Charging for Tickets at Jim Patterson Stadium

[Knucklehank1]

UofL announced today that they will sell season tickets and individual tickets for $10/ticket. Details are still lacking. Does this include the berm? Kids?

I think its unfortunate that UofL is doing this but I guess that's the reality of things. Assuming this goes for general admission, I think they are over-estimating the demand for tickets. In particular I cannot see a family spending $10/each to go to many games. Also the timing of this seems a little off. I think it creates a negative vibe right after the joy of the Super Regional. I could see where they think the excitement will drive sales, but they aren't even ready to sell these tickets and the details are still sparse. Also with the Foundation audit just coming out, the announcement of ticket increases for basketball and the impending NCAA response, this is just another fatiguing item.

 

[nccardfan]

UofL announced today that they will sell season tickets and individual tickets for $10/ticket. Details are still lacking. Does this include the berm? Kids?

I think its unfortunate that UofL is doing this but I guess that's the reality of things. Assuming this goes for general admission, I think they are over-estimating the demand for tickets. In particular I cannot see a family spending $10/each to go to many games. Also the timing of this seems a little off. I think it creates a negative vibe right after the joy of the Super Regional. I could see where they think the excitement will drive sales, but they aren't even ready to sell these tickets and the details are still sparse. Also with the Foundation audit just coming out, the announcement of ticket increases for basketball and the impending NCAA response, this is just another fatiguing item.

I guess all good things must come to an end. I tend to agree that $10 a seat in the grandstand is quite a leap. I would think something more like $5 would be reasonable.

 

[Morgantown Card]

UofL announced today that they will sell season tickets and individual tickets for $10/ticket. Details are still lacking. Does this include the berm? Kids?

I think its unfortunate that UofL is doing this but I guess that's the reality of things. Assuming this goes for general admission, I think they are over-estimating the demand for tickets. In particular I cannot see a family spending $10/each to go to many games. Also the timing of this seems a little off. I think it creates a negative vibe right after the joy of the Super Regional. I could see where they think the excitement will drive sales, but they aren't even ready to sell these tickets and the details are still sparse. Also with the Foundation audit just coming out, the announcement of ticket increases for basketball and the impending NCAA response, this is just another fatiguing item.

$10 is reasonable for the product and fans have benefited from free tickets for a long time. But the reality is this: If you're a family of four (like mine), this is a big deal. Let's say you go to 2 games per week during the season on average. That just went from zero to $80/week, or $320/month.

Again, I get it, and it's hard to complain. It'd be interesting to see a year over year analysis of total gross receipts, tickets plus concessions, this past year with free admissions versus next year with $10 admissions.

 

[Hold Me Back]

My wife and I went to a handful of games this year (5 or 6), but at a get-in price of $20 for 2 people, I will literally never go again. UofL has made a fatal miscalculation here for attendance.

 

[nccardfan]

This move will be counterproductive to the stadium renovation. They are going to add more seats when it is likely that less people will attend. Plus they could have waited to find out how successful our team is in Omaha. Not to me but to others, it does make a difference to some.

 

[Knucklehank1]

$10 is reasonable for the product and fans have benefited from free tickets for a long time. But the reality is this: If you're a family of four (like mine), this is a big deal. Let's say you go to 2 games per week during the season on average. That just went from zero to $80/week, or $320/month.

Again, I get it, and it's hard to complain. It'd be interesting to see a year over year analysis of total gross receipts, tickets plus concessions, this past year with free admissions versus next year with $10 admissions.

Agree on all accounts. My family of five will probably rarely go to a game. I have 2 tickets to basketball and 2 to football. Because of that I cannot generally take my kids to those games. However we go to a ton of baseball games and now my kids associate most closely with UofL baseball. There is so much going on in the spring (and fluctuations in weather) that it is tough to get to games on time. Because it was free I would still take the kids because we could still catch a few innings. If I'm having to pay $10/ticket there is no way I do that.

Long story short is that I think the attendance will be very much negatively impacted and I think in light of all the other BS going on (much of it centered around $$$) at UofL, the free baseball was a breath of fresh air.

 

[zipp]

A couple of points and corrections...

• The announcement refers to "chairback seating." That's not general admission, technically speaking. I'm not sure what they're going to do; for example, it you wanna sit in the outfield--maybe you still get in free.

• Soccer charges just as much to get into their games.

 

[Knucklehank1]

A couple of points and corrections...

• The announcement refers to "chairback seating." That's not general admission, technically speaking. I'm not sure what they're going to do; for example, it you wanna sit in the outfield--maybe you still get in free.

• Soccer charges just as much to get into their games.

- If they are going to have some free seating still, then why not mention that in the press release? Bad PR move then.
- Soccer only has 11 home games most of which are scheduled at good evening times (and its soccer)

 

[zipp]

Well, they want you to buy tickets--obviously. It's why U of L tries to sell premium seats before they sell the nosebleeds.

I bought a ticket once to attend a soccer game, and that will probably be the last one. The point is that price is not out of line...

 

[Louisvillian]

I'm just going to reflect back at all the incredible baseball I've watched at JPS for free the last 10 years.

I do agree the timing for this news is not ideal but I'll still go to as many games as I always do. Since I don't have kids it's easier on me but I always spend way too much on concessions and Cardinal hats every year there to worry about the admission price.

Sounds like from what TJ said that fans wanted to have their own reserved seats for games instead of the sit where you want. That was never an issue in 2012 and before because the crowds were nothing like they are now.

I guess that's the price of success.

 

[earsky]

Me and my wife too,have enjoyed the hell out of ourselves over the past 10 seasons or so.We really enjoy moving about during the games.That might not be possible going forward,but I'd still pay for whatever seat I could get.
I think this will affect only chairbacks,which I'm ok with.I'd pay 5 for those berm spots and make it up on the 2 dollar Rocks.

 

[Hold Me Back]

I always thought of baseball as the university's way of giving back to the fans. We pay out the ass for football and basketball tickets and drink $8 beers so that when the weather turns nice and baseball season gets here, we can get in for free and drink $2 beers. So much for that idea.

 

[Majestic Red]

I have no problem with them charging for playoff games, especially since regular games are free.

Edit--sorry, I thought this was aimed at the regional tickets. I didn't read the OP properly.

 

[Louisvillian]

Me and my wife too,have enjoyed the hell out of ourselves over the past 10 seasons or so.We really enjoy moving about during the games.That might not be possible going forward,but I'd still pay for whatever seat I could get.
I think this will affect only chairbacks,which I'm ok with.I'd pay 5 for those berm spots and make it up on the 2 dollar Rocks.

Agree. That's the part I have always enjoyed so much is being able to move around and interact with different Cards fans each game.