Football season Tickets on Sale

[dmclone]

I'm caught in the middle of these two mentalities. I think for the younger fans, it's really easy to say "it take money to build a winning program - pony up" and such.

I hear you.

You've got to have what they call "Cyclone Memory". You have to forget about everything that has happened in the last few years and think about how great of time we had in Phoenix. I've been doing that for about 5 years now.

[ISUFan22]

Never...at any point have I or anyone else I read in this thread or others used the age thing - until now.

And I'll lose a ton of respect for the both of you - whom I've truly enjoyed debating this with and hearing your side...

If you continue on this age thing. I may be 27 and I did grow up an evil Hawkeye fan - yet I always rooted for ISU. I firmly remember those bad years. I coached a couple kids this last fall that are sons to players that were in ISU uniforms during those bad years.

I really would urge you to drop this age thing - as it doesn't do anything for your side of this debate but taint it.

[dmclone]

dmclone I see your reasoning as to why you can demand a higher price for a 360 or ps3 vs a Wii, however, before those consoles could ask such a high price, Sony and Microsoft invested a great deal of money into the development process, and they will not see a profit on that investment for at least a couple of years. That is where ISU is today. We need to take a chance and invest for that potential future gain. It's a risk, but without it the next level will remain just a dream.

True but we're the consumer. Microsoft and Sony actually lose money on each console.

I would like to see an example of a football team that took it to the next level without actually winning first.

For example, when KSU went from bottom feeders to the top of the Big 12 north a few years back did they reach this level because of charging more for season tickets first and then started winning or did they start winning and then charge more for tickets.

What about Boise St? Texas Tech?

I'm just asking, I don't know the answer.

[DaddyMac]

I presume you're talking to me and DMClone.

I'm not limiting it to the age thing. And certainly not trying to imply anything negative about younger fans like yourself. It might actually be a little more of a slam for the older fan. Hell in my times our season ticket base has increased by a third. I doubt that much of that is because of the 40+ demographic (BTW, a demographic analysis would be interesting if anybody has one) Also, I'm older but not nearly old enough to qualify for Hawkeye fan status as a geriatric. At 35, I think I fall in the middle of this theory.

What I'm saying is if you've been a donor for the past 5 years, you haven't put in as much as a 10 year or 15. At somepoint, people want a ROI before being continually hit up for more and more. And if you're like my father-in-law who's been writing checks since '81 and getting Criner, Walden and to a lesser extent McCarney - well how easy is it to continually see prices and demands go up and up when you've seen little for what you've done?

There's alot of truth to the fact that older fans have a "comfort level" with the past and how comparatively cheap ISU football has been. But that's not to say it's "cheap" to people, or goes without sacrifice. It's also easier for somebody not having that comfort level to accept a new one. And it's easier to look to the future when you don't have so much of a negative past.

And to that, I could reverse it on you by saying that the oft-mentioned opinion here that "ISU fans have had it good for too long" is a direct assult on older fans. As if they haven't carried their weight over the years.

Hope that's clearer and not so much of a slam.

PS. Nice to be over from the Dark-Side, isn't it. Grew up in Dubuque. Had all the usual hawk garbage. Even that God-awful black satin "Hayden Fry" jacket. Ugghhh.

[dmclone]

And I'll lose a ton of respect for the both of you - whom I've truly enjoyed debating this with and hearing your side...

If you continue on this age thing. I may be 27 and I did grow up an evil Hawkeye fan - yet I always rooted for ISU. I firmly remember those bad years. I coached a couple kids this last fall that are sons to players that were in ISU uniforms during those bad years.

I really would urge you to drop this age thing - as it doesn't do anything for your side of this debate but taint it.

No one ever called you out. I didn't know your age (or care) until you mentioned it.

What we're trying to say is that people that have been going to games for 20 years versus 3 years will have a little different view point on the whole situation. Just like someone that has been going for 40 years will have a different view point then the person who has been going for 20 years.

You can't say you've heard it before if you haven't heard it before.

[ISUFan22]

I know you didn't call me out, yet the issue strikes me the same way. It's not the first time I've heard/read fans be put into a silo based on their age.

That disappoints me, as at the end of the day we're all still fans.

[dmclone]

First you said:

"Never...at any point have I or anyone else I read in this thread or others used the age thing - until now."

Next you said:

"It's not the first time I've heard/read fans be put into a silo based on their age."


I think you're overly sensitive about the age thing. 27 isn't that young anyway.

[dmclone]

In the end, here is how it will probably go down for me:

Jan-Mar *itch about ticket prices but buy them anyway
April-August Go to spring game and get excited about the year
Sep-Jan Hit reality


Next year it starts over again. I must be ok with it because I've been doing it for a few years.

[ISUFan22]

First you said:

"Never...at any point have I or anyone else I read in this thread or others used the age thing - until now."

Next you said:

"It's not the first time I've heard/read fans be put into a silo based on their age."


I think you're overly sensitive about the age thing. 27 isn't that young anyway.

I should have clarified. I was referring to the football ticket discussions. Sorry for misleading you.

And I'm not being sensitive about it. If you have a position on the season tickets - please state it - I've enjoying hearing all aspects. But by all means don't start making a person's age (or other things like it) an issue.

[CyCy]

I think the $90 increase this year is just the start of annual increases. Last year we were last in the Big12 with a $28M budget - Baylor was 11th at $31M.

30,000 season tickets times $90 is $2.7M - doesn't even get us out of last place.

The median Big 12 budget is around $46M. Still a long way to go.

[wonkadog]

It's not the first time I've heard/read fans be put into a silo based on their age.

Let's hope no "ISU is a farmer-hick-school bashers" decide to read this thread. I'm lovin' the silo reference.

[aeroclone]

I would say that the winning has already started. We've been to 5 bowls in seven years, been knocking on the door or a North title, we have one of the hottest up and coming coaches in the nation, and a great new facilities plan.

All this for the kind of money Baylor is spending. I would say that is the first step in the cycle. Now, with some recent success and record ticket sales, its time to work on the revenue issues. Hopefully that will go along with more wins, better bowls etc. and it will continue to spiral upwards.

I just think to expect this program to get much better without an increase in funding before we "pony-up" just is not realistic. We are already doing more for less. If we have to be a 9-10 win program and top tier bowl team for a couple of years to justify the increase in prices, then people will say why do we need more money, the team is already doing great with the budget we have.

[dmclone]

I guess I'm going to be Mr. Negative today. I'm excited about the future but lets be real with the "recent success".


12 yrs has only beaten 2 conf teams with a winning record above .500

In 9 years this is the conference winning %
Texas 0.762 64 20
Nebraska 0.699 58 25
Oklahoma 0.690 58 26
Kansas State 0.651 54 29
Colorado 0.583 49 35
Texas Tech 0.575 46 34
Texas A&M 0.549 45 37
Missouri 0.400 32 48
Oklahoma St 0.388 31 49
Iowa State 0.312 25 55
Kansas 0.250 20 60
Baylor 0.100 8 72