Attendance Issues

[MustangIcon]

I will start this post by saying that I just graduated from SMU in May of '05 so this is the first season I have ever had to actually purchase tickets.

With that said the Behind the Basket price of $7 seems very reasonable, but $17 for Sideline seats!? I saw a father walk up to the ticket window last night with his son and 2 daughters and said aloud "$17 dollars a tciket?" He bought 4 and paid $68. While this might seem like nothing to the diehard SMU fans or wealthy alumni it completely alienates the casual fan. I cannot blame someone for not wanting to pay that much to watch college basketball which at its best could be described as average.

Also, can't we do something to get butts in those seats? Give the tickets away to DISD schools. The empty seats are going to waste anyway, so why not try to cultivate some new Mustang fans with the tickets. Heck, if they go and buy a soda we even make money on the deal.

Nothing will ever solve attendance problems like a winning program, but there are things that can be done in the meantime to at least help the problem.

[DiamondM75]

I so agree with this post. I would rather sell 5,000 tickets at an average price of $8 than 2,000 tickets at an average price of $12. Do the math.

And at a price of $68. How long will it be before he returns with his kids for another game? For $32, he would probably be back several times this year, but for $68, don't look for a lot of repeat business.

[Pony_Fan]

Thanks - we have been discussing these issues for a long time. I think it would be best to write a letter to the ticket office and express your concerns.

If they knew any better they can buy a ticket for $7 and sit anywhere they would like.

[DiamondM75]

Thanks - we have been discussing these issues for a long time. I think it would be best to write a letter to the ticket office and express your concerns.

If they knew any better they can buy a ticket for $7 and sit anywhere they would like.

Now this has me thinking. All season tickets are reserved seats with the best seating. All walk up tickets should be general admission and cost about $8. With these tickets, you can sit anywhere a season ticket holder does not lay claim to the seat.

[Charleston Pony]

I agree wholeheartedly. The current approach of SMU's athletics dept is to rape the loyal fans with ticket prices beyond their entertainment value. That's what they feel they have to do, because so few care. I do think we are missing the boat by not at least TRYING to attract more with cheaper ticket prices. We need to attract families. I attended a game we played against UT-Chattanooga a couple years back and bought sideline tickets for me and the Mrs and the kids got in for $1 each. As I recall , our adult tickets were no more than about $7-8. With all the empty seats, we need to be selling baseline seats cheap and allowing those folks to drift over to the sidelines on nights like last night. Even if we could pick up a few hundred more fans, it would help. Supply and demand is really a pretty simple concept.

[Pony_Fan]

We also don't know how many season ticket holders there are for men's games do we??

A season ticket package is $200 each?? (don't know) x 2 - $400 per group (most would have at least 2) for season. Let's say they have 1500 season ticket holders. that is $600,000

I imagine less than a 1/3 or a 1/4 of those people actually show up? - they already have that money before the season starts. I would think butts in seats would be important but....

Based on visual attendance this year you can sell 1000 tickets on Sideline $17/piece= $17,000 OR sell 2500-3000 and be all GA tickets at $8/piece = $20,000-$24,000

[A&Msucks]

I could not agree with you more MustangIcon. It is almost like you posted exactly what I was thinking.

These are some great ideas that people have. Anyone who wants to take the time to send a well written email to the SMU marketing department would really be helpfull. Lets get Moody rocking again!

[Pony_Fan]

I already sent something to the Associate AD - he responded and agreed with almost everything. Very cordial.

The funny thing is - if I went back 10 years to a game - the atmosphere wouldn't be any different than what it is now...

[jtstang]

Why don't you do the smart thing and buy the cheapest ticket and sit a center court in the empty seats there?

[MustangIcon]

That is exactly what I and most anyone else who goes to the game does. My problem with the ticket pricing is not really directed to any single or young males. We buy a cheap seat, we sit somewhere better, if we must move, so be it.

My point is that a family going to a game might not want to deal with that. I would imagine if I was going to the game with my wife and 3 kids I would not want to buy cheap seats then sit down somewhere and have to move everytime someone who actually has that ticket comes. Or if you were taking friends or a date or coworkers you would not want to be the cheapa$$ that buys GA seats and moves to the good seats.

Bottom line is anything to get more butts in those seats. And dropping the $17 ticket option can only help people come back to see the Mustangs again.

[Boston Pony]

I will take the other position...price isn't the problem in filling the seats. If you have a product the price isn't the issue. You could keep your seats at $ 17, but offer family packs, etc. for those that have large number of tickets (3 or more), however pricing isn't the issue, apathy is. Rush events take precident over supporting the athletic teams (can't going to a game be an event?), alumni 'chose' not to come (even with season tickets), and the general public just don't turn out. Have some winning, play exciting ball against opponents people want to see, and the game will become an event.