How to fill the upper deck in the expanded RRS? Attendance rebates.

[Locutus_of_Boar]

How an attendance rebate would work:  New season ticket purchaser plays regular ticket price.  For every consecutive game that seat is used by the holder or whoever they sell/give the ticket to, the athletic department lowers the next year season ticket renewal by 2% of face value.  In other words for a six game home ticket where every game the seat is filled the following year's price is discounted by 12%, the following year by another 12%.  After 8 years with the seat filled continuously the tickets are essentially fully rebated as long as someone fills the seat every game.

For each year fully attended the season ticket holder receives further credit towards a reduced buy in price on better seats lower in the stadium if they won't to improve their seating.

The assumption is those who could afford it will be enticed to move to better seating while those who cannot afford to move up would do all they could to keep their seats filled.

[RME]

Or...

Consistently win football games.

[Uncommon]

I think there should be some sort of price reduction if you're a "good" season ticket holder and the tickets are used at every game.  But the price shouldn't continue to go down the following seasons.  We'd be losing money.  I'd say maybe a 10% reduction on season ticket price the following season if they are used at every home game.  That way we don't end up with those "sellouts" we had last year.

[Locutus_of_Boar]

Or...

Consistently win football games.

The games that would be most affected by incentive based pricing based on continuous attendance would ironically be the games most likely to be won.  Those games with the weakest opponents are the one that benefit the most.  Bad weather games, which have always been a particular problem for Fayetteville would also benefit.  Everybody will come to see Bama in October.  It's drawing a crowd in the August heat to see LaTech or the November rain to watch a bad Mizzou team that is the challenge.

[ricepig]

Umm, I don't see that happening, hopefully a reduction of sorts for the upper deck. I just want the visitors to pay full price, lol.

[swineology]

Again fans will be asked to answer the call..

[1HourToHogville]

OU uses the ticket scanning system to verify usage.  But unscanned tickets can cause the ticket holder to have their seating moved to a less preferable location. Even if they can't sell them they will make sure to get them to someone who will attend.  They do not want to lose their prime locations. 

[ricepig]

Again fans will be asked to answer the call..

Good, we're due.

[1HourToHogville]

Just for comparison, some info about OU and Tennessee mentioned:  http://newsok.com/article/5465828

[Oklahawg]

OU uses the ticket scanning system to verify usage.  But unscanned tickets can cause the ticket holder to have their seating moved to a less preferable location. Even if they can't sell them they will make sure to get them to someone who will attend.  They do not want to lose their prime locations. 

I love this.

[hobhog]

OU uses the ticket scanning system to verify usage.  But unscanned tickets can cause the ticket holder to have their seating moved to a less preferable location. Even if they can't sell them they will make sure to get them to someone who will attend.  They do not want to lose their prime locations.

SMU uses attendance bonus for basketball now. Football too but no one cares.

I like the idea. Reward fans that actually go and support the teams....

[jkstock04]

Highly doubtful Jeff along would ever go for anything like this.

[Locutus_of_Boar]

Highly doubtful Jeff along would ever go for anything like this.

He might.  TV is where he makes his money but those TV viewer are directly in proportion to the ones who buy tickets in RRS.  He has to have committed fans, not just the ones who'd tune in the Arkansas broadcast if the team is playing well.  He just can't have a half empty upper deck on the east side showing up on TV every week except maybe Alabama.  With the NEZ taking at least another 5K to the lower level they may need to close off the corner sections of the upper west side to get the desired visual effect.

[ChitownHawg]

How an attendance rebate would work:  New season ticket purchaser plays regular ticket price.  For every consecutive game that seat is used by the holder or whoever they sell/give the ticket to, the athletic department lowers the next year season ticket renewal by 2% of face value.  In other words for a six game home ticket where every game the seat is filled the following year's price is discounted by 12%, the following year by another 12%.  After 8 years with the seat filled continuously the tickets are essentially fully rebated as long as someone fills the seat every game.

For each year fully attended the season ticket holder receives further credit towards a reduced buy in price on better seats lower in the stadium if they won't to improve their seating.

The assumption is those who could afford it will be enticed to move to better seating while those who cannot afford to move up would do all they could to keep their seats filled.

So in about 15 years or so the majority of the stadium seats are not making money?

Why should the school benefit you simply because you bought the ticket and showed up?

If Jeff Long is worried about butts in seats then - You buy the season ticket and if you don't fill the seat for 50% of the games then you will not be allowed to buy season tickets. You have to purchase per game.

Not sure why a fan feels they should monetarily benefit from attending the game. Isn't attending the game the whole purpose of purchasing the ticket?

[hogcard1964]

Or...

Consistently win football games.

+1000
What was our attendance when we won 10 and 11 games 5 years ago?

[Inhogswetrust]

Again fans will be asked to answer the call..

As they always have been, should be and done everywhere at every school.

[jkstock04]

He might.  TV is where he makes his money but those TV viewer are directly in proportion to the ones who buy tickets in RRS.  He has to have committed fans, not just the ones who'd tune in the Arkansas broadcast if the team is playing well.  He just can't have a half empty upper deck on the east side showing up on TV every week except maybe Alabama.  With the NEZ taking at least another 5K to the lower level they may need to close off the corner sections of the upper west side to get the desired visual effect.

I would lean towards disagreeing. My opinion is what they are going to add on with this renovation will be high demand and actually only increase ticket sales. We are talking a few chair backs and box suites. I don't see that causing a "watering down" effect like you are suggesting.

Besides that, even if what you say is true and this watering down effect essentially makes the upper deck more bare...does it really matter in terms of $$$ what it looks like on tv? These extra chair backs and suites being filled up are going to be higher priced and essentially bring in more $$ even if attendance stays the same.

Not only that, but how often do the tv cameras actually show the upper deck anyways? I go to every home game so I'm not sure what it looks like on tv. But I would be surprised if many....if any shots showed anything of the upper deck.

Lastly, think about this...Jeff Long, right in the face of the basketball program going down the toilet, raised ticket prices. Seemingly low demand product and raised ticket prices.  Doesn't seem like the type of guy to give out rebates to sell a few more tickets with this new project.

[texas tush hog]

As they always have been, should be and done everywhere at every school.

Only after the coaches answer the call.

[Hogarusa]

Or...

Consistently win football games.

This is the correct answer.
Winning puts butts in the seats

[atekido]

Winning a lot and winning consistently is the only real fix.  If we can just make it through the first couple months without getting upset and continue to play how we do towards the back half of the season attendance will skyrocket.

[razoredge178]

All that my tickets for football, basketball, and baseball have done are go up...up...and up. Donations go up. Everything goes up. Except for the winning %. It has went down...down.

[code red]

How an attendance rebate would work:  New season ticket purchaser plays regular ticket price.  For every consecutive game that seat is used by the holder or whoever they sell/give the ticket to, the athletic department lowers the next year season ticket renewal by 2% of face value.  In other words for a six game home ticket where every game the seat is filled the following year's price is discounted by 12%, the following year by another 12%.  After 8 years with the seat filled continuously the tickets are essentially fully rebated as long as someone fills the seat every game.

For each year fully attended the season ticket holder receives further credit towards a reduced buy in price on better seats lower in the stadium if they won't to improve their seating.

The assumption is those who could afford it will be enticed to move to better seating while those who cannot afford to move up would do all they could to keep their seats filled.

How are you going to police that?

[code red]

Winning yes.....those of us in attendance vs Bama in 2010 can attest that.  That place was absolutely rocking...not a empty seat to be had.  That atmosphere was the best I can remember.

[goodguytex]

Winning yes.....those of us in attendance vs Bama in 2010 can attest that.  That place was absolutely rocking...not a empty seat to be had.  That atmosphere was the best I can remember.

I agree... I was at that game. Had DJ not been hurt... We win that one.

[RME]

+1000
What was our attendance when we won 10 and 11 games 5 years ago?

Pretty dadgum high. 2010 was my freshman year at the U of A, and against Bama that year, DWR was nuts.

[ricepig]

Pretty dadgum high. 2010 was my freshman year at the U of A, and against Bama that year, DWR was nuts.

Our record for season ticket sells is 2012.

[justmakeit2thebcs]

Why would we reduce the ticket prices for those who show up?  It equals less revenue and more than likely no more butts in the seats.  If someone doesn't show up even though they have already paid for the ticket, you think 2% off $330 (a whopping $6.60) is going to make them show up?  how about 10%?  That's only $33.  They just threw away $55 for one game. 

Maybe we should raise ticket prices 10% then give it back to you if you show up.   LOL.  That would piss people off. 

Just win baby!

[RME]

Our record for season ticket sells is 2012.

What does that have to do with actual game attendance? Especially in 2010 and 2011?

[ricepig]

What does that have to do with actual game attendance? Especially in 2010 and 2011?

What does actual game attendance in 2010 and 2011 have to do with the OP?

[RME]

What does actual game attendance in 2010 and 2011 have to do with the OP?

..............

My reply to the OP was to consistently win games. Another poster backed that up by saying, yeah, back in 2010 and 2011 when we were having 10-win seasons, attendance was high and the upper decks were full. So, to piggyback his response, I agreed. See how all of that relates to my original post to the OP? Using examples is a pretty effective way to prove a point.

Should I lay it out a little more explicitly or

[hawganatic]

OU uses the ticket scanning system to verify usage.  But unscanned tickets can cause the ticket holder to have their seating moved to a less preferable location. Even if they can't sell them they will make sure to get them to someone who will attend.  They do not want to lose their prime locations.

Think this is a far better idea than bribing ticket holders to come to games with rebates.  The fans that show up get the best seats...

[ricepig]

..............

My reply to the OP was to consistently win games. Another poster backed that up by saying, yeah, back in 2010 and 2011 when we were having 10-win seasons, attendance was high and the upper decks were full. So, to piggyback his response, I agreed. See how all of that relates to my original post to the OP? Using examples is a pretty effective way to prove a point.

Should I lay it out a little more explicitly or

To which I added that our highest season ticket sells came off those seasons, do I need to lay it out a little more explicitly?

If you don't think there was a correlation between those seasons and the season ticket sells.........

[RME]

To which I added that our highest season ticket sells came off those seasons, do I need to lay it out a little more explicitly?

If you don't think there was a correlation between those seasons and the season ticket sells.........

Sure I do. Back to back 10 win seasons caused 2012 to see a record in season ticket sales.

I may have misinterpreted your reply when you quoted my post. If so, I apologize.

[DeltaBoy]

Winning Cures All!

[007 License To Squeal]

How an attendance rebate would work:  New season ticket purchaser plays regular ticket price.  For every consecutive game that seat is used by the holder or whoever they sell/give the ticket to, the athletic department lowers the next year season ticket renewal by 2% of face value.  In other words for a six game home ticket where every game the seat is filled the following year's price is discounted by 12%, the following year by another 12%.  After 8 years with the seat filled continuously the tickets are essentially fully rebated as long as someone fills the seat every game.

For each year fully attended the season ticket holder receives further credit towards a reduced buy in price on better seats lower in the stadium if they won't to improve their seating.

The assumption is those who could afford it will be enticed to move to better seating while those who cannot afford to move up would do all they could to keep their seats filled.

What OTHER prices would rise to offset the seat revenue loss?

[Locutus_of_Boar]

What OTHER prices would rise to offset the seat revenue loss?

The rebates would only apply to season seats sold in the upper decks which is preferable to a bunch of unsold or sold but unused seats.  Those who do buy and regularly attend become the base to eventually purchase lover level seats.  The admin eases that transfer by giving them credits based on their percentage attendance in the upper deck.  This makes the transition to paying customer in the lower deck easier where these same loyal fans will eventually pay back into the system much more than if they are treated as a sold upper deck ticket with little regard to whether they show up or not or are willing to contribute more in the future.

It's a long term view towards how the next generation of fans is brought into and kept with the Razorback Nation.  It means valuing every Arkansas fan against their potential lifetime contribution and the willingness to show up week after week and sit in bad seats, often in bad weather, once in a while watching a less then stellar performance against an uninteresting opponent is a good measure of that lifetime potential.

[elviscat]

Five dollar seats would fill it in a big hurry.

[Inhogswetrust]

Five dollar seats would fill it in a big hurry.

Obviously you've never had to do any yield management strategies.

[BorderPatrol]

+1000
What was our attendance when we won 10 and 11 games 5 years ago?

If you would have attended, you would have known.

bp

[RazorPiggie]

+1000
What was our attendance when we won 10 and 11 games 5 years ago?

2009 average 65,112
2010 average 68,932
2011 average 66,990

2014 average 66,521

2015 average was 69,070 (according to wiki but not sure I believe that)

[NaturalStateReb]

How an attendance rebate would work:  New season ticket purchaser plays regular ticket price.  For every consecutive game that seat is used by the holder or whoever they sell/give the ticket to, the athletic department lowers the next year season ticket renewal by 2% of face value.  In other words for a six game home ticket where every game the seat is filled the following year's price is discounted by 12%, the following year by another 12%.  After 8 years with the seat filled continuously the tickets are essentially fully rebated as long as someone fills the seat every game.

For each year fully attended the season ticket holder receives further credit towards a reduced buy in price on better seats lower in the stadium if they won't to improve their seating.

The assumption is those who could afford it will be enticed to move to better seating while those who cannot afford to move up would do all they could to keep their seats filled.

That's actually a fascinating idea.  I think the hard part would be verifying attendance.

[psooie]

There is a reason most NFL stadiums are between 60,000-70,000

[wholehog92]

For those wondering how you verify, the tickets are scanned on entry.  If we are scanning tix, they are in a database.  Sold vs attendance isn't hard to figure after that.

I like the idea of 100% attendance moves you a spot up on the donor level for seat assignments.  Reward that doesn't affect revenue.

[tusksincolorado]

.25 beer with no access from the Lower Bowl.

I mean we can't go into the Sky Boxes to drink!

Take care of The Minions!

[HogimusMaximus]

Get Better Bert and the tickets will sell themselves.