Loyalty Program ??

[Pony in SA]

I know we are not used to having to go to a bowl game, and I hope this is the first of many, but like others have mentioned I have been disappointed with the travel packages from Anthony and the ticket sales for this game. Once we got to 6 wins there should have been emphasis on getting best deal for the long suffering fans, especially those who have stuck with the program and are season ticket holders.

Appears no special deals for Mustang Club members or season ticket holders, nor any concessions for those who have donated over the years. Others schools namely Texas, Texas A & M, Colorado, etc. all allow their season ticket holders and those who have donated at certain levels first selection of bowl tickets and packages. Appears we just opened up ticket sales to anyone without a preference to season ticket holders (some have commented they even purchased tickets already).

In future for our bowls, I think there should be a system to reward those who have been loyal to the school, bought season tickets, etc. with a preference for bowl tickets and travel packages. Others schools do it this way, plus it would be one more incentive for someone to buy season tickets if they knew chance of getting better tickets and deals for the bowls. As of now, I see no loyalty to those of us who have had tickets 19 plus years and no benefit to being a season ticket holder when it comes to trying to get us to Hawaii.

[DiamondM]

I totally agree.

I forwarded your post to Randell Holmes, my season ticket liaison.

EDITED ---

Just talked to Randell. A couple of points.

1. Apparently they did try to get a Mustang Club charter, but they could not do it for cheaper than packages available on the internet. Hence the Anthony Travel land packages.

2. Game ticket orders ARE being prioritized as they come in (i.e. season ticket holders/Mustang Club members take precedence over the "fair weather" fan going to Hawaii (will there be any of those?) So there is a loyalty program in that sense. Emails will go out to season ticket holders with more details.

3. Based on NCAA regulations, they could not announce anything about travel or tickets prior to the official bowl invitation and acceptance. The bowl announcement was moved up in light of this rule.

[RE Tycoon]

You should realize by now the athletic department doesn't care about the loyal fans who can't afford to donate large sums. I guarantee you the big donors are all set and have the primo seat locations and travel frills.

I'm thankful for the people that can donate large sums to the program (especially the circle of champions), but I believe it is a mistake to treat the people who buy season tickets every year and donate what they can, the same way they treat a guy who went to a game last weekend for the first time in 20 years.

It wouldn't take much to throw us a bone and make us feel appreciated. There is some common sense business 101 stuff that our athletic department (and school as a whole) just never seems to grasp.

[Pony in SA]

Well, while I don't donate large sums like the Circle of Champions they certainly asked for and took my check for the Crum Center when they called me needing some extra money.

I understand the bigger named donors should get some extra perks, and don't mind that, just think they could have easily looked at Mustang Club and/or Season Ticket holder list and said those of you who have been here more than some number of years (say more than 7 or 10 years -- they could pick the cut off) you get to choose your bowl tickets first or sit in the same block, etc.

Again, this is easily done elsewhere and I don't think it would take too much effort to look up on the computer those who have been loyal to the program over the years. I hope in future bowl years more effort is made to reward the true loyal fans -- yes it is business 101, I remember studying it in marketing class at SMU.

[Dutch]

yeah, but has it really been necessary to this point? nope. is it really even necessary now? not really. there are 10,000 tickets available. not all will sell. those programs are in place so that the loyal purchasers and donars get first shot since numbers are limited - say for the Nebraska UT game this weekend. b/c there you've got about 200,000 season ticket holders who all want a seat in a stadium that seats 100,000. so you have to go to the tiebreaker. donations.

we don't have those problems yet. call 214-SMU-GAME and buy your tix.

p.s. don't think for one second that Clark Hunt, Gerry Ford, etc., are going to be calling up the mustang club to get the $1,299 4 day, 2 night +air deal. they're not getting in anyone's way.

[Caballo]

Just wait until they significantly raise the Mustang Club donation level for your tickets, depending on where your tickets are and have been for the past years that our football team sucked. The Boulevard spots will also likely be going up.

[Mestengo]

Ask not what your SMU can do for you — ask what you can do for your SMU.

[SMU 86]

Ask not what your SMU can do for you — ask what you can do for your SMU.

Well said.

[Dutch]

Just wait until they significantly raise the Mustang Club donation level for your tickets, depending on where your tickets are and have been for the past years that our football team sucked. The Boulevard spots will also likely be going up.

i'd bet money that blvd spots crest $1000 next year.

[DiamondM]

I understand the bigger named donors should get some extra perks, and don't mind that, just think they could have easily looked at Mustang Club and/or Season Ticket holder list and said those of you who have been here more than some number of years (say more than 7 or 10 years -- they could pick the cut off) you get to choose your bowl tickets first or sit in the same block, etc.

Again, this is easily done elsewhere and I don't think it would take too much effort to look up on the computer those who have been loyal to the program over the years. I hope in future bowl years more effort is made to reward the true loyal fans -- yes it is business 101, I remember studying it in marketing class at SMU.

As I said in my edited post above, game ticket sales are prioritized. And I would be willing to bet that if you ask for a block when you order your tickets, you can get it. In my experience, the current ticket sales staff goes out of their way to accommodate requests. And it's not like SMU's tickets are going to be scattered all over the stadium. They will ALL be in a block.

Perhaps the communications to Mustang Club members and Season Ticket holders should have gone out much earlier to try and preempt your concerns, and I have communicated this directly to people who can do something about it.

And while I was typing this, I did get an email about buying tickets from SMU.

[SMU91]

Yesterday I spoke to Terry Hemme in the athletic department and priority seating will be given to Mustang Club members. I believe he said all ticket purchases by Friday will be evaluated in this way based on your Mustang Club level. Get them tickets early!

[Pony in SA]

Thanks for the info. Dutch has good point on numbers game as applies to us and this is not an issue like at bigger schools.

I agree our ticket people do a great job and have no problem with them or with Debbie or others at Mustang Club at all. They have all always been very helpful to me and others when needing assistance.

Just was trying to make a suggestion that next bowl season there should be some incentive for season ticket holders and those loyal to the program that they could use as a marketing tool when first selling season packages (i.e. -- when you purchase season tickets you will get priority bowl seats, etc.). Or could allow season ticket holders to pre-pay for their bowl ticket up front when they re-new or buy their season tickets, and then if they can't go to bowl give them a credit towards next years season tickets.

[Pony in SA]

I totally agree.

I forwarded your post to Randell Holmes, my season ticket liaison.

EDITED ---

Just talked to Randell. A couple of points.

1. Apparently they did try to get a Mustang Club charter, but they could not do it for cheaper than packages available on the internet. Hence the Anthony Travel land packages.

2. Game ticket orders ARE being prioritized as they come in (i.e. season ticket holders/Mustang Club members take precedence over the "fair weather" fan going to Hawaii (will there be any of those?) So there is a loyalty program in that sense. Emails will go out to season ticket holders with more details.

3. Based on NCAA regulations, they could not announce anything about travel or tickets prior to the official bowl invitation and acceptance. The bowl announcement was moved up in light of this rule.

Just read this. Thanks again for the updated info. Too bad charter didn't work out.

[d_pony]

as usual several of you jumped to wrong conclusions - i know it is tough being a mustang fan but you don't have to see evil in everything

[mustangbill67]

Per Bethany Tiffin, Manager of Ticket Sales

I can definitely help you with the bowl tickets. All orders placed before this Friday will get priority seating based on Mustang Club points. I will get this order placed, we will seat you on Monday and get them in the mail then as well.