clause that they automatically revisit his contracted salary if the Rams move to the Big East or P5. That was a contingency not included in their past coaches contracts. I kind of wish we had these kinds of problems.

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

(08-02-2023 11:48 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

A large percentage of their prime seats are purchased by business donors and the seats are often empty.
Say what you will about them, but vcu still sucks!

(08-02-2023 12:03 PM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:48 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

A large percentage of their prime seats are purchased by business donors and the seats are often empty.
Say what you will about them, but vcu still sucks!

Same with us for (Im told) the same reason. Lower level, center court is usually spotty at the Ted. But you are definitely correct that VCU still sucks. Even when they're good, they suck.

(08-02-2023 11:48 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

You honestly think "most" fans would be content paying $3500 for two tickets just because we were more successful? I call bull****. Sure, we'd attract more front runners and people who just want to be at the game but we would also lose quite a few fans with rate hikes like that. You gotta remember our schedule wouldn't change much given the conference we're in and we already have people that are complaining about paying the standard ticket rate as it is.

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah that's a really high bar for tickets. I would not love paying that much and likely would not choose to.

(08-02-2023 11:48 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

Their seats costs 7x more than ours?

No one would argue we have more success than them, but there is something to be said about the loyalty of their fanbase. They haven't been to the tourney in 3 out of the past 6 years. In one of those seasons they were 18-15 and a borderline top 150 team. They didn't win an NCAA tourney game under Mike Rhoades. When was the last time they had a team that made a run in the tourney?

Outside of Shaka, they are a 50-100 type program with minimal NCAA success. They are charging $1,750 for tickets and our fanbase doesn't want to pay $450.

Their worst team in the last six years was 144 in KemPom. Our average team has been 145 (161 if you go the last five). We aren't in the same ballpark as they are right now.

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

That shows how making the investment to grow the program will ultimately be a money maker, not a cost.

(08-02-2023 12:20 PM)Stat Geek Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:48 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

Their seats costs 7x more than ours?

No one would argue we have more success than them, but there is something to be said about the loyalty of their fanbase. They haven't been to the tourney in 3 out of the past 6 years. In one of those seasons they were 18-15 and a borderline top 150 team. They didn't win an NCAA tourney game under Mike Rhoades. When was the last time they had a team that made a run in the tourney?

Outside of Shaka, they are a 50-100 type program with minimal NCAA success. They are charging $1,750 for tickets and our fanbase doesn't want to pay $450.

They didn't just luck into having that kind of loyalty from their fanbase, they earned it. We were at a similar level at one point. They continued to show their fans that the loyalty was deserved and the fanbase responded. We went in a different direction, and our fanbase also responded accordingly. This 100% a case study in how two athletic programs have been managed.

(08-02-2023 12:17 PM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:48 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

You honestly think "most" fans would be content paying $3500 for two tickets just because we were more successful? I call bull****. Sure, we'd attract more front runners and people who just want to be at the game but we would also lose quite a few fans with rate hikes like that. You gotta remember our schedule wouldn't change much given the conference we're in and we already have people that are complaining about paying the standard ticket rate as it is.

I said "a bit more", not "$3500". I think you could raise season ticket prices and ODAF donations by 20-25% and people would suck it up and pay without too much complaining IF the team were competitive and making some noise nationally.

(08-02-2023 02:00 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 12:20 PM)Stat Geek Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:48 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

Their seats costs 7x more than ours?

No one would argue we have more success than them, but there is something to be said about the loyalty of their fanbase. They haven't been to the tourney in 3 out of the past 6 years. In one of those seasons they were 18-15 and a borderline top 150 team. They didn't win an NCAA tourney game under Mike Rhoades. When was the last time they had a team that made a run in the tourney?

Outside of Shaka, they are a 50-100 type program with minimal NCAA success. They are charging $1,750 for tickets and our fanbase doesn't want to pay $450.

They didn't just luck into having that kind of loyalty from their fanbase, they earned it. We were at a similar level at one point. They continued to show their fans that the loyalty was deserved and the fanbase responded. We went in a different direction, and our fanbase also responded accordingly. This 100% a case study in how two athletic programs have been managed.

He's right. VCU vs. GMU is also a good case study on how to capitalize on a lucky break once you get it. One had vision and the confidence to take some risks that paid off big time. One played it safe and dropped back to reality quickly. It will be interesting to see which category FAU falls into. (speaking of teams who should see a huge jump in season ticket sales and could actually justify price increases)

(08-02-2023 12:17 PM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:48 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

You honestly think "most" fans would be content paying $3500 for two tickets just because we were more successful? I call bull****. Sure, we'd attract more front runners and people who just want to be at the game but we would also lose quite a few fans with rate hikes like that. You gotta remember our schedule wouldn't change much given the conference we're in and we already have people that are complaining about paying the standard ticket rate as it is.

Let me be clear, since I started the other thread, I am not complaining about the standard ticket rate. My complaint is with doing away with the Family Plan, thereby raising my prices 80%...and doing it all with zero communication.

(08-02-2023 12:20 PM)Stat Geek Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:48 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:40 AM)Monarchist13 Wrote:  

(08-02-2023 11:37 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  It seems that the cost to be a season ticket holder for them is about double what it is for us. Their per seat prices range from $449 to $550.

That figure doesn't include the required donation to have season tickets at VCU, which raises the cost difference for season tickets between the two programs pretty significantly. Their minimum donation level is $250 but the second level is $1k and it goes up exponentially from there. My 2 seats (which dont require a donation but I do make one) cost me $450 a season at ODU would cost $3500 at VCU.

Yeah. But look at the difference in quality. You get Jeff Jones' "blahhh-sket ball", or a top 100 team capable of making a NCAA run most years. I think if the Monarchs were winning at that level, most of our fan base would be OK with paying a bit more. And a lot of the old school fans might even come back.

Their seats costs 7x more than ours?

No one would argue we have more success than them, but there is something to be said about the loyalty of their fanbase. They haven't been to the tourney in 3 out of the past 6 years. In one of those seasons they were 18-15 and a borderline top 150 team. They didn't win an NCAA tourney game under Mike Rhoades. When was the last time they had a team that made a run in the tourney?

Outside of Shaka, they are a 50-100 type program with minimal NCAA success. They are charging $1,750 for tickets and our fanbase doesn't want to pay $450.

Id say our fans are even more loyal than theirs. Our program has basically stalled under Jones and Wood. Almost a decade of slow decline. Yet we still typically lead the conferences we are in for attendance. And while we don't pack em in like when we were good, the crowds are still fairly respectable for the men. Its easy to be a fan of a team going to the NCAA half the time. And Id be thrilled if we "went to the NCAA 3 out of the last 6 years and didnt win a tourney game" compared with where we are now. Hey, Id be nearly satisfied with 2 out of the last 6 years. If they had Jones and his record over the last decade, their place would not be full and their prices would be much less.

(08-02-2023 02:12 PM)ODUCoach Wrote:  Let me be clear, since I started the other thread, I am not complaining about the standard ticket rate. My complaint is with doing away with the Family Plan, thereby raising my prices 80%...and doing it all with zero communication.

They sent a renewal package in the spring with the stated ticket prices. Did you really not get one?