Unless all of the 1500 student tickets are sold, ALL 11,000 of the
     Maine students have had access. On the other hand the remaining
     1,000,000 Maine residents (not to mention alum's from out of state)
     have had exactly zero access for these first four games.
 
     Now,  In no way am I suggesting cutting the 1500 student tickets.  All
     of the students should have access to all of those seats.  However, I
     think that we can all agree that if the students are not interested
     then they should be made available to the general public.  (I still
     think empty seats are a crime.)  I think that we can probably all
     agree that all 1500 tickets don't need to be infinitely available to
     the students.  The ticket office should not be holding 1000 tickets
     right up until game time, for example.  At least some of those seats
     if not spoken for by students should be made available to the public
     with at least enough lead time to drive to Orono say from Kittery.
 
     .........More later........
 
 
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Hockey Ticket Availability
Author:  [log in to unmask] at Internet
Date:    10/23/98 12:44 PM
 
 
Just to follow up on Clair's comments, which I mostly agree with.
 
What also must never be forgotten is Maine is a university.  There is a
duty to taxpayers, but also to the 11,000 students at the University of
Maine.  If you figure students get 1500 seats, that means about 14
percent of the student body has access to attend games.
 
I want to see the building as full as it can be, but I do not want this
to come at the expense of the students.  Too much has contributed to
the decline of student attendence to just cut the number of tickets,
even after 4 games.   It will probably happen, but I hope that the
administration gives deference to students and cuts only the bare
amount to be feasible.  Remember, more students will be wanting to come
out in February in the middle of a title run, than in October.  I'm
worried a decision will be made with too much haste.
 
Another point in this discussion here should be that in addition to the
fact that only 14 percent of the student body can access Maine hockey
games, but the fact that there are almost 4,000 seats promised out
already.  If we want more general public seats (and I think there
should be) let's cut into that too.  Let's not just advocate the cut of
student tickets, there are lots of donors and season ticket holders who
don't show up for their seats either.
 
-dt