Nebraska Moves Students To Cheap Seats

[UNTflyer]

Fewer students will have front-row seats in the south section of Memorial Stadium starting on the date of Nebraska's first home game against Western Michigan. In addition, block seating will be eliminated.

Athletic Director Tom Osborne confirmed the changes Tuesday.

Some of the changes include making all student tickets general admission, with priority for upperclassmen to sit in the east stadium. Students wishing to sit in a block will now have to show up early enough to claim their seats before others.

And about 2,000 students in several sections of the front portion of south stadium will be displaced to cheaper seating in the top portion of Memorial Stadium's southeast corner. Season ticket holders who previously sat there will fill the vacated front seats.

If the athletic department decides to charge ticket holders the same price as nearby front seating, it could bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars more annually than it did with students sitting there.

However, "(the change) was not done for financial reasons," Osborne said. "We have no idea whether there will be an increase in revenue or not. We're sure the seats will be sold."

Osborne said one reason for the change was because students have a tendency to stand on their seats throughout the game, and it wasn't fair for the season ticket holders who sat behind them.

"We're doing what we can to be fair," Osborne said. "But I just have to tell you, people who buy a ticket are entitled to see a game, so it wasn't happening. That's why this move has been made."

[FirefightnRick]

Nebraska needs to go on about a 10 year losing streak.

Rick

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Without students, there is no College.

They are not an NFL team...professsional maybe but not NFL.

[UNTFan23]

Nebraska needs to go on about a 10 year losing streak.

Rick

Even a 10-year losing streak wouldn't stop the fans from selling out their stadium year in and year out.

From wikipedia:

[Nebraska] currently hold the NCAA record for the most consecutive sold out home games; the sellout streak dates back to

November 3, 1962.

[meangreendork]

Osborne said one reason for the change was because students have a tendency to stand on their seats throughout the game, and it wasn't fair for the season ticket holders who sat behind them.

Maybe those ticket holders should stand up, then.

But seriously, I think this is BS. In terms of money, I'm sure it won't matter because even if generations of students are given the shaft, there are more than enough random non-school affiliated fans who will pay for those seats anyways. Ethically, and in terms of PR, I think this is a huge mistake.

[forevereagle]

But seriously, I think this is BS. In terms of money, I'm sure it won't matter because even if generations of students are given the shaft, there are more than enough random non-school affiliated fans who will pay for those seats anyways. Ethically, and in terms of PR, I think this is a huge mistake.

How is this an ethically-challenged decision? They are letting the people who pay more to sit have better seats. Students don't get the best seats, that's just a fact of life. I think they were doing pretty well to keep them as long as they did.

And if you have ever been to a Nebraska game, then you would know, everyone there is school affliated, even if they didn't attend the school. Memorial Stadium is the third largest city in the state during a game and solid red.

[meangreendork]

And if you have ever been to a Nebraska game, then you would know, everyone there is school affliated, even if they didn't attend the school. Memorial Stadium is the third largest city in the state during a game and solid red.

Non-school affiliated meaning the folks who are just fans of the football program and don't have any family or friends related to the school. Again, it won't really affect sales of tickets in the future simply because of the non-school related fanbase.

[UNTFan23]

Non-school affiliated meaning the folks who are just fans of the football program and don't have any family or friends related to the school. Again, it won't really affect sales of tickets in the future simply because of the non-school related fanbase.

I guess until you have been to Nebraska and have family that lives or lived in Nebraska, you don't understand what the Big Red means to the people of the Nebraska.

The fact that Nebraska has no other competition makes the people of that state devoutly loyal to the program. It's why Nebraska has the best traveling fan base. In part, it's why Nebraska has some of the best fans in college football.

[MeanGreenDadx2]

Osborne said one reason for the change was because students have a tendency to stand on their seats throughout the game, and it wasn't fair for the season ticket holders who sat behind them.

Maybe those ticket holders should stand up, then.

But seriously, I think this is BS. In terms of money, I'm sure it won't matter because even if generations of students are given the shaft, there are more than enough random non-school affiliated fans who will pay for those seats anyways. Ethically, and in terms of PR, I think this is a huge mistake.

As an alumni of the University of Nebraska and who attended every NU game as a student and attended many NU bowl games (in particular 2 Orange bowls where National Championships were won) I can speak to some of this controversy. Student leaders were consulted before the change was made and although I have not heard what their input was, this decision was not made without listening to the student representatives. The seating referenced in the article is in the south end zone (southeast section) and is usually sold to freshman and sophomores and late applying (for football tickets) upper classmen. Another article on this subject also mentions that there is seating sold to the students (upper classmen) in the east stadium. That seating is unaffected by the change. The students seating is moving further back up in the stands and those ticket holders in that area are moving down. In terms of public relations, in Nebraska (having been born and raised in Lincoln) this probably will turn out to be a non-event after a very short discussion. Ethically, as far as this being a huge mistake, student seating has been moved around before without the wheels coming off.

[UNTflyer]

Even a 10-year losing streak wouldn't stop the fans from selling out their stadium year in and year out.

Have you been to Nebraska?

[UNTflyer]

How is this an ethically-challenged decision? They are letting the people who pay more to sit have better seats. Students don't get the best seats, that's just a fact of life.

True, but this is the end zone seats. They are being moved to an upper corner section, arguably the worst seats in the house. And... students do pay for their seats. It's part of the athletic fee. Granted, it's a small fraction of what they can sell those seats for, but as SE-66 pointed out, without students there is no college.

[UNTFan23]

Have you been to Nebraska?

Went to the Nebraska game in Lincoln back in 2001 (???) when the froggies played them. There was perhaps a 50/50 split in red/purple in the "visitors" section that game. Also been to Okie Lite and Baylor when they played Nebraska.

[forevereagle]

True, but this is the end zone seats. They are being moved to an upper corner section, arguably the worst seats in the house. And... students do pay for their seats. It's part of the athletic fee. Granted, it's a small fraction of what they can sell those seats for, but as SE-66 pointed out, without students there is no college.

What's your point? Yes the students are paying for their seats, but why not reward the people who have been supporting the program for many years? Students, while they do support the university, are more of a short-term fan than people who are buying season tickets. Given how difficult it is for anyone to get tickets, most of these people have probably suported the university for many, many years. If the students really want to attend the game, then they will sit wherever they can.

As for the random fans, aren't we always asking for more support from the city of Denton? These people are just doing what we have always asked from our local residents. If they can afford the tickets and the likely donation that usually comes along with high demand tickets, then who cares whether they have a degree from the school? We should be lucky enough to have this problem.

[meangreendork]

What's your point? Yes the students are paying for their seats, but why not reward the people who have been supporting the program for many years? Students, while they do support the university, are more of a short-term fan than people who are buying season tickets.

Here's the failing in that argument: you want the student short-term fan to be the alumni, season-tickets, long-term fan. Part of that goal is treating the students like their tuition and fees are actually worth something to the university and NOT jamming them into the cheapest, worst seats in the house. That's a fast way to lose future alumni donations for an athletics program. You can't have satisfied, athletics-program supporting alumni if you don't have satisfied, athletics-program supporting students. Heck, you can't have satisfied alumni without satisfied students- ask anyone who's had to do alumni fundraising for UNT and you'll hear at least a few stories about people who've been soured at some point or another. There's no reason to sour people's taste on a school in a wholesale fashion.

Many of us on GMG started out as a student just checking out the football team because they had a free Saturday, saw UNT turnaround on MTSU and win a game they were supposed to lose, then win a series of conference championships after that. Now we're alumni, having seen the possibility in the Todd Dodge system and waiting eagerly for the first big winning streak, but loving UNT no matter what really happens.

As for the random fans, aren't we always asking for more support from the city of Denton? These people are just doing what we have always asked from our local residents. If they can afford the tickets and the likely donation that usually comes along with high demand tickets, then who cares whether they have a degree from the school? We should be lucky enough to have this problem.

We are, and the work is being done and the results are starting to show. However, UNT isn't kicking students around Fouts and giving them a wholesale bad taste in their mouth for the athletics program. Even if the same situation arose here with the future stadium, as an alumni (like I am now) I would hate to see this happen. I mean, moving the student section around like they did at the Super Pit is cool. But kicking them away like they don't pay an athletics fee and didn't pay for their tickets, and saying, "hey, we're gonna move who we want to become our hardcore fanbase around in the name of the bottom line" is NOT something to be smiled upon.

Edited March 12, 2008 by meangreendork

[UNTflyer]

Another problem here is that they are splitting up the students. Upper classmen get to set on the east side but lower classmen have to sit in the upper southeast corner.

I'm not saying give them the best seats in the house... But to move them to arguably the worst seats in the house is a bad move, IMHO.

Yes, it would be nice to have the problem of figuring out where to put the sold-out student section.

[forevereagle]

I'm not saying give them the best seats in the house... But to move them to arguably the worst seats in the house is a bad move, IMHO.

Then who gets the worst seats in the house? Someone has to sit there. In reality, it will be the students every time. It may not be fair, but that is the way it works.

[UNTflyer]

Then who gets the worst seats in the house? Someone has to sit there. In reality, it will be the students every time. It may not be fair, but that is the way it works.

Visiting teams and non-season ticket holders should get those seats.

And no, it's not the way it works... typically schools give the students a large section and it is close to the field. They aren't the best seats, in fact for the big schools they are usually end zone or the 10-yard to 30-yard line section, but they usually don't get a nosebleed getting to their seats.

[CMJ]

And no, it's not the way it works... typically schools give the students a large section and it is close to the field. They aren't the best seats, in fact for the big schools they are usually end zone or the 10-yard to 30-yard line section, but they usually don't get a nosebleed getting to their seats.

Exactly. In my limited experience of going to "big" schools games(Texas A&M, Arizona, UCLA and USC) students never get the worst seats. Hell usually they're decent. I know even mighty USC during their huge 30 some odd game win streak had the student section run from the middle of the seating all the way down to field level(from about the 10 yard line thru the end zone...so 20 yeards of decent real estate - I guess 5-6K seats?).

[forevereagle]

Visiting teams and non-season ticket holders should get those seats.

And no, it's not the way it works... typically schools give the students a large section and it is close to the field. They aren't the best seats, in fact for the big schools they are usually end zone or the 10-yard to 30-yard line section, but they usually don't get a nosebleed getting to their seats.

I have sat in the visiting seats at Memorial stadium, and they are pretty bad. The seats were made of wood and you didn't have a great view of the field.

Exactly. In my limited experience of going to "big" schools games(Texas A&M, Arizona, UCLA and USC) students never get the worst seats. Hell usually they're decent. I know even mighty USC during their huge 30 some odd game win streak had the student section run from the middle of the seating all the way down to field level(from about the 10 yard line thru the end zone...so 20 yeards of decent real estate - I guess 5-6K seats?).

As was pointed out earlier in the thread, the seats being moved are for the late registering upper classmen and under classmen. These are people who didn't get the order in fast enough. They are lucky to get any seats at all. There is another student section that is a better grouping of seats.

[MeanGreenDadx2]

Visiting teams and non-season ticket holders should get those seats.

And no, it's not the way it works... typically schools give the students a large section and it is close to the field. They aren't the best seats, in fact for the big schools they are usually end zone or the 10-yard to 30-yard line section, but they usually don't get a nosebleed getting to their seats.

First, I am a fan of UNT but I am an alumni of the University of Nebraska. That said, let's compare.

UNT gives students really great seats at Fouts (relatively speaking). It has been stated that there are 100,000 UNT alumni in the metroplex. They probably had the opportunity to sit in some of those seats as students. Where are they on gameday? Fouts should be stuffed to the gills.

NU sells (does not give) seats to the students. They are not the greatest seats but the students pay for their seats. NU has sold out every game at Memorial Stadium since 1962. The stadium now seats 82,000 which is almost the total attendance for UNT for an entire season. For a 7 game season that's over a half a million fans. That is 574,000 paying customers, and some of those fans are willing to pay a seat license to buy their tickets. Yet the students do not have to pay a seat license and do pay a much reduced ticket price. Although I have not done a study on student seating and prices for all universities, I don't think NU is out of line on where the students sit and the cost of a student ticket.

As UNT's football team improves and attendance increases, UNT students probably will have to pay for their ticket and will lose the 50 yard line seating. Such is the price of success. Welcome to the world of collegiate football.

[untgirl04]

Here's the failing in that argument: you want the student short-term fan to be the alumni, season-tickets, long-term fan. Part of that goal is treating the students like their tuition and fees are actually worth something to the university and NOT jamming them into the cheapest, worst seats in the house. That's a fast way to lose future alumni donations for an athletics program. You can't have satisfied, athletics-program supporting alumni if you don't have satisfied, athletics-program supporting students. Heck, you can't have satisfied alumni without satisfied students- ask anyone who's had to do alumni fundraising for UNT and you'll hear at least a few stories about people who've been soured at some point or another. There's no reason to sour people's taste on a school in a wholesale fashion.

Many of us on GMG started out as a student just checking out the football team because they had a free Saturday, saw UNT turnaround on MTSU and win a game they were supposed to lose, then win a series of conference championships after that. Now we're alumni, having seen the possibility in the Todd Dodge system and waiting eagerly for the first big winning streak, but loving UNT no matter what really happens.

We are, and the work is being done and the results are starting to show. However, UNT isn't kicking students around Fouts and giving them a wholesale bad taste in their mouth for the athletics program. Even if the same situation arose here with the future stadium, as an alumni (like I am now) I would hate to see this happen. I mean, moving the student section around like they did at the Super Pit is cool. But kicking them away like they don't pay an athletics fee and didn't pay for their tickets, and saying, "hey, we're gonna move who we want to become our hardcore fanbase around in the name of the bottom line" is NOT something to be smiled upon.

Here's the failing in your argument: You're thinking these students expect the royal treatment at a game that students at UNT expect. At North Texas, we are just beginning to develop a game day atmosphere and some excitement. At Nebraska, that excitement has been there for years (as evidenced by all the championships and the fact that the stadium has sold out for 46 straight years. At North Texas, years of poor advertising and a poor product on the field (excluding a few brief successes during the Fry and Dickey years), as well as a lackluster commitment from the Administration dictates that the best way to get students in the seats right now is to pamper them. We practically beg students to go to games. I know, because I was one of those students banging on doors before games to try to get people to come.

At North Texas, we don't raise students up in a culture of school spirit and pride. That's starting to change, but it's the unfortunate truth. By contrast, those kids at UNL live, breathe, and eat school spirit, and most of them have probably been that way since birth. They won't really care where they sit at the games because it's an honor and a dream come true just to go to the games and be part of the Nebraska football experience. Having said all this, I'll freely admit I have never been to a Nebraska football game (although I married into a Nebraska family), so this is all speculation on my part. However, as the daughter of an Aggie, I'll give a brief comparison where I can use personal experience.

I've sat in the Alumni section at Kyle Field, and I've also sat in the third deck in the students' section. When the birds fly below you in the stands, you don't have good seats. Just to get those seats, my friend had to put his name into the ticket lottery, and didn't even know whether he'd have permission to purchase at ticket at all until about a week before the game. I didn't hear a single student complaint during the game, and truthfully, the atmosphere was so exciting (even though they were playing Iowa State) that I didn't care that I could barely distinguish players on the field. It was just fun to go to a game. Bottom line: In large programs with a great history of school tradition and pride, students don't really care where they sit in the stands. They just want to go to the games.