Looking for Opinions Re: Ticket Inventory Email

[Old_Glory_RU]

I'm assuming everyone received the email notifying us that the Athletic Department now has a limited number of available tickets for our next four opponents because they returned tickets that we had given them...My question for all of you is why don't schools sell the full allotment that we give them?

I know it could be many factors, travel distance for example. Or perhaps it's our performance thus far and we just aren't a desirable match up, however, for many of these schools it'll be their first time traveling and playing at Rutgers so you'd think people would at least want to check us out and see what it's all about over here. And I can't help but wonder if maybe our game day atmosphere is just significantly below that of the other Big Ten schools (I haven't been to an away Big Ten game so I can't compare, however, I have been to some SEC games and they certainly blow us away. That being said I know it's football country down there and all of that...) that it's not worth their money/time to come here. If that's the case what could we do to raise our game day atmosphere?


Anyway, curious to hear what you all think.

 

[vkj91]

Nothing wrong with our game day atmosphere. For big games it's actually quite good and better than a lot of "bigger" places. People only have so much disposable income. If you were a fan of OSU or MSU woudl you spend vacation days and money to come to RU or save it in case you have to go to the B1G Championship game or NC playoff? How about the Rose Bowl? Maybe Nebraska fans thought South Beach was a more desirable location?

 

[knightfan7]

I'm assuming everyone received the email notifying us that the Athletic Department now has a limited number of available tickets for our next four opponents because they returned tickets that we had given them...My question for all of you is why don't schools sell the full allotment that we give them?

I know it could be many factors, travel distance for example. Or perhaps it's our performance thus far and we just aren't a desirable match up, however, for many of these schools it'll be their first time traveling and playing at Rutgers so you'd think people would at least want to check us out and see what it's all about over here. And I can't help but wonder if maybe our game day atmosphere is just significantly below that of the other Big Ten schools (I haven't been to an away Big Ten game so I can't compare, however, I have been to some SEC games and they certainly blow us away. That being said I know it's football country down there and all of that...) that it's not worth their money/time to come here. If that's the case what could we do to raise our game day atmosphere?


Anyway, curious to hear what you all think.

I'd think it has to do more with the matchup. The way the season is going they probably don't think it'll be much of a game so they're not going to spend a lot of $ to come east.

Also, are they selling them at face value? Are they requiring an additional contribution? At Rutgers Bowl tickets aren't specifically bought thru the school. As many if not more people get them directly from the bowl or on the secondary market. Maybe there's some of that too?

 

[vkj91]

I'd think it has to do more with the matchup. The way the season is going they probably don't think it'll be much of a game so they're not going to spend a lot of $ to come east.

Also, are they selling them at face value? Are they requiring an additional contribution? At Rutgers Bowl tickets aren't specifically bought thru the school. As many if not more people get them directly from the bowl or on the secondary market. Maybe there's some of that too?

I doubt MSU and OSU fans were waiting to see how our season started to determine whether to come or not.

 

[knightfan7]

I doubt MSU and OSU fans were waiting to see how our season started to determine whether to come or not.

But if you're going to 1 away game you're likely to pick the best matchup, no?

 

[ecojew]

There are far more than enough OSU alumni in the greater metro area to sell out their 3000 seats so this is quite surprising to hear. Michigan State returning tix is not very surprising as they only brought around 1500 or so when they played here the last time, so I don't think they travel as well as OSU and have fewer alums in the area. Nebraska is more surprising than MSU, given their reputation as a traveling fan base and the opportunity to visit NYC, which they've seldom been able to do in conjunction with Husker football. How many Husker fans were in Miami? Didn't sound like too many and I was watching the part of the game when the caught up and forced the OT.

 

[PSU_Nut]

Hard core college football fans want to see all the venues. Those are a very small minority. The majority are only interested in the big names and big games. About 4 years ago most people would pass on MSU game. So things change. I also think fans are traveling less in general.

 

[knightfan7]

I doubt MSU and OSU fans were waiting to see how our season started to determine whether to come or not.

But if you're going to 1 away game you're likely to pick the best matchup, no?

 

[e5fdny]

Hard core college football fans want to see all the venues. Those are a very small minority. The majority are only interested in the big names and big games. About 4 years ago most people would pass on MSU game. So things change. I also think fans are traveling less in general.

While I was surprised like the rest of you when I got the email I do agree with the bolded.

 

[bac2therac]

i am more surprised at why these games are not sold out...speaks volumes about the lack of RU fanbase/NJ fanbase. I realize the crappy start has something to do with it but I expected the games to be sold out before the season started. The national champion is coming in but the game is not sold out...Julie and the ticket office need to do a better job. I hope those dynamic ticket prices are dropping

 

[Knight Shift]

Maybe the fans saw the video of the melee outside the Hale Center and fear for their safety.

 

[e5fdny]

i am more surprised at why these games are not sold out...speaks volumes about the lack of RU fanbase/NJ fanbase. I realize the crappy start has something to do with it but I expected the games to be sold out before the season started. The national champion is coming in but the game is not sold out...Julie and the ticket office need to do a better job. I hope those dynamic ticket prices are dropping

I'll give you the crappy start for part of it but as I have said for years on here even with the B1G I really don't think the fan base will ever be much bigger. Have always felt 60/65K is our ceiling no matter what we do.

And people have to realize THAT number should not be considered a failure or a bad thing.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

There are far more than enough OSU alumni in the greater metro area to sell out their 3000 seats so this is quite surprising to hear. Michigan State returning tix is not very surprising as they only brought around 1500 or so when they played here the last time, so I don't think they travel as well as OSU and have fewer alums in the area. Nebraska is more surprising than MSU, given their reputation as a traveling fan base and the opportunity to visit NYC, which they've seldom been able to do in conjunction with Husker football. How many Husker fans were in Miami? Didn't sound like too many and I was watching the part of the game when the caught up and forced the OT.

I was very surprised to see that they've returned their allotments, this early, to be honest. Typically schools don't return their allotments until 2 weeks prior to any road contest. Could be a product of all our issues this year, PLUS, the fact that MSU/OSU fans think they may be doing "extra" travelling come January.

BTW - MSU sold out their allotment, filling the 2 sections next to me (122 and 123) without a single seat vacant, plus another little section or two in the upper tiers. OSU - I would almost bet - has 6-7,000 fans in the stadium, if not more (if we keep going as such), on game day. Looked like Nebraska had a very large contingent. That stadium has always been difficult to hear the "noise,' when watching on TV, and now that the upper tier corners have been "sliced out," probably a lot of sound escape as well.