Williams & Blum Pod: ISU raises prices, bowl win, foul play in the CFP?

[Cyclone06]

The difference there is that, it's not feasible to enclose or put heaters on every seat. But for beer sales, the obstacles are much lower.

And to be clear, I'm not saying that Sukup patrons would or wouldn't abdicate their spots of beer were sold elsewhere. I'm just saying that the PR messaging needs to be handled correctly.

Well the obstacles have been removed in some areas and there are still open seats. Is there really a demand?

 

[CyCity]

Williams said $3 mil on the pod.

That was gross sales, not profit.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Well that’s insulting haha. I actually think we should sell alcohol in the stadium, as long as we improve concessions. With rising prices we’re going to have to improve the fan experience for games and alcohol sales is an obvious one to take advantage of. The idea it’s going to generate a bunch of revenue for us has been debunked a million times but here we are.

How has it been debunked? Our peers are profiting.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

That was gross sales, not profit.

So even if it's 1/3 that it's 1 mil a year.

 

[CyCity]

How has it been debunked? Our peers are profiting.

Pollard has addressed it so many times and has been very transparent on the research they have done on it. If you think he’s lying, that’s your right. I honestly don’t care anymore because this is exhausting.

 

[Trice]

Well that’s insulting haha. I actually think we should sell alcohol in the stadium, as long as we improve concessions. With rising prices we’re going to have to improve the fan experience for games and alcohol sales is an obvious one to take advantage of. The idea it’s going to generate a bunch of revenue for us has been debunked a million times but here we are.

Everyone understands this. Literally everyone. It's about not leaving revenue streams untapped even if they don't produce massive windfalls. Blum was literally on the podcast last night talking about how every dollar counts.

If you don't want beer that's fine but there's no need to mischaracterize other people's positions.

 

[Mr Janny]

Well the obstacles have been removed in some areas and there are still open seats. Is there really a demand?

Have you seen the bars in Sukup during a game? Not to mention the number of people who head to the tailgate lots at halftime? I don't think anyone would deny that there's a demand for alcohol, even Pollard. It's not a question of demand.

 

[CyCity]

So even if it's 1/3 that it's 1 mil a year.

Now we’re getting somewhere. $1 mill in profit on alcohol sales vs the potential profit loss on Sukup ticket sales. That’s what you need to look at.

 

[CyCity]

Everyone understands this. Literally everyone. It's about not leaving revenue streams untapped even if they don't produce massive windfalls. Blum was literally on the podcast last night talking about how every dollar counts.

If you don't want beer that's fine but there's no need to mischaracterize other people's positions.

I actually wish they sold beer at games.

 

[Mr Janny]

Now we’re getting somewhere. $1 mill in profit on alcohol sales vs the potential profit loss on Sukup ticket sales. That’s what you need to look at.

So, you said that the revenue from Sukup is $3 million, a couple pages ago. That's revenue, not profit, right? So what percentage of people would have to give up their Sukup tickets to offset $1 mil profit from beer?

Do you have any guesses on what the profit margin is on Sukup?

 

[CyCity]

So, you said that the revenue from Sukup is $3 million, a couple pages ago. That's revenue, not profit, right? So what percentage of people would have to give up their Sukup tickets to offset $1 mil revenue?

$2.8 million just in ticket sales. Not sure what else they’re making inside or what they’re spending.

If they didn’t change ticket prices then 1,000 people leaving the Sukup is $1 million.

 

[Mr Janny]

$2.8 million just in ticket sales. Not sure what else they’re making inside or what they’re spending.

If they didn’t change ticket prices then 1,000 people leaving the Sukup is $1 million.

$1 million revenue. But we'd need to compare the profit loss of Sukup to the profit gain of beer.

 

[cycloneworld]

$2.8 million just in ticket sales. Not sure what else they’re making inside or what they’re spending.

If they didn’t change ticket prices then 1,000 people leaving the Sukup is $1 million.

But those 1,000 will more than likely still buy season tickets at the $650 or $450 levels. I cannot see any significant complete non-renewal of tickets because of this.

I mentioned a few pages back that one way to message this and still offer value to Sukup ticketholders is to only sell basic beers in the stadium and keep all of the craft beer and other options in Sukup. They still get something everyone else doesn't get plus seatbacks, climate controlled building access, and their own restrooms.

 

[Cyclone06]

Have you seen the bars in Sukup during a game? Not to mention the number of people who head to the tailgate lots at halftime? I don't think anyone would deny that there's a demand for alcohol, even Pollard. It's not a question of demand.

The people leaving at half is a good point, but if so many people want alcohol why do they not buy up every last sukup seat?

10 years ago, I would occasionally leave for a halftime drink. Not worth it to me anymore. Just like I am nervous putting a bunch of bars and shopping in the middle of the tailgate lots will flop. Is there really a strong demand?

Of the 20 or so people in my direct vicinity on game days, I may be the only one who even drinks beer at the tailgates.

 

[CyCity]

But those 1,000 will more than likely still buy season tickets at the $650 or $450 levels. I cannot see any significant complete non-renewal of tickets because of this.

I mentioned a few pages back that one way to message this and still offer value to Sukup ticketholders is to only sell basic beers in the stadium and keep all of the craft beer and other options. They still get something everyone else doesn't get plus seatbacks, climate controlled building access, and their own restrooms.

If 1,000 leave the Sukup for cheaper seats you’re looking at losing around $500,000.

I don’t work for Iowa State. I wish Iowa State sold beer. Reach out to the AD with your suggestions and see what they say. I’m just relaying public information.

 

[Mr Janny]

The people leaving at half is a good point, but if so many people want alcohol why do they not buy up every last sukup seat?

10 years ago, I would occasionally leave for a halftime drink. Not worth it to me anymore. Just like I am nervous putting a bunch of bars and shopping in the middle of the tailgate lots will flop. Is there really a strong demand?

Of the 20 or so people in my direct vicinity on game days, I may be the only one who even drinks beer at the tailgates.

I'd think the cost is probably prohibitive for some. Also the view is not great. And at this point, since leaving at half is allowed, they can save money, have a better view, and have a drink as well.

 

[Mr Janny]

If 1,000 leave the Sukup for cheaper seats you’re looking at losing around $500,000.

I don’t work for Iowa State. I wish Iowa State sold beer. Reach out to the AD with your suggestions and see what they say. I’m just relaying public information.

But is it really a loss of $500k? Those folks leaving Sukup are still purchasing season tickets. They're just doing it elsewhere in the stadium. So while there still might be a net loss, it's going to be offset to some degree based on that.

 

[CloneIce]

So you want to make college football more attractive to gambling? It's bad enough the Big 10/SEC/Network greed is ruining college football, now we want want to find ways to assist the gambling? No thanks.

That cat it so far out of the bag at this point…. If it ever was in the bag to begin with.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

Iowa football alcohol sales exceeded $3M in 2023

Alcohol sales at Iowa football games were up about 29 percent in 2023, according to data obtained by The Gazette.

www.thegazette.com

yes, there are expenses associated with selling alcohol
$4.2m revenue isnt $4.2m profit

but its also more than $0

i remember that from Econ 101 even if it did take me twice to pass it : )

also lol that iowa WBB games sold almost DOUBLE what MBB sold

Dude, seriously? That was the easiest class ever....

 

[isu81]

People really believe we’d sell out the Sukup club at $999 a seat if we sold alcohol to the rest of the stadium?

I can't see why not. The rest of college football is doing it and luxury boxes and suite sales are one of the main increases in direct revenue.