One of Gillin’s goals for 2018 is to sell more season tickets. He said App State sold a little more than 6,400 season tickets in 2017, but sold more than 9,300 in 2007.

Season tickets went on sale before App State’s final home game — a 63-14 win over Louisiana on Dec. 2.

“We’ve got to get back to that level,” Gillin said. “Hopefully wins like this and performances like this — the way Scott and his staff recruit and coach — will continue to encourage people to come out and support them.”

From the Democrat article:

http://www.wataugademocrat.com/news/loc ... 73e53.html

I know season ticket prices have gone up and the half season tickets went away, but I am sad to see this so low with the WF and Miami games in Boone. I upped my buy from three seats of three game mini package to season tickets. I am curious how the moni packages are counted in the 9,300 in 2007?

We need to step up to support this program. I was unable to attend three of the home games. I was able to sell one game and give away another but one went unused. Still worth every penny, however!

Win App!

One thing Behr didn't include (or maybe Gillin didn't share) is that season tickets were down near 4,000 just a couple of years ago so it has grown. We certainly need to grow them even more, but it is going in the right direction.

I suspect it has a lot to do with a combination of price increase and opponent familiarity.

2007...No Watch ESPN and a chance and eventual three peat. Plus we played schools we were familiar with playing.

2017... Watch ESPN all but one game I think and playing teams we still aren't familiar with other than Southern.

Unfortunately I’m afraid season ticket sales may drop back a bit next year, with no Miami or Wake to use as bait. Will be a real challenge for the department to market them, even with all the winning in recent years.

Not apples to apples if the 9,300 from 2007 include half season tickets.

I bought season tickets for 9 straight years, including first year in Sun Belt. With job and working 'til midnight on Fridays, it was difficult to get to games when starting times were determined so late and then can't make the Thursday game. Live more than 3 hours away from stadium and am not interested in Savannah State and such. I still attend 2-3 games a year but it is tough to do at times.

So if this the case, why was the argument being made for general seating to be added in the North Endzone project? That shouldn’t even be a consideration until ticket sales are back to ‘07 levels at the bare minimum.

Yosef10 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 27, 2017 4:16 pm

So if this the case, why was the argument being made for general seating to be added in the North Endzone project? That shouldn’t even be a consideration until ticket sales are back to ‘07 levels at the bare minimum.

I think those were the delusional people that even with a lot of aluminum showing, claim the game had a great turn out.

Which would be a valid argument if all of the empty seats were absent season ticket holders...but is not the case.

The bump in Yosef pledge pricing for most people's seats doubled.....and surprised by some significant impact?

I thought winning in FBS would spike season ticket sales, but the perception of the Sun Belt is a huge obstacle to our success IMO. I don’t know what it’s going to take anymore.

Here’s an anecdote that may or not be relevant. I’ve been dropping major hints to my friend who I graduated with that he should get season tickets, but I felt like I was undermined when we went to the ULL game and he was able to get a walk-up ticket for 10$ from the ticket office (I was expecting the listed price of 35$) Where is the incentive to actually invest in season tix when you can always get a seat on the hill (unless of course we’re playing a once-in-a-blue-moon P5) or get single game tickets for dirt cheap??

I live in AZ so I am lucky to get to 2 games a year, however I still buy my season tickets and make my Yosef Club donation. I know I am fortunate to be able to afford this but I just view it as my way of supporting the university and our outstanding student athletes. We have a great program that has certainly earned our support so I urge everyone to give what you can as often as you can. GO APPS!

We have have great support. If you have 25k in the stands what difference does it make as long as they bought a ticket. I guess he's assuming Yosef comes along with season tickets?

appbio91 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 27, 2017 5:20 pm

We have have great support. If you have 25k in the stands what difference does it make as long as they bought a ticket. I guess he's assuming Yosef comes along with season tickets?

I agree that season ticket sales do not directly equal disappointment. In addition to ESPN availability, you have a couple of other factors:
1. Youth sports have exploded in the last 10 years. More weekend family commitments = less families who can commit six weekends to App State games. Half Season Packages make sense with this demographic.
2. Spectator sports are suffering (NFL, NASCAR, etc have smaller crowds and are removing seating sections), Look how many seats have been removed from FedEx field.

Next year is going to be a challenge with no "big" home game + road games at Charlotte and Coastal Carolina. Both of those road games may see the Visitors trump the home team in attendance.

I think by far the increase in YC commitment has played the biggest part in the reduction in season ticket sales. DG and staff have crowed about the overall YC record breaking numbers. The downside to the “doubling” of commitment was a decrease in season ticket sales, particularly when at the same time you eliminated the half season package. This was predictable and they hoped that offsetting this effect with a home P5 game would mitigate the effect. It probably did to a small extent. They had a choice to make.... they chose the $$$$. We have hashed this out before. I get they want both at the same time...... something had to give.

Some people want something for nothing......We have a solid and improved product on the field. Of course the people we need to reach aren't on this forum.

I think you need name teams showing up. Bring in some well-known names like Army, ECU, Marshall, and some P5's to the schedules and people will be enticed to get them.

No offense but Coastal Carolina, Lousiana, ULM, and Idaho aren't exactly must-see tv. Although having Troy and stAte in the scheduling might help as we develop new rivalries with them.

One must understand their market....if your a G5 program, the best method is to set the lowest price possible that makes sense to increase demand.

We are making decisions like as if we are a P5 big-time football program by scale. We don't necessarily have Wall Mart fans neither.

Hypothetically if we're able and had a true established 35k capacity facility and we kept the Yosef Pledge packages alone we would have grown attendance at a higher rate with recent success and interest of program even if being televised a little more.

I wish we would develop a well organized raffle ticket system at games to raise more revenue that way.

I have always been a big proponent of many giving a little vs. a few giving a lot. One day it will multiply as folks are able to give more and more. The bedrock philosophy of Clemson’s IPTAY.

Also agree with prior comments our biggest obstacle is folks know they can walk up minutes before game and get tickets well below face value. The reason season tickets exploded in ‘07 was because the demand was so great, folks were not guaranteed a walk-up purchase for even face value.

My buddies and I refer to it as the “walk-up crowd”... Our version of the “walmart” or “fairweather” fan.

I wonder how many of the 2007 season tickets were sold AFTER the Michigan game. After all, we hosted LR on 9/9/2007 and almost 29k were in attendance.