UT Athletic Dept becoming desperate

[Riversetvol]

just got an e-mail from my neighbor in Section PP for the last 38 years that he just got a notice from the UTAD that he could buy FOUR additional season tickets this year. And this is an even year with Florida and Alabama coming in along with an attractive non conference team in Oregon.

Just think if we go 6-6 or worse this year ant they are trying to sell season tickets without the Tide and Gators.

The greedy bastards have finally killed the Golden Goose.

[aadicof]

It's the High Def TV.

[AtlantaVol]

just got an e-mail from my neighbor in Section PP for the last 38 years that he just got a notice from the UTAD that he could buy FOUR additional season tickets this year. And this is an even year with Florida and Alabama coming in along with an attractive non conference team in Oregon.

Just think if we go 6-6 or worse this year ant they are trying to sell season tickets without the Tide and Gators.

The greedy bastards have finally killed the Golden Goose.

1) Don't know why I wasted money donating to UT this year because you didn't have to in order to get your Season Tickets. I know several people who didn't donate and were not planning on renewing Season Tickets but the UTAD has actually called and almost begged them to buy the tickets.

2) I have never gotten the offer to buy Away game tickets to UGA type games due to not being a huge donor. I got one for UGA tickets this year though.

You are right- the 2011 Home Schedule is quite weak so next year will be even worse. In this economy people are tired of shelling out big bucks for the crap UT has put on the field since 2005.

[Little Dipper]

Donation required to buy UGA season tickets was over 10K two years ago. Last year it dropped to 4K. Even lower this year (possibly nothing?). I don't remember the exact stats. It was in the AJC last week.

This economy is horrific and will get worse. College football may never be the same.

[Riversetvol]

In the late 70s and early 80s the economy was in almost as bad a shape as it is now and we never had an empty seat at Neyland Stadium even with Johnny's mostly medicore teams.

The difference now is the prevalance of every game being on TV and as mentioned earlier HDTV.

[Little Dipper]

In the late 70s and early 80s the economy was in almost as bad a shape as it is now and we never had an empty seat at Neyland Stadium even with Johnny's mostly medicore teams.

The difference now is the prevalance of every game being on TV and as mentioned earlier HDTV.

I think the HDTV and most games on TV has made a huge difference, too. It's kind of a perfect storm, including a bad football situation at UT at the moment.

Have to disagree about the 70s and 80s. We should be so lucky. This is Great Depression II. If you don't believe me, wait until later this year.

[golfvol]

I got the same communication fro TN. I was told I could by up to 4 more tickets in the North or South lower deck. There were about 12-14 sections listed where I could get the extras.

[vol45]

What are they supposed to do?, wring their hands, say woe is me and we know you don't want to come to the games but.............
I have been in business 30 years and have made some changes in the last 18 months that I thought I would never make.

[Tnphil]

What are they supposed to do?, wring their hands, say woe is me and we know you don't want to come to the games but.............
I have been in business 30 years and have made some changes in the last 18 months that I thought I would never make.

BINGO!!!..

[mensa]

We have not had a sellout of season tickets since Hamilton stabbed the grandfathered ticket holders in the back.

[Riversetvol]

OK lets take this scenario in ANY business.

You have one group of customers(fans) who between contributions and ticket purchases produce revenue of $60 million dollars a year.

You have another group(television) who pays you and each member of the conference $8million annually for the rights to televise the regular season games(straight from the AJC on the SEC payout this year)

Which group you going to take care of?

[Napervol]

Any business should always take care of its old business first before flirting with new business to the demise of the old.

I would wager they will be packed every game at the bammer this year. Product improvement will bring in new ticket holders as us old farts tire of the constant changes within the tickets/schedule/program. Tough times do not last forever.....well, unless you are Vandy, and then you don't care because the second you get out of school you are well employed.

[WestcoastVol]

If you only watch UT games at home on your HDTV, then you're not a real Vol fan, I don't care how much money you give.

Only real Vol fans go to Neyland, squish themselves in-between rows and rows of 300 pound rednecks, sit on their hands, tell people to sit down, woo during Rocky Top and leave during the third quarter. If you don't absolutely love that more than life itself, then you ain't shit.

[Niblick]

my first up close and in person sign of how bad UT's fans were fed up and staying away from Neyalnd was walking into the Bama game in 06. I stood and watched 2 guys haggle for tix while i was tailgating and drinking my beers, right across the street from Calhouns. 4 tix on the 50 yard line 20 rows up for $600 and they couldn't come to an agreement and the guy scalping the tix still had them in his hand the last time i saw him before i went into Neyland.

ONE of those tickets in the horseshoe for a michgan game would run you $1K and this guy couldnt sell all 4 for $600. that's pathetic.