Post by FIUGoldenPanther on Aug 1, 2007 10:34:53 GMT -5
Although I think our tickets are cheaper being that we get TWO seasons for $100. Where MTSU is at $55 for one season.
www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/SPORTS0603/707310372
MURFREESBORO — Your bottom dollar can get a seat at the top of the Sun Belt Conference.
Middle Tennessee State, coming off a Sun Belt co-championship in 2006, has an average football season ticket price that is the least expensive in the Sun Belt. Athletics director Chris Massaro hopes that fact will stimulate ticket sales as the Blue Raiders' 2007 season looms.
"I suspected we might be (the least expensive)," Massaro said. "We've tried to set a fair price for everybody, a good price point where we can sell as many as possible."
Thus far, MTSU is 15 percent ahead of last season's football season-ticket sales in a year when the Blue Raiders not only shared the Sun Belt title but also earned for the school its first Division I-A bowl bid (Motor City Bowl).
Despite the onfield success, MTSU has kept its season-ticket prices unchanged at $55 for most end-zone seats and $80 for sideline seats.
"You have to find a balance where you're fair to the fans, but don't leave revenue on the table," Massaro said. "I think some new fans sampled us last year, and we'll adjust prices as demand dictates. We had a good attendance year last season, but we want to have a few good years and then talk about pricing."
Troy also a good buy
Including all sections of the stadium, MTSU's season-ticket prices are rivaled in the Sun Belt only by Troy, which, incidentally, is the school that shared last season's Sun Belt title with the Blue Raiders.
Troy's general admission season tickets are $50, slightly cheaper than MTSU's $55 general admission tickets. Troy's sideline seats cost $90 each, or $10 higher than MTSU's $80 sideline tickets.
Only Florida Atlantic ($56) and Arkansas State ($70) offer a similar general admission season ticket, partially because some Sun Belt stadiums have limited end zone seating.
MTSU ranked second in the Sun Belt in home attendance last season with a school-record 22,037 fans per game. The athletic department hopes to carry that momentum into this season's ticket sales.
"Our attendance went up last year, and we weren't about to lose those fans over price," Massaro said. "We've concentrated on the three Ps — price, promotion and product."
"Our product is certainly getting better. As far as our promotions go, we've tried really hard to let people know about all that we offer fans at our games because there's no better game day atmosphere anywhere. With all that, we've got the most affordable tickets around and probably in all of Division I."
Long-time MTSU season-ticket holder Bob Lamb said he understands the athletic department's sales tactics.
"I'd buy them no matter what the price was, but (MTSU is) trying to make them affordable to all fans," Lamb said. "Even if you've got UT tickets, you can make out better buying (MTSU) season tickets and not even come to every home game."
MTSU's ticket prices offer an awkward, an even lopsided, comparison to other in-state Division I-A schools.
Tennessee season tickets cost $296 each, but a donation between $500 and $5,000 per pair of tickets (depending on seats) to the Volunteer Athletic Scholarship Fund is required. University of Memphis season tickets start at $90.
Vanderbilt season tickets range from $99 for end zone and $175 for sideline seats. That's about double MTSU's prices, but the Commodores' schedule includes almost twice as many home games (8) as the Blue Raiders' five.
Massaro said, however, that scheduling works in MTSU's favor compared to recent previous years.
The Blue Raiders' home schedule includes a Sept. 20 meeting with former OVC rival Western Kentucky and ACC foe Virginia.
"Middle Tennessee has never had a team like Virginia come to Murfreesboro," Massaro said. "I hope our fans understand that. And Western is our oldest rival (playing 57 times since 1914) from what I've been told. That's our two signature games, and we should have big crowds. You hope there will be a carryover into the rest of the games."
Long-time MTSU season ticket holder Chris Groce said the "two signature games" offer a unique scenario for Blue Raider fans.
"I truly think the Western and Virginia games could be sellouts, and a lot of other season-ticket holders think so, too," Groce said. "I say, 'Get in while the getting is good.' Between our students and Western's fans, they'll pack that stadium for that Thursday night game. That's Western's Super Bowl. Wouldn't you hate for it be sold out and you not have a ticket?"
Like some other Sun Belt schools, MTSU is offering a family pack for the first time this season — which includes seats for $80 apiece in the "Family Fun Zone" in five sections near Floyd Stadium's north end zone.
The "Family Fun Zone" includes inflatables, face painting and balloon artistry. Each ticket holder to the area receives a coupon book for concessions, an $18 value.
"We're trying to reach out to everyone, and August is big for us in ticket sales," Massaro said. "This is when we build on that base."
• To purchase MTSU football season tickets, call 1-888-YES-MTSU or order online at GoBlueRaiders.com.
BEST BARGAIN IN BELT?
(Football season ticket prices in Sun Belt)
School+General*+Reserved**+'06 Avg. Attendance
Arkansas St.+$70+$80+19,069
Florida Atlantic+$56+$108+9,276
Florida International+N/A+$100+15,110
UL-Lafayette+N/A+$75-150+14,516
UL-Monroe+N/A+$90+22,313
MTSU+$55+$80+22,037
North Texas+N/A+$70-100+15,650
Troy $50+$90+20,810
* Mostly unassigned seats in end zone, visiting sideline or upper deck sections
** Assigned seats in sideline sections (except FIU, where all seats are same price)
Middle Tennessee State, coming off a Sun Belt co-championship in 2006, has an average football season ticket price that is the least expensive in the Sun Belt. Athletics director Chris Massaro hopes that fact will stimulate ticket sales as the Blue Raiders' 2007 season looms.
"I suspected we might be (the least expensive)," Massaro said. "We've tried to set a fair price for everybody, a good price point where we can sell as many as possible."
Thus far, MTSU is 15 percent ahead of last season's football season-ticket sales in a year when the Blue Raiders not only shared the Sun Belt title but also earned for the school its first Division I-A bowl bid (Motor City Bowl).
Despite the onfield success, MTSU has kept its season-ticket prices unchanged at $55 for most end-zone seats and $80 for sideline seats.
"You have to find a balance where you're fair to the fans, but don't leave revenue on the table," Massaro said. "I think some new fans sampled us last year, and we'll adjust prices as demand dictates. We had a good attendance year last season, but we want to have a few good years and then talk about pricing."
Troy also a good buy
Including all sections of the stadium, MTSU's season-ticket prices are rivaled in the Sun Belt only by Troy, which, incidentally, is the school that shared last season's Sun Belt title with the Blue Raiders.
Troy's general admission season tickets are $50, slightly cheaper than MTSU's $55 general admission tickets. Troy's sideline seats cost $90 each, or $10 higher than MTSU's $80 sideline tickets.
Only Florida Atlantic ($56) and Arkansas State ($70) offer a similar general admission season ticket, partially because some Sun Belt stadiums have limited end zone seating.
MTSU ranked second in the Sun Belt in home attendance last season with a school-record 22,037 fans per game. The athletic department hopes to carry that momentum into this season's ticket sales.
"Our attendance went up last year, and we weren't about to lose those fans over price," Massaro said. "We've concentrated on the three Ps — price, promotion and product."
"Our product is certainly getting better. As far as our promotions go, we've tried really hard to let people know about all that we offer fans at our games because there's no better game day atmosphere anywhere. With all that, we've got the most affordable tickets around and probably in all of Division I."
Long-time MTSU season-ticket holder Bob Lamb said he understands the athletic department's sales tactics.
"I'd buy them no matter what the price was, but (MTSU is) trying to make them affordable to all fans," Lamb said. "Even if you've got UT tickets, you can make out better buying (MTSU) season tickets and not even come to every home game."
MTSU's ticket prices offer an awkward, an even lopsided, comparison to other in-state Division I-A schools.
Tennessee season tickets cost $296 each, but a donation between $500 and $5,000 per pair of tickets (depending on seats) to the Volunteer Athletic Scholarship Fund is required. University of Memphis season tickets start at $90.
Vanderbilt season tickets range from $99 for end zone and $175 for sideline seats. That's about double MTSU's prices, but the Commodores' schedule includes almost twice as many home games (8) as the Blue Raiders' five.
Massaro said, however, that scheduling works in MTSU's favor compared to recent previous years.
The Blue Raiders' home schedule includes a Sept. 20 meeting with former OVC rival Western Kentucky and ACC foe Virginia.
"Middle Tennessee has never had a team like Virginia come to Murfreesboro," Massaro said. "I hope our fans understand that. And Western is our oldest rival (playing 57 times since 1914) from what I've been told. That's our two signature games, and we should have big crowds. You hope there will be a carryover into the rest of the games."
Long-time MTSU season ticket holder Chris Groce said the "two signature games" offer a unique scenario for Blue Raider fans.
"I truly think the Western and Virginia games could be sellouts, and a lot of other season-ticket holders think so, too," Groce said. "I say, 'Get in while the getting is good.' Between our students and Western's fans, they'll pack that stadium for that Thursday night game. That's Western's Super Bowl. Wouldn't you hate for it be sold out and you not have a ticket?"
Like some other Sun Belt schools, MTSU is offering a family pack for the first time this season — which includes seats for $80 apiece in the "Family Fun Zone" in five sections near Floyd Stadium's north end zone.
The "Family Fun Zone" includes inflatables, face painting and balloon artistry. Each ticket holder to the area receives a coupon book for concessions, an $18 value.
"We're trying to reach out to everyone, and August is big for us in ticket sales," Massaro said. "This is when we build on that base."
• To purchase MTSU football season tickets, call 1-888-YES-MTSU or order online at GoBlueRaiders.com.
BEST BARGAIN IN BELT?
(Football season ticket prices in Sun Belt)
School+General*+Reserved**+'06 Avg. Attendance
Arkansas St.+$70+$80+19,069
Florida Atlantic+$56+$108+9,276
Florida International+N/A+$100+15,110
UL-Lafayette+N/A+$75-150+14,516
UL-Monroe+N/A+$90+22,313
MTSU+$55+$80+22,037
North Texas+N/A+$70-100+15,650
Troy $50+$90+20,810
* Mostly unassigned seats in end zone, visiting sideline or upper deck sections
** Assigned seats in sideline sections (except FIU, where all seats are same price)
www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/SPORTS0603/707310372
