Early bird season ticket deadline pushed...

Discussion in 'In The Stands' started by dang-str8, Mar 23, 2015.

  1. dang-str8

    dang-str8 1,000+ Posts

    New deadline is April 2nd... Final deadline to buy is April 10...


    I had already decided not to renew after 12 years... but I guess I'm not the only one not renewing...
     
  2. IvanDiabloHorn

    IvanDiabloHorn 1,000+ Posts

    I know of one our group (15 year LF season ticket holder) is not renewing and three more (28 year LF season ticket holders) are on the fence. I am guessing 2 of the three will not renew. It is not about the money and it is about the money. The long time LF dropping are not hurting monetarily, they have had enough of being taken for granted and being unappreciated.
    The unnecessary parking pass perk elimination along with the unnecessary excessive increase in season ticket price following an inferior performance was enough for some.
    The parking pass perk elimination makes people mad as hell. The smartest move Patterson could make right now is to reinstate the free parking pass for LF season ticket holders as it would not be a lot of money on the overall scheme of the budget and would have a positive impact on ticket sales.
    No one would expect increases after a 6-7 season, and yet instead of trying to keep long time LF members, they basically told them to like it or leave. They are leaving.
    Like one told me, even the pre game atmosphere has become something different. Once you leave your tailgate to walk to the game, there are supposed tailgates/gatherings that have nothing to do with the game or Texas fans. More like groups of degenerates and lowlifes that are there for free beer and food and the people sponsoring have nothing to do with Texas or the game.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2015
  3. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    I know this is repeated over and over, but thanks to the rocketman, the pregame atmosphere in the stadium is not much better than outside the stadium.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2015
  4. TXLonghorndad

    TXLonghorndad 100+ Posts

    Rocket Man won't be back next season so Patterson has heard the people or Rocket Man was too expensive for Patterson!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. yelladawgdem

    yelladawgdem 2,500+ Posts

    We wrote our first check the the Foundation in it's first year of 1986. We had been season ticket holders since 1978. With the advent of the Foundation we were moved to chair back seats, 14th row, west deck. Great seats. Great people around us (who were all still there on Thanksgiving night; they are family to us). We were there for all of the good and all of the bad. In the years that we were so horrible, ie David and parts of John, we often had two extra tickets. My brother and I would go down to the north end zone and look for people that were looking to buy the $5 tickets to sit in the end zone and we would give them our tickets so that they could save the $10. We both remembered being poor as kids and people giving us tickets. We didn't do it for good karma, we did it because it was the right thing to do. We made a lot of kids and a lot of single parents very happy. Was grateful to be in that position. I gave 3 tickets and parking away to a game last year to a Mom with two teenage sons. She tried to pay me and I wouldn't take her money. Again, because it was the right thing to do. All of this weighs on me as the ticket deadline approaches. This would be our 38th year to buy season tickets, the last 29 through the Foundation. There was a time when I sort of resented Deloss, but many years ago I realized how lucky we were. Clean programs, top tier hires, academic and athletic facilities second to none, and the program swimming in an ocean of cash. Wow. Was that really just 15 months ago? Often I gave the parking permit to friends as I had a relative just a couple of blocks from the stadium and I would park at his place. We probably didn't use it more than twice a year and again usually gave it to someone that was thrilled to have it. But I haven't decided if I will renew this season. And if I do, will I buy parking? I realize that things change. Hell, I will be 60 when the new season kicks off. I feel as if the program and the magic of those football weekends has left me. Giving me some comfort, that I did not leave them first. All of which is to say, I am just another of the pissed off. And soon may be one of the former ticket holder.

    :usflag::bevo::texasflag:
     
    • Like Like x 2
  6. Texas Taps

    Texas Taps 5,000+ Posts

    :hookem2:
     
    • Like Like x 1
  7. dang-str8

    dang-str8 1,000+ Posts

    So I ******* caved... I got the tickets... I figured Patterson will be gone at some point, but I'll bleed burnt orange til the day I die...

    Besides, I want the coin:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 1
  8. fw_horn

    fw_horn 25+ Posts

    If you are grandfathered you cannot sell the coin through a third party.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  9. yelladawgdem

    yelladawgdem 2,500+ Posts

    Whispers......sell the coin
     
  10. Texas Taps

    Texas Taps 5,000+ Posts

    Mail them back to Patterson
     
    • Like Like x 1
  11. IvanDiabloHorn

    IvanDiabloHorn 1,000+ Posts

    "For Texas I Will...Pay"
     
    • Like Like x 1
  12. nashhorn

    nashhorn 5,000+ Posts

    I too caved, as I knew I would, but don't like it. But as my wife says its just part of your DNA, you're gonna see your Horns till you die or the decision is tickets or starve.
     
  13. upset_horn

    upset_horn 100+ Posts

    I didn't renew either. I'm an alum and staff and the ticket prices just doubled for 2 tickets. I'll scalp.
     
  14. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    Been in my seats 31 years. I'll go a few more seasons as long as the price doesn't get much higher.
     
  15. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    I renewed on a one year trial basis. I want to see what, if anything, the university does when renewal numbers drop below expectations. Someone told me the deadline was extended because renewals had decreased substantially....I wanna say 10,000+ but can't be certain. I guarantee that huge drop was only mildly due to price raise and parking charge. They ballooned largely for resell removal.

    The no resell policy was the one that nearly pushed me over the edge since I live out of town. I'm gonna let that dictator policy play out for a year, gauge my displeasure when life events prevent attendance, and I eat costs a time or two. TG game is a guaranteed money burn as I value home holiday gatherings immensely with family members in twilight years.

    I'm hoping there will even more blowback on the no resell once those who don't read message boards or inspect renewal forms realize they can't reimburse their costs on a missed game. Guess I'm living on the prayer our ruthless new AD will come to his senses and reverse that policy for 2016.

    If no resell in 2016, chances are already 99% I'm out next year after 21 years. I suck it up for price increases, even when an unjustified raise for a losing season occurred. But telling me I'm gonna eat the cost of my tix when a very important wedding, funeral, or holiday gathering takes place...not okay. Trial year for me. Or better yet, knowing what I now do of Patterson, likely my swan song year.
     
  16. nashhorn

    nashhorn 5,000+ Posts

    Hey Brad do you really believe that if you cannot make game and sell to a neighbor for say $100 you'll be caught and expelled? Serious question because I know will happen to me this year as has happened at sometime all previous seasons.
     
  17. yelladawgdem

    yelladawgdem 2,500+ Posts

    i did as Brad did. Knowing that this likely is my swan song as a Charter Member of the Foundation sitting in these seats for the 30th season, and as a season ticket holder over all, for 38 seasons.
     
  18. blym

    blym 250+ Posts

    I was told that I can resell my two tickets because the new required per seat contribution is only $200 per seat and I donated over that. I am not a big donor by any stretch. If you are not in tier one seating or a few tier two sections or the clubs the minimum contribution amounts for resale rights don't seem unreasonable to me. But I can see how if you have had good seats forever and donate less than the new arbitrary minimum its not cool for them to treat you like a scalper just looking to make a buck. I would expect selling them directly and not through an online service would probably not cause problems. I would think that the swap meet here - fan to fan - wouldn't garner negative attention. When I sell mine I sell to friends for face or less, usually less.
     
  19. yelladawgdem

    yelladawgdem 2,500+ Posts

    Blym I don't think that most of us disagree with the concept.......to a point. But for those of us who were donating to the Foundation and buying season tickets, OU tickets and alot of away game tickets when the program was on it's back and was struggling to sell 30k season tickets a year, it is the simple fact of being treated like criminals that irritates us. No it more than irritates us. When a team goes 14 consecutive games over a two year period and does not score a single point in the first quarter, including EVERY game of one entire season, we are of the opinion that we have purchased a level of goodwill. We seem to be alone in that belief. The overwhelming majority of us who have sold extra tickets over the years have seldom realized a profit. Frankly more tickets are given away than are sold, in my opinion. It is the cavalier disregard for the base that is so appalling. For me, "We're Texas" meant something. This policy and the horrible way it was rolled out are NOT who we are.

    :texasflag:
     
  20. dang-str8

    dang-str8 1,000+ Posts

    I already know I wont be able to make the Notre Dame game in 2016 in Austin, so I renewed this year and will renew next year as well, and I will sell the crap out of those tickets... If I get booted, so be it... I wasn't going to renew anyway.
     
  21. blym

    blym 250+ Posts

    You would think there would be a way for the university to crack down on those who buy tickets year after year just for resale to brokers and not affect folks who have been loyally attending for many years and just sell some of their tickets. I hope that the enforcement of the resale policy will likely not be aimed at everybody, and focus on seats regularly advertised on internet sites for values over face. I graduated in 97 so I have only been buying tickets since Mack came along. What hurts me is that I have season tickets to basketball and also 6 baseball season tickets. Incremental increases for every sport annually, added cost for parking, and grandfathered donation requirements for every seat in all the sports is going to ultimately make break the bank...
     
    • Like Like x 1
  22. IvanDiabloHorn

    IvanDiabloHorn 1,000+ Posts

    When do we get the coin??? I want my early bird loyalty coin. It was very expensive.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  23. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    Selling to friends or others through a personal (non-internet) method would go unnoticed I'm sure. Living several hours away, coming off of 6-7, and our likely losing some early games, I don't see that being a likely way to reimburse unused tix on my end.

    I'd have to say those who try on Stubhub even at low prices will get discovered. I doubt the asking price is gonna figure into their witch hunt. When you enter tix into Stubhub I'd assume it connects to UT somehow and those entered tix will be discovered as no resell. Also, I can't imagine them not watching known online resell places like HF. I guess you could be vague in the post and give your row and number of seats, and then discuss details over a PM or text. All of this uncertainty is why I decided to wait and see how it all plays out in black and white.

    The whole situation we've been put in after years of faithful personal and monetary support has created extreme animosity on my end. Many of us feel like our longtime financial support helped build this program back to respectability, only to be treated with absurd disrespect and contempt by a newcomer. And off of a 6-7 season no less. I guess that's the really messed up part. We have a losing season, and our new AD slaps us with a trifecta of middle fingers
     
    • Like Like x 1
  24. nashhorn

    nashhorn 5,000+ Posts

    Amen Brad.
     
  25. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    The great (and by great, I mean the opposite of great) thing about Patterson is that I feel like everyone is in agreement with being unhappy with him. This board has a lot of disagreement about a lot of things from coaches to quarterbacks. However, Patterson has actually managed to unite this board..... against him.

    It seems as though no one disagrees with any of the numerous grievances with him, everyone just prioritizes the grievances differently. It's truly amazing... and this is coming from someone that was initially and regrettably happy with the Patterson hire.
     
  26. Brad Austin

    Brad Austin 2,500+ Posts

    I have to admit it's a good feeling for the fanbase to finally be so united on something relating to football. The recent string of failures have torn us in all sort of conflicting directions. The downside is we're all stuck in the wake of the Patterson money grab and disrespect to fans with no real recourse.

    How messed up is it that the only thing we can do is not renew after years of financial support, and give up something we cherish dearly just to show a johnny-come-lately, greedy jerk we won't tolerate his antics. That's a horrible position to be in.

    It's painfully obvious he doesn't care an ounce about the loyal fanbase or what made Texas sports into what it is today. His actions have consistently alienated the traditions and pride we all treasure. They were quickly tossed aside to transform us into a pro sports organization. All the while the purity aspect that separates college from pro is being trashed.

    It's a shame he has no clue what it means when true fans proudly say "We're Texas". Instead he's all about Longhorn Inc. China, Dubai, Disney, and every other ridiculous scheme that has nothing to do with helping us reclaim success on the field, court, diamond, etc. Whatever customers (previous or new) willing to pay the most...that's his valued fanbase for that season. If that's not the very definition of a professional sports organization, I don't know what is.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  27. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    We will eventually get to the prices that Jerruh Jones charges, maybe even higher. Probably in the $300-350 per game ticket for sideline seat lower level, $250-300 for upper levels, EZ seating something like $275 and an annual donation of $15,000 - 20,000. I've had my seats for 32 seasons, but I do have a "squeak" point where I won't renew. I may continue to pay the minimum LHF dues and keep my Varsity Circle designation, but I'll let the businesses by the tickets from now on. If that happens, it won't turn out well for the program and true fans / supporters of UT sports.
     
  28. Htown77

    Htown77 5,000+ Posts

    I've been very vocal that the biggest basketball problem that will be a huge detriment to any coach is a culture more concerned with selling tickets to corporations and austin residents that are both as groups not invested in UT than about catering to loyal UT students and alumni.

    This attitude is can be summed up with the following:
    $ with empty seats > a strong, smart basketball culture and a crowded arena.

    Unfortunately, it seems that Patterson has taken that attitude which was confined to basketball under Dodds and spread it to football and baseball. I have to agree with all of the above that these non-coaching hire/off the field/administration decisions that alienate the base will not turn out well for the athletic program as a whole. It really is an attitude that is more about prioritizing off the field/court/diamond BS, than about finding the best ways to help Charlie Strong, Shaka Smart, and Augie/Augie's replacement win and recruit.

    Patterson asks "is a trip to china good for PR and revenue?"
    Patterson does not ask "is a trip to china good for helping the coach and players win the games on their schedule? Is all that time in-flight going to be a detriment to coaches and players in the following games?"
     
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2015

Share This Page