Anybody going to the reseat discussion Dec. 11?

[PonySnob]

Again, as a young alum attorney (with an engineer wife), it's puzzling that they seem not to care about the perception to future potential big-time donors.

It's a very fine line as it's impossible to tell in most cases who the "future potential" big time donors will be, especially when there is a huge need for funding now.

[Sacco]

Exactly. Cuts both ways. So, regardless of who we might [deleted] off (including potential long-term donors), let's just go with this year's highest bidders? Throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

[StallionsModelT]

I will say that I understand the frustration. I just understand the athletic department's side of this and what they are faced with. Either way I'll be happy just to be inside Moody regardless of where my seats might be. There really aren't many bad seats in that place.

[Crong]

Again, as a young alum attorney (with an engineer wife), it's puzzling that they seem not to care about the perception to future potential big-time donors.

The plan is a short sided money grab. My time volunteering for SMU campus events and donations will now go towards other organizations and causes. Loyalty goes 2 ways. I've sat through too many cavernous games at Moody and Ford to be treated this way. I'm happy to put my ticket money towards a yearly trip to experience top pedigree basketball at Lawrence, Durham, or Lexington instead of SMU basketball.

Another clarification about "Place in Line Auction." Are alumni given priority? Sounds like anyone can jump in line. If that's the case, SMU isn't taking care of those that will always take care of them.

[couch 'em]

TIME OUT

I really don't see how this is going to be a big deal, unless you have the really good seats (floor/red/loge). There aren't enough total fans to push that many people out of the building especially when the per seat donation will cut seats per family. It will create a [deleted] waving contest/bidding war among the HP crowd who mostly already have good seats to move to better seats. Everyone else may have to move around slightly but not pushed out or into worse seats.

Could have saved a lot of anger by just designating the prime seats as yearly reseating with an auction for selection order

[Ponyneighbor]

This will likely make my decision not to renew easier. A decision to buy these season tickets has a short-term and a long-term component: you are paying for current entertainment and you are paying for the option to keep those seats in the future when they could otherwise be unavailable. Before this year I stomached the 100% price increase to renew my existing seats and the 300% increase to add two more because at the time it looked like we had a legit shot at having an elite team and the future was very bright. Now they are springing the idea of further increases when it seems unlikely that the current team will make the turnament and the future includes a mediocre recruiting class and a fickle coach who is already dropping hints that he's unhappy with the administration.

[SMU Section F]

TIME OUT

I really don't see how this is going to be a big deal, unless you have the really good seats (floor/red/loge). There aren't enough total fans to push that many people out of the building especially when the per seat donation will cut seats per family. It will create a [deleted] waving contest/bidding war among the HP crowd who mostly already have good seats to move to better seats. Everyone else may have to move around slightly but not pushed out or into worse seats.

Could have saved a lot of anger by just designating the prime seats as yearly reseating with an auction for selection order

The thought has occurred to me that if the team doesn't improve and/or the AAC continues its lackluster season that this whole thing may end up with some people actually improving their seat location when others decide they'd rather not deal with the "bidding" system.

The primary reason I'm upset is that SMU is already terrible at retaining fans and this just seems to be a step in the wrong direction.

[CoxMustangFan]

Exactly. Cuts both ways. So, regardless of who we might [deleted] off (including potential long-term donors), let's just go with this year's highest bidders? Throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

I wouldn't get too fired up. You're likely the exact demographic that will do well during this change.

[Prideful Pony]

Could have saved a lot of anger by just designating the prime seats as yearly reseating with an auction for selection order

If that was the desired outcome, SMU has PRed this in one of the worst possible ways. Auctioning the top seats and giving everyone else the opportunity to renew at the increased prices would've gotten a completely different reaction.

[fifty]

Why don't they just raise ticket prices?

[SMUstangs22]

This should be a clear sign not to renew football tickets with minimum donations. If they get good and you have not been a ticket holder forever then they will just push you out of the way for the higher bidders.

[Nacho]

Why don't they just raise ticket prices?

i guess they think an auction will bring higher bids.

[couch 'em]

This should be a clear sign not to renew football tickets with minimum donations. If they get good and you have not been a ticket holder forever then they will just push you out of the way for the higher bidders.

This is a great point. Everyone who dropped tickets to protest June shouldn't bother getting seats in anticipation of getting good

[ponydawg]

I'm not sure why people are saying they are NOT raising ticket prices...they are, in form of a donation per seat.

If I gave $500 for my tickets, now I will have to give $1000. That is a price increase for the tickets no matter what the price says it is per game.

[ponydawg]

I was going to purchase 2 more season Football tickets to try and spread the word, but it looks like that extra cash will be needed for Basketball tickets. Thats too bad. Less opportunity to bring in new fans at Ford.