I didn't buy my tickets the day of the game.  I bought them the Monday
before the game over the telephone.  Yes individual tickets are available
but you have to buy the "rival pack" and pay for a basketball game that
you're not going to drive for 3 hours to go to.  And there are precious few
of them besides.

Nope the season ticket people are not "required to be less loud" they just
generally are.  With the whole arena almost totally season ticket seats it's
definitely quieter that the old days when I could afford to go.  If it
weren't for the student section it would be really quiet.

That $30K to $50K isn't really "new" dollars since almost all of those seats
were being sold before anyway for almost all of the games.  As I said before
the Alfond was usually sold out or close to it at least at every game that I
went to.

It is a fact that a lot less people are going to the games. Yes the arena is
mostly full but it's the same people for every game.  All those people who
used to buy tickets on Monday and at the door, thousands every year, aren't
there anymore unless they shelled out the bucks for season tickets.   It's
the same season ticket holders for every game except for now and then when
someone can't go and they pass on their ticket.  Basically it's only the
people that can afford season tickets AND live close enough that it's
reasonable to get to all or most of the games.  No matter how you think
about that's kind of an exclusive group.  Basically the people who can't
afford season tickets and/or live far away are now, for all practical
purposes, excluded.  I don't think that's fair.   I personally know quite a
few people who used to go now and then but don't any more because they can't
afford it.


-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne T. Smith [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 3:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: season tickets vs. noise

Sigh, how did we get into this :-(

Individual tickets were (maybe are still?) available to many games.

But how, in tough financial times and in good conscience, can the
University be expected to hold back ticket sales just in case someone
will want to walk up on the day of a game?  I don't have anything to do
with management, but I'll guess the approximately 300 new season ticket
holders is bringing in $30,000 to $50,000 new dollars this year.  Are
those 300 people required to be less loud now that they go to every
game?  It's great that we have more people wanting to go to some games
than the arena will hold.  That doesn't imply (to me) that the
University is somehow being unfair.

The University works hard (IMHO) at marketing the men's hockey team to
the widest possible audience.  Good coaches and players, radio and TV
coverage, student turnout, season ticket holders, sell-outs, corporate
sponsors, promotions, and a motivated onsite staff don't just happen.

The Athletic department has excellent management right now.  Last I
heard, they were looking for ways to increase seating capacity during
the upcoming renovation.  Maybe more season tickets, but maybe more room
for students and the occasional walk-up sale?

Maybe there's too much noise!  If it was a lot quieter, the students
would get bored and quickly not come.  Then there would be lots of room
at all the games ;-) It must be Friday afternoon.  :-)

>I don't remember very many empty seats when there were a lot non-season
>ticket seats.  I have seen a significant number of empty season ticket
>seats, but I suppose that since they were paid for so it's ok.   I
certainly
>understand the economic concern however.  I guess it's a balance between
>money and noise.  Since the hockey program pays for itself a few times over
>already, I vote for more noise, AND of course my own selfish interest in
>being able to go to more games.   And don't forget, team performance,
>recruiting, fan enjoyment, etc. are all at least partly related to noise.
>
>I also want to say this. It's not just about money and noise.  I am an
>alumnus of UMO (71) and now I have two children going there and another one
>starting next year.  I can't afford season tickets.  I can afford a couple
>of tickets 3 or 4 times a year.  And so can a lot of other people like me.
>Most of my friends are in my category and they're not going to games any
>more either.  Isn't there something to be said for having enough regular
>ticket seats so that in the course of a season a lot more people are able
to
>at least get to a couple games?  And don't forget, there are a lot of
people
>who live a long way away that are willing to drive the distance a few times
>in a season but to buy a season ticket and drive a long way for every game
>isn't reasonable for most people.
>I just have to question the fairness to the general public that access to
>the hockey games at a taxpayer supported institution is so restricted
>towards people with money.  Just because it's possible to almost totally
>sell out the whole arena for season tickets doesn't make it fair or even
>right.
>
>GO BLUE!!!   BEAT BU!!!