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if smu hadn't completely bungled fball for the last 20 years they might not be in such trouble.
gouging bball fans is not the way to go or i will go.

PonySnob wrote:As an FYI, they said last night that it the total cost per athlete at SMU is $116,000 per year which is over $45 million for all student athletes. The money certainly doesn't come from that stellar AAC TV contract so the school certainly eats a large portion of the cost and there are 30 or so alums that also foot a large portion of the bill.

You know, if they are going to throw that number out, I would like to see the breakdown. Don't forget the COC and the Mustang Club fund a lot of that expense...

So what are the odds that when they post the list of Mustang Club donors this turns into a de facto bidding war? I'm sure the school would love that, but you'd see spill from the better seats to the lower if/when they run out of space. If I'm donating $500 to a basketball only MC fund to secure two upper sideline seats I'm going to be furious if I end up with nothing.

Prideful Pony wrote:So what are the odds that when they post the list of Mustang Club donors this turns into a de facto bidding war? I'm sure the school would love that, but you'd see spill from the better seats to the lower if/when they run out of space. If I'm donating $500 to a basketball only MC fund to secure two upper sideline seats I'm going to be furious if I end up with nothing.

At a minimum SMU should be able to tell people (especially current season ticket holders) that $X equals a particular section. SMU shouldn't expect people to give w/o knowing what the money is getting them.

Prideful Pony wrote:So what are the odds that when they post the list of Mustang Club donors this turns into a de facto bidding war? I'm sure the school would love that, but you'd see spill from the better seats to the lower if/when they run out of space. If I'm donating $500 to a basketball only MC fund to secure two upper sideline seats I'm going to be furious if I end up with nothing.

It's going to be a major bidding war. That's the reason they are basing it on this years donation and they are updating the standings - as it were. We are sideline, 211, 5 rows back. Our donation would be $1,000, I'd be ok with that if I thought that would get me the same location (as I said in another post, I don't see that anyone is going to be getting their seats, except for the 4+ year folks), but my guess is that lots of others, with tons more money than me will be doing the same and it will filter down. The guys in the presentation kept emphasizing that, over and over, one of them even conceded the point - it's all about money. You give a lot this year, you can get some prime real-estate.

Stubhub for me. This bidding war scenario will not work too well if we're ranked #50 the whole year and i can get individual tickets for cheap to most games.

SMU Section F wrote:At a minimum SMU should be able to tell people (especially current season ticket holders) that $X equals a particular section. SMU shouldn't expect people to give w/o knowing what the money is getting them.

Definitely. That is just ridiculous.

I'm pretty pissed off right now, and while I will wait for further communication from SMU before making a final decision, I'm leaning toward telling SMU to pound sand and just giving up my 4 football tickets and my 2 basketball tickets. It feels like they don't value young alumni (2005 grad), and because I don't have substantial donations I can withhold to express my displeasure, I'll simply stop going to games on a regular basis.

The sad thing is, with the new pricing I would be obligated to pay an additional $1,000 donation just for the right to keep my bball seats, and I would be happy to pay that money IF they would let me keep my seats. Since they probably won't, I'll save that money and go the StubHub route for a couple of games a year.

SMU needs to learn that getting young alumni to start donating is hugely important, as many will gradually climb the ladder as they get older and donate more and more money. I'm a 32 year old professional - exactly the type of fan SMU needs to keep around for the future. The effect of this move is that they are alienating the group who are arguably their most important long-term fans.

I really encourage people to wait and see all of the information before getting so upset. Life is just too short to get pissed off when it might not be as bad as you think.

untitled wrote:
SMU needs to learn that getting young alumni to start donating is hugely important, as many will gradually climb the ladder as they get older and donate more and more money. I'm a 32 year old professional - exactly the type of fan SMU needs to keep around for the future. The effect of this move is that they are alienating the group who are arguably their most important long-term fans.

^^^ I agree. This exact point was made in the meeting yesterday... perhaps by you.

Grant Carter wrote:I really encourage people to wait and see all of the information before getting so upset. Life is just too short to get [deleted] off when it might not be as bad as you think.

I was told on Wednesday by a Mustang Club rep that, although I have "good priority" it is likely that I will be moved. As such, I'm bracing for the worst because they've basically told me to expect the worst.

Yes, the guy on the 2nd row. He was obviously upset. untitled, you make a good point about the young alumni.

So this is one time fundraising deal, right?

What's the top end of what they're planning on raising through this scheme? 3 million?

That seems like a lot of dough ( ) but is it worth [deleted] off the fans that get the short end of the stick?

Seems like they need to set the prices/donation levels, see who stays, and then auction off remaining seats to MC members. Fans could earn their way onto the bidder list through MC points. Want two floor seats? Bidding starts at 10 grand and there are 300 people that qualify. It'd be worth $8 beers at the auction just to watch the action.

And that could be a yearly event...

untitled wrote:

Grant Carter wrote:I really encourage people to wait and see all of the information before getting so upset. Life is just too short to get [deleted] off when it might not be as bad as you think.

I was told on Wednesday by a Mustang Club rep that, although I have "good priority" it is likely that I will be moved. As such, I'm bracing for the worst because they've basically told me to expect the worst.

Lots are going to get moved. No one is guaranteed seats, except the 4+ years, you will be allowed to pick seats from when it's determined it's time for you to select. Theoretically it's possible to get better seats, but doubt this will be the norm.

They are alienating fans and continually distancing themselves from the greater Dallas community. I wonder what LB thinks of this plan? What I could see happening, is the no-shows and the early leavers being moved to the center stage and at tip off the upper baselines are the only areas with fans.

PonyTime wrote:

untitled wrote:
SMU needs to learn that getting young alumni to start donating is hugely important, as many will gradually climb the ladder as they get older and donate more and more money. I'm a 32 year old professional - exactly the type of fan SMU needs to keep around for the future. The effect of this move is that they are alienating the group who are arguably their most important long-term fans.

^^^ I agree. This exact point was made in the meeting yesterday... perhaps by you.

It was not by me, but I do think it's an important point. Look around Ford Stadium and Moody Colisuem and you'll notice a lot of gray hair. We have an older than normal fanbase, and I wonder if SMU even has a plan for the future when these people stop donating and coming to games.

I've spoken with a Kansas alum and a UT alum about this, and they are appalled by the lack of loyalty displayed by SMU with this move, especially considering the typical state of our revenue sports over the last 20 years. I love what our basketball team is doing, but Moody Coliseum/SMU bball do not equal Allen Fieldhouse/Kansas bball, so any comparison to Kansas' re-seating is apples and oranges. The UT alum said that SMU is "badly overplaying its hand" with this move, and I'm inclined to agree. Either re-seat or price gouge us, but don't do both at the same time.