Season Tix

[OhioBrownFan]

With no advertising yet, I think they realize that Garland is a tough sell. They obviously aren't bothering with that. They are going to start pushing these mini-season packages that have all of the Moody games. That is what I bought, and I am sure others are going to do that as well.

Invest the money in order to get the greater return, it is smart business.

What I am really interested in is how we are doing on suites. If we sell the suites out, that is massive income the bball program has never had.

YES, you nailed it. They aren't bothering with Garland. Why would you? Let season ticket holders make up the majority and sell the rest on their own.

As for the suites, they're already or nearly already sold. You're right, clearly understand the business side of the model because this is the revenue generator for any program and the reason teams have renovations or get new arenas. 99% of the time, it's because they don't have enough room for luxury boxes, club seats, suites, ect. It's the same reason the Red Wings are getting rid of the Joe, not because it's not a great or historic venue, it's because they've outgrew it and aren't maximizing dollars on the bottom-line. You can't leave that much money on the table.

[OhioBrownFan]

I have hear 3500 also, and they just started the smaller package deal, so if you count those I would guess we will be over 4 when we start play in garland. All pretty much without a lick of advertising, which I don't get.

They don't need to advertise. I can say it til I'm blue in the face, but Legends is running ticket ops for SMU right now. These guys are the best in the business and they will get them sold. I expect that stadium to be sold out every game. I can tell you for a fact that Louisville and UConn will not be available to the public already. These guys know what they're doing. They will right the ship then at some point hand it back over to SMU and have their own ticket office work on selling in the future.

UConn and Louisville would be sold out without Legends. The jump in ticket sales has more to do with LB, the recruiting classes, and the football team not doing well than anything Legends has done. The question is what are they doing now to sell out the OOC games that do not have big name teams coming in to Garland?

While I agree with some of your logic, the priorities just aren't there to sell $5 tickets to Garland for the sake of having a sell-out. Much more worried about having a packed house for every game in Moody. That is the priority and having all the suites filled for the season and future seasons.

Some of the ticket sales has to do with the catalysts that you mentioned, but I assure you that a big part is Legends, especially when it comes to the corporate suites. SMU ticket office (no offense here) was p*ss-poorly ran before. A good ticket office makes all the difference. Let me pose this question, if SMU could sell those tickets because of the reasons you mentioned alone, why would you contract out to a 3rd party? It's because they do it better, you've all mentioned how much more expensive tickets have become the last few years.

This post is going to ramble a bit but relevant info. OOC in a crappy arena verse crap opponents will never sell well no matter who is selling the tickets. If you want the arena to be full, they could give the tickets away, or do a 4 for $10 deal with hot dogs included. But that's not good business, it ends up devaluing the product and setting a consumer mind-set that you don't want when you do have the good product. People will complain when their season tickets have gone up by 5%, let alone 25 or 50%. Therefore, you let the inventory sit if you have to in order to create demand and see the returns later down the road. This is strictly business. Ohio State does not sell out their bad OOC home games and OSU is a top 10 team more often than not. As does almost any other school, save a few. Go to a Kentucky Wildcats game against a team like Gardner Webb, Rupp is not a full house. It may be on paper because of season ticket holders, but that's the only reason.

To drive home the point, the difference between a bad ticket office and a good ticket office (or 3rd party) can simply be seen at LSU. That team will be a top 15 team this year or will be in another year. I guarantee they won't have more than 1 sell out the entire year and if they do, it will likely be Kentucky when UK fans invade the stadium. In '06, LSU did not have a single sell-out. A single sell-out. How is that possible? That's a team that was top 10 and went to he final four. I think they had just over 11K for the Kentucky game when the Maravich holds 13K.

LSU is one of the worst run ticket offices in the country, they've completely diluted the product and they can't even sell $100 season tickets. They're cheaper than SMU and we're talking about an SEC team, a fan base that spans from the Eastern Seaboard, up to Tennessee and back over to the Mississippi. That's saying something in my opinion. They have a good product (especially in the mid-2000s as well as this and the next few years), a good venue, and a good fan base. But they don't have crap for corporate sponsors in basketball nor do they have crap for season ticket holders. That's the difference between a good ticket office and a bad one. Sorry to type all this, but this is something I have quite a bit of knowledge in regard to. Feel free to check my facts but I'm pretty sure everything I've stated is correct. I enjoy these conversations.

[Rebel10]

Obviously you must work for Legends.

Legends may have had a part in selling suites but as pointed out that the UConn and Louisville games would have been sold out anyway. Also, all I do is call up and ask for a ticket and then they sell it to me. No different than years past.

[OhioBrownFan]

Obviously you must work for Legends.

Legends may have had a part in selling suites but as pointed out that the UConn and Louisville games would have been sold out anyway. Also, all I do is call up and ask for a ticket and then they sell it to me. No different than years past.

Nope no affiliation with Legends. I'm in the sports world though, they're a big name for anyone in a sports front office, they know who they are. There's a reason the Yankees, Man U, and Cowboys use them. It's my job, I have to know a bit about them. But if you're interested, here's a few links on their background to peruse when you're bored. I'll be on the phone with the Director of Ticket Sales here shortly and can get the season ticket numbers.

Press release from SMU:
http://www.smumustangs.com/genrel/043012aac.html
From Legends Case Studies:
http://legends.net/casestudies/southern ... niversity/

Like I said, just knowledgeable on this stuff, they make a few waves in the sports world.

[Rebel10]

Was Legends over the ticket office in the summer? I have heard of some screw ups during that time.

Oh, I just saw where they were over tickets sales last year. So looks like the spike in tickets sales this year has more to do with LB and the potential of the team than Legends.

[OhioBrownFan]

Was Legends over the ticket office in the summer? I have heard of some screw ups during that time.

Oh, I just saw where they were over tickets sales last year. So looks like the spike in tickets sales this year has more to do with LB and the potential of the team than Legends.

Maybe so. Call it what you want but they do sell tickets. They're up 2,500 new ticket holders from last year. That's ridiculous for any team, says a lot about the fans. Go ask any AD how many new season ticket holders for a season is good. You can chalk that up to whatever. I'm not going to say it's purely because of Legends but like I said, why can't LSU sell out their stadium with a bigger fan base, even more anticipation, and a very good team/great recruiting in basketball? I think there are a variety of factors that come into play. Legends knows how to tap into markets that haven't been touched, brokers, corporate sponsors, ect.

Nonetheless, they're sitting at about 5,000, stadium is over 2/3 sold out even with the increase in prices and donor levels. Only a couple of the upper sections are really "open" at this point. Sounds like depending on how this week goes and season ticket holders buying additional tickets that there won't be many conference single games available to the public if any at all. As I said already, Louisville and UConn for sure won't be available. The only way to get those games at this point is season tickets or secondary market.

[Rebel10]

They were over ticket sales last year and we only sold around 2,000in basketball. How are football season ticket sales going since they are over that as well (that might be a better indicator)? Definitely looks like Legends is doing wonders with the large crowds showing up at the football games.

[Treadway21]

They were over ticket sales last year and we only sold around 2,000. How are football season ticket sales going since they are over that as well? Definitely looks like Legends is doing wonders with the large crowds showing up at the football games.

Big difference in product.

It is probably a combination of both a good product and an effective ticket operation. My impression is there has definitely been an improvement in our ticket office. They are responsive and follow up. As a consumer. I am happy with my experience.

The numbers would have been up no matter who was running the operation, but the SMU athletic office isn't exactly know for peak efficiency, though they are improving on most all administrative fronts.

[OhioBrownFan]

They were over ticket sales last year and we only sold around 2,000. How are football season ticket sales going since they are over that as well? Definitely looks like Legends is doing wonders with the large crowds showing up at the football games.

Big difference in product.

It is probably a combination of both a good product and an effective ticket operation. My impression is there has definitely been an improvement in our ticket office. They are responsive and follow up. As a consumer. I am happy with my experience.

The numbers would have been up no matter who was running the operation, but the SMU athletic office isn't exactly know for peak efficiency, though they are improving on most all administrative fronts.

This. I'm not disagreeing with you rebel, just saying the truth probably lies somewhere in between.

[LHS81]

I just got my tickets in the mail today.

So, from what I'm understanding between the out of state delivery of SMU tickets between you & mrydel is: Alabama gets mail delivery, and Arkansas doesn't

[mrydel]

I did get mine. I just kept it secret to keep thieves away.

[smusic 00]

Obviously you must work for Legends.

Legends may have had a part in selling suites but as pointed out that the UConn and Louisville games would have been sold out anyway. Also, all I do is call up and ask for a ticket and then they sell it to me. No different than years past.

There's a reason the Yankees, MAN CITY, and Cowboys use them. It's my job, I have to know a bit about them.

Like I said, just knowledgeable on this stuff, they make a few waves in the sports world.

Ahem, FIFY!

[OhioBrownFan]

Obviously you must work for Legends.

Legends may have had a part in selling suites but as pointed out that the UConn and Louisville games would have been sold out anyway. Also, all I do is call up and ask for a ticket and then they sell it to me. No different than years past.

There's a reason the Yankees, MAN CITY, and Cowboys use them. It's my job, I have to know a bit about them.

Like I said, just knowledgeable on this stuff, they make a few waves in the sports world.

Ahem, FIFY!

Gracias. One other thing for Rebel in regards to the football stadium. Their job is to make sure it sells, not to make sure people show up. If the tickets are sold and people don't go...well, must be a bad product on the field. That said, I don't know much about the football sales so I can't speak intelligently whatsoever.

[Rebel10]

Football tickets sales are about the same from what I understand. Legends is riding LB and staff's coattails as far as overall tickets sales are concerned. But I am glad that they added more salespeople. Expect another spike in sales if the team gets off to a good start.

[PlanoPony]

Maybe so. Call it what you want but they do sell tickets. They're up 2,500 new ticket holders from last year. That's ridiculous for any team, says a lot about the fans.

What on earth are you talking about? Did you just pull that number out of thin air?

http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-bas ... 13aac.html