Plan for reseating Williams-Brice to presented

[morgan n' 7™]

Plan for reseating Williams-Brice to presented


South Carolina's athletics department will present its long-anticipated reseating plan for Williams-Brice Stadium to the board of trustees on Friday morning.

If approved, the plan would require season-ticket holders to pay a personal seat-license fee for the right to purchase their football tickets beginning next season. The board approved a similar plan for the Gamecocks' new baseball stadium in June.

Speculation about incorporating personal seat licenses (PSLs) at Williams-Brice has been a hot-button issue for USC fans. Many longtime season-ticket holders are worried they will get priced out of their seats.


Story...
http://www.thestate.com/gogamecocks/football/story/482327.html

[bertoholic]

I've been worrying about this, but I've been in the same seats for 18 years. I'm willing to pay.

[eaddy1847]

Anyone have ideas on how steep the PSLs would be? I am assuming variations but any kind of ballpark from other schools?

[SpuR48]

baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad idea.

Why would you implement this on your cash cow money maker, when you haven't seen it's effects on the Baseball seating? I understand you can do market research and contact other schools etc, but USC fans not like other fans. If you're going to charge, you better be putting something on the field worth paying for.

Guess a stadium with 60,000 corporate clients, lawyers, and doctors will just have to do.

[SNEEZ]

I liek it. it'll mean I'll have to wait a few years before I can get season tix regularly, but thats fine.

This will get the 40 year century donros out of the stadium and bring in the full scholly and silver spur + donors.

sorry, its a business, more + =better facilities =better recruits= more championships.

get the old folks back home in front of the TV and allow the graduates with good incomes to have the seats!!

[buzzcock]

Just because you may have some money doesn't make you a better fan. Just because you're a little older does not make you a poor fan. Those older fans were there before you ever thought about Carolina and just because you have an opinion, it doesn't make it right.

Not liking this PSL idea.......Mungo can go fall down a well.

Are typos in the Skrate becoming commonplace? Where's the 'be'?

[Go Carolina]

Anyone have ideas on how steep the PSLs would be? I am assuming variations but any kind of ballpark from other schools?

I'm wondering that myself. I'd be that they range from very low ($10-$30) to pretty steep for lower west 50ydln. But I am curious as to what the ceiling is.

[eaddy1847]

I'm wondering that myself. I'd be that they range from very low ($10-$30) to pretty steep for lower west 50ydln. But I am curious as to what the ceiling is.

And are PSLs bought each year? Or is it a one time thing? I don't get the point of them if you have to buy them every year, why not just incorporate it into membership dues or ticket prices then?

On the flip side of it, if it is a one time thing can they be resold like a parking spot?

[SpuR48]

I liek it. it'll mean I'll have to wait a few years before I can get season tix regularly, but thats fine.

This will get the 40 year century donros out of the stadium and bring in the full scholly and silver spur + donors.

sorry, its a business, more + =better facilities =better recruits= more championships.

get the old folks back home in front of the TV and allow the graduates with good incomes to have the seats!!

Perhaps I was a bit quick to make my post. After a little more thought, if the AD handles this correctly, it may be OK.

If you look at it, the most sought after seats are the ones on the Lower West side, between the 40's. If those seats have a pretty high PSL, then I could see how it would be affordable, as those seat holders (the newer ones) probably had to pay a pretty penny to get there. What I will not accept, however, is if the AD puts a steep price on all seats in the stadium.

There's a fine line between "pushing out the old crowd" and making money. I'm not naive, I realize that football brings in an insane amount of money, and that the costs of building new facilities, etc. cost money as well. I just don't think that "selling-out" to the ultra-rich only is the way to go. It will put a sour taste in the mouths of the fans, and kill loyalty. Hell, the new prices have already sent what was it, 927 members packing. What on earth would high PSL's do?

I still think they need to see how the PSL's do w/ the Baseball seating before they make a decision on FB though.

[Go Carolina]

For professional sports I think you buy them once. But you HAVE to buy tix every year. If you forego your tix one year you lose your PSL rights.
Not sure if this is the same thing, and not sure on the resell rights.

I do remember seeing PSL rights for an ACC school basketball team being sold on ebay for alot of money a few years back.

But as for the specifics on this situation I really don't know.

[cockysousa]

And are PSLs bought each year? Or is it a one time thing? I don't get the point of them if you have to buy them every year, why not just incorporate it into membership dues or ticket prices then?

On the flip side of it, if it is a one time thing can they be resold like a parking spot?

A personal seat license or PSL gives the holder the right to buy season tickets for a certain seat in a stadium. This holder can sell the seat license to someone else if he no longer wishes to purchase season tickets. However, if the seat license holder chooses not to sell the seat licenses and does not renew the season tickets, the holder forfeits the license back to the team. Most seat licenses are valid for as long as the team plays in the current venue. - Wikipedia

Assuming this is how the AD runs this thing, you will buy a PSL once. This gives you the seat forever (as long as you purchase season tickets every year). If you decide not to buy one year, you lose your PSL and the University will sell it to someone else.

[hardcock2]

This could be my last year buying season tix. I already pay SS dues, buy 4 full books, and who knows how much in merchandise a year, and if that's not enough....then I'll just buy from scalpers if I decide to go to a game.
:spurrier:
This is the EXACT reason I will never pay to go watch the Panthers!

[TheGuitarCock]

I think it's great. Some of you say that you won't buy tickets again, but say we win 9 games this season including a win over Clemson and make a New years day Bowl I'm pretty sure you will, and if you don't, there will be thousands of fans ready to take your place.

I'm still for the idea of doing a Seat Equity (sp) plan like Clemson did. Re-evaluate all the seats and to keep that same seat, you have to give a certain donation.

People are bitching about money, yet they want to see facility upgrades. How do you think we are building this new 36 Million dollar Baseball stadium? State of the Art Academic Center? Champions Club? New Training Room? Do you people want to see us put up a South Endzone Expansion? It's time to pony up, and thats going to take winning to come first though.

[Spur's Addiction]

Why don't we all wait until they announce the details before we start bitching about something we don't know much about.

[carolina80]

I know this is two different arenas, but maybe the example wil clarify some questions.
At Byrnes High School, they sold PSLs a few years ago. I got mine when they started. The seats are mine forever, unless I don't buy season tix one year, then I forfeit them to the next person on the waiting list, and I have to start over. Also, the seats are mine and I can hand them down to a beneficiary with the same rules applying to the recipient.

[USC67]

Unless they have changed from the original proposal it is not going to be a true PSL it is more of an ASL (annual seat license). Meaning that it will be charged every year and the prices will vary based on seat location. I heard startiing at $75-$100 and going up to $500. This may have changed but about a year ago this was the talk.

I personally do not agree with this. It will price the average fan out of the stadium and become more of a corporate event. There are other ways to bring in money without running off the average fans. If this passes I know where 4 seats in Sec. 4 are going to become available. Yes I am a lowly half scholly (since 1977) and I am not near the fan of some the high and mighty SS, so I will choose to give you my seats and still tailgate in a private parking lot near the stadium and watch the games on TV. If I choose to go in then I will by a ticket the day of the game. I am glad that some of you think that the last 32 years of loyalty is worth nothing, but I personally believe it should count for something.

[carolina80]

Unless they have changed from the original proposal it is not going to be a true PSL it is more of an ASL (annual seat license). Meaning that it will be charged every year and the prices will vary based on seat location. I heard startiing at $75-$100 and going up to $500. This may have changed but about a year ago this was the talk.

I personally do not agree with this. It will price the average fan out of the stadium and become more of a corporate event. There are other ways to bring in money without running off the average fans. If this passes I know where 4 seats in Sec. 4 are going to become available. Yes I am a lowly half scholly (since 1977) and I am not near the fan of some the high and mighty SS, so I will choose to give you my seats and still tailgate in a private parking lot near the stadium and watch the games on TV. If I choose to go in then I will by a ticket the day of the game. I am glad that some of you think that the last 32 years of loyalty is worth nothing, but I personally believe it should count for something.


:clap:

[OfficeLinebackerCock]

I liek it. it'll mean I'll have to wait a few years before I can get season tix regularly, but thats fine.

This will get the 40 year century donros out of the stadium and bring in the full scholly and silver spur + donors.

sorry, its a business, more + =better facilities =better recruits= more championships.

get the old folks back home in front of the TV and allow the graduates with good incomes to have the seats!!


What about the "old folks" that are graduates and have better incomes? That's bound to continue to keep some of you young "guns" out for a while...on the other hand...we could have open market on sales of tickets....no scalping rules....now there's a can of worms for ya. Just messing with you Sneez, but I really don't see this having much of an affect at all. However, if you are right and we do get an infusion of more "energetic" fans, it would not bother me at all. :-)

[superstar90]

Is this for every seat in the house? Between the 40's? Upper and Lower?

[USC67]

Every seat comes with a price, the better the seat the higher the price.

[rock23aj]

im a usc grad and you dont get ANYTHING for that from the gamecock club

[TheGuitarCock]

Unless they have changed from the original proposal it is not going to be a true PSL it is more of an ASL (annual seat license). Meaning that it will be charged every year and the prices will vary based on seat location. I heard startiing at $75-$100 and going up to $500. This may have changed but about a year ago this was the talk.

I personally do not agree with this. It will price the average fan out of the stadium and become more of a corporate event. There are other ways to bring in money without running off the average fans. If this passes I know where 4 seats in Sec. 4 are going to become available. Yes I am a lowly half scholly (since 1977) and I am not near the fan of some the high and mighty SS, so I will choose to give you my seats and still tailgate in a private parking lot near the stadium and watch the games on TV. If I choose to go in then I will by a ticket the day of the game. I am glad that some of you think that the last 32 years of loyalty is worth nothing, but I personally believe it should count for something.

Don't worry. If we start winning, There will be thousands of fans waiting to get your seats that are willing to pay top dollar. It's about money now. Sorry, Just the way it is. 32 years doesn't matter when you're trying to raise money to expand on to the stadium. Thats not my opinion, but it's the truth with our Athletic Dept.

[LegalCock]

I would imagine it will be very similar to the baseball stadium seal license fees, which I believe are paid annually. Essentially they are increasing ticket prices without directly doing so. I'm not sure why they don't just increase the ticket prices...maybe to avoid sticker shock? I thought I heard something about the tax deductability of the Seat License Fee...but I'm not sure.

I think the reason they went with a seat license is to shift more of the cost to the actual ticket so that people will only buy the tickets they really need rather than buy them and resell them to offset the club dues. That should free up more tickets for people in Silver Spur and below. At least I believe that it their hope.

[carolina80]

im a usc grad and you dont get ANYTHING for that from the gamecock club


I hear ya.....a guy who never saw the inside of a classroom at USC, but has deep pockets, sits in prime seats, while the legitimate graduate sits in the parking lot or at home.....but then, that's another can of worms to be wailed over at another time

[willy]

Plan for reseating Williams-Brice to presented



Story...
http://www.thestate.com/gogamecocks/football/story/482327.html



I am among that group that is frightened of being priced out of my seats. I have been a half scholarship member for 20 years and i am now on a fixed income, I think that i have earned better than that.

[sc455]

if i am correct, and i may not be i think it will be like ga and auburn. every year there is a seperate charge per ticket wich is called a psl fee. examples are..if you sit between the 30s in the low level you have to pay an additional 100 bucks per ticket. so basically if you had those seats and purchased 4 tickets you would pay an additional 400 dollars that year on top of club dues and ticket cost. endzones might be 75 and uppers might be 25-50..since we are full scholly in the endzone i would guess that the charges would break down like this...i would pay $1500 for the 09' full scholly dues plus 1280 for my 4 tix plus 75 times 4 for seat fee..total in 09' is 3080.

[TStone]

I am glad that some of you think that the last 32 years of loyalty is worth nothing, but I personally believe it should count for something.


I absolutely believe it should be worth something... within your giving level. If you've been giving at the century level for 32 years I think you should have more seniority than someone who has been giving at the century level for 31 years and I think you should be given better seats than that person. However I do not think you should have seniority over someone who started giving at the half scholarship level this year. Why? Because it's a business and because paying the bare minimum for seats while other fans are having to pay more money for worse seats is NOT being a good fan. You don't earn some special right to be cheap just because you've been going to games for 32 years.

Hell, I've been driving a car for 15 years and I've always bought a Ford. Do you think I should be able to pay the same price for the same make and model, but new year, as a vehicle I purchased 15 years ago from Ford? Sure, I can probably find a Ford car that costs about the same as the one I bought 15 years ago, but it won't be as nice. Do you think it would be fair for me to walk in to a dealership and buy a F-250 for $20k just because I've been buying Fords for 15 years when another person who is buying their very first Ford would have to pay $35k for the same truck?

This is a business. Stop being cheap and stop thinking you're better than everyone else who started buying tickets after you. YES, you deserve some seniority for consecutive years giving, but only among people who are paying an amount that is the same or less than what you are.

[vegasmark]

I'm not going to pass judgment on the PSL plan without seeing the details. But I do know that the idea was hatched when new Gamecock Club members complained that even though they were giving at HS, FS, and SS level, they were unable to get decent seats and/or full books. There was no way to "buy" your way in to the program.

Some may say that there's no way to buy your way in to Augusta National either, but USC and the GCC need money, so this is the solution they've come up with to raise several more million.

[TKE226]

What other stadiums in college have gone this route? Does anyone know?

everywhere I look I see its all in the NFL, where they stadiums aer much smaller and there are more corporate sponsors

[superstar90]

Unless our economy as a whole comes out of this funk and doesn't get any worse will this be able to work. It cost 46.00 for my car to drive to and from Colatown. Three years ago 46.00 would get me to and from Colatown and around my town for a week. Food prices, etc.... I know that it is getting hard on us to keep up with everything. My wife and I have pretty decent jobs and we live from check to check. I don't mind the plan USC is putting in, but I question the timing of everything.

[akn4bkn]

Clemson is doing it this year, and i hear a lot of IPTAY are pissed

[JM1984]

What other stadiums in college have gone this route? Does anyone know?

everywhere I look I see its all in the NFL, where they stadiums aer much smaller and there are more corporate sponsors


The Citadel.

[riceatusc]

guess i should become a GC member so i can complain about this...

[TKE226]

With the PSL, would you still be required to give every year? Seems to me if you have to pay a PSL for the rights to the seats, than why continue to donate if you already own the seats?

[Gamecock_girl_west]

The GCC and AD need to have an internal audit. I understand that to recruit you need facilities, but I think that the way they are handling things is suspect. When raising seating prices, contribution levels, etc... the first thing you do is look at the financial aspect of your fan base. Additionally you look at the financial level/ contributions by your alumni. South Carolina's base is not a cash cow likle UF, UGA, Notre Dame, Texas, etc... I think the hopes and dreams of the AD have far exceeded what they are capable of producing right now (new baseball stadium, colonial center, academic center, football stadium improvement). The GCC is continually increasing its fees and tkt prices. Now they institute PSL's. Its too much at the same time. They need to implement this over a five to ten year period.

Additionally, I know many alumni who have nothing to do with the GCC. Our school has zero loyalty to the people who graduated from it, who are the day in day out representatives of the school. Our alumni are scattered through out the nation and world. However, the school and AD make it difficult for them to get tickets to events. I have said this before and it bears repeating... we need to adopt a ticketing process like Notre Dame, where alumni pay a fee and enter into a lottery to get tickets to a game. A percentage of tickets left over after Season Tkts are purchased should be used for alumni purchase. Additionally, season tkt holders who do not use their tkts for a game sell them back to the school and these also go to the alumni pot. Our school also needs to enforce scalping efforts like ND. Anyone caught selling tkts outside the ND ticket office will forfeit their season tickets. This plan allows the GCC to get their money and keeps the faith with the folks who graduated from the school.

[TKE226]

The Citadel.

From the citadel's website...this was the more expensive of the two options

Blue Premier Seating Includes:


Guaranteed seat location for your lifetime
Choice location in center of west grandstands
Extra wide chair-back seats with cupholders
One-time PSL transfer option to an immediate family member
Blue Premier Seating Costs:

One-time Personal Seat License contribution per seat: $1,000
4-year payment option available
Requires season tickets, which must be purchased annually
Requires $500 annual donation per seat to Brigadier Foundation
PSL cost and annual seat donation are 80% tax deductible
Annual seat donation counts toward your Citadel Brigadier Foundation membership package for benefits (see chart)
20% minimum down payment due with PSL order form
Really the question it seems, is this still cheaper than everyone's current donations. I don't donate since I am in no position to get tickets, and havent really looked into but it is interesting.

[eaddy1847]

I absolutely believe it should be worth something... within your giving level. If you've been giving at the century level for 32 years I think you should have more seniority than someone who has been giving at the century level for 31 years and I think you should be given better seats than that person. However I do not think you should have seniority over someone who started giving at the half scholarship level this year. Why? Because it's a business and because paying the bare minimum for seats while other fans are having to pay more money for worse seats is NOT being a good fan. You don't earn some special right to be cheap just because you've been going to games for 32 years.

Hell, I've been driving a car for 15 years and I've always bought a Ford. Do you think I should be able to pay the same price for the same make and model, but new year, as a vehicle I purchased 15 years ago from Ford? Sure, I can probably find a Ford car that costs about the same as the one I bought 15 years ago, but it won't be as nice. Do you think it would be fair for me to walk in to a dealership and buy a F-250 for $20k just because I've been buying Fords for 15 years when another person who is buying their very first Ford would have to pay $35k for the same truck?

This is a business. Stop being cheap and stop thinking you're better than everyone else who started buying tickets after you. YES, you deserve some seniority for consecutive years giving, but only among people who are paying an amount that is the same or less than what you are.

Good analogy, and I agree completely. Loyalty does mean something, and to get the best of the seats at any giving level for your loyalty is the way to go. But you simply CANNOT raise the money necessary to compete if you have Silver Spur donors coming in and sitting 20 rows up into the upper deck because a bunch of 30-year Century Club members are getting lower level tickets. Who would donate then? No one.

It gives no incentive to the past members to increase their donation if they are happy with their current seats. And it gives potential new members no incentive to donate if they can give a lot of money and still sit nosebleeds. That makes adequate fundraising damn near impossible!!

[SNEEZ]

Just because you may have some money doesn't make you a better fan. Just because you're a little older does not make you a poor fan. Those older fans were there before you ever thought about Carolina and just because you have an opinion, it doesn't make it right.


IF they are 100-350 per YEAR donors for 40 years, its time for them to move on.

sorry people who donate more should get the rewards not low donating loyalists

its the way of the world money talks...and the world listens...ask UGA bad it hurt them when they REQUIRE 10,651 dollars to even be ABLE to buy tickets THEN you have to pay for the actual tickets.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2008/07/15/uga_tickets_0716.html
Say you're a new Georgia football fan and you just decided this year that you wanted to order tickets for the upcoming season. If you were that person, it would cost you a donation of $10,651 for the right to buy one.

We aRE WAAAAY behind the curve people, its time to push out the OLD way things have been done at Carolina and enter into the REAL world of SEC football


I hate to use anything UGA...but from my perspective, they are doing pretty darn well and still sell their tickets.

[zambam]

The Georgia plan is for NEW donors. If you give that amount here as a NEW donor, you will get tickets. A full book at that.

[SNEEZ]

The Georgia plan is for NEW donors. If you give that amount here as a NEW donor, you will get tickets. A full book at that.

Exactly, thats why I'm saying out with the 100-350 per year donrs and in with the big boys

[spurman14]

get the old folks back home in front of the TV and allow the graduates with good incomes to have the seats!!


the person that provides me with my season tickets every year happens to be one of those ''old folks" (who happens to have just turned 50 and still is more entergetic then half of the student section)..theyve had the same seats for 32 years..and the seat that my 16 yo ass occupies is in section 1 on the 5th row

and without her in those stands, i wouldnt be in those stands..

well maybe i would..but probably in the nosebleeds and i DEFFINATELY wouldnt be at every home-game..hell probably only 1-2 games a year

and they are in NO way in the position to be able to pay for psl's much less any other drastic change to the book prices..they were talkin possibly about this being their last year anyway..because the price of books already

so maybe this isnt just going to move all the "old-folks" out..it just may have a much bigger impact with other families in this situation

[chiken]

Wow... Yeah dump all the old people. What school did you go to? Last i heard all the monies were owned by the old people. But. We all know how great of a fan you newbies are. Oh yeah. When we reach the promised land we will have you young whips to thank. Could always start with canning Spurrer. Kinda old dude. I personally think the finger is faster than the old brain.

[TheGuitarCock]

the person that provides me with my season tickets every year happens to be one of those ''old folks" (who happens to have just turned 50 and still is more entergetic then half of the student section)..theyve had the same seats for 32 years..and the seat that my 16 yo ass occupies is in section 1 on the 5th row

and without her in those stands, i wouldnt be in those stands..

well maybe i would..but probably in the nosebleeds and i DEFFINATELY wouldnt be at every home-game..hell probably only 1-2 games a year

and they are in NO way in the position to be able to pay for psl's much less any other drastic change to the book prices..they were talkin possibly about this being their last year anyway..because the price of books already

so maybe this isnt just going to move all the "old-folks" out..it just may have a much bigger impact with other families in this situation

So we're suppose to move the people that have been paying $100 a year for dues for 30 years closer than the new Silver Spur that pays more in one year than some people have their whole life?

Thats not right. We need a new Seat Equity Plan. Re-Seat the whole stadium and to keep your seat you have to move up to X level and so forth.

[zambam]

Some things we would NOT have without the "old folks" that have given money for the last 30 years:

1)Steve Spurrier
2)Lou Holtz's two bowl wins
3)This discussion
4)Upper Decks

[gAmkok]

As someone further back the the thread mentioned, the timing of this is suspect. The more I hear about this plan the more I get the feeling there is a hidden agenda for freeing up seats. Maybe its new donor money, maybe large corporate sponsors who want blocks of seats - I don't know - but nearly a thousand members dropped their seats this year because of the most recent increases (to my benefit). More will follow with additional increases - how many more depends on the increased cost. With the reseating plan, if I end up with worse seats next season after moving up this season, I'm gone - I've already increased my GC level twice in the last two years (short year giving) and can't really afford any more, especially if I'm paying new fees too. I think we have right to be worried about this.

[Blitzer]

Loyalty means they should let you keep your seats if you continue to buy them. Loyalty does not mean that they have to charge you the same price every year. Loyalty on our part means that you keep buying tickets if you can afford to buy them.

[Dr. Cock]

I have to admit I am worried about this situation as well. I really hope it's a one time permanent fee and it's not annual. If so, it'll become just like the Colonial Center where all the filthy rich buy the tickets and don't show up half the time. I know we are in some dire need of money, but it shouldn't be at the cost of losing a portion of the fanbase. I just hope we don't see 60,000 person crowds at Williams Brice because of this far in the future. If that's the case, it'll probably find myself attending road games more than home games in the future.

[cockysousa]

If it's true PSL's it'll work. People won't be priced out of the stadium. There will still be affordable seats. Annual seat liscences are a BAD idea. BAD BAD BAD.

[LegalCock]

It's going to be annual. Essentially it's a ticket price increase but it's deductible, see the citadel cut and paste earlier in the thread. Instead of buying 20 tickets maybe the diamond spur will buy 10 and some poor ole silver spurs can get some tickets.

[superstar90]

Look just pay enough to get the nose bleed seats like I have. 302 row 37! Then when all the big money givers and the ppl who sit in those company seats leave early or just don't show up move on down. We have a strong fan base when it comes to speaking on the net, the radio, etc.., but when it comes to actually supporting our team on the field we lack big time. Just look at all the fools around you who have no idea what is going on down at the field when the most important play of the game is going on. I start up top and usually end up in the lower upper deck before long.

If we can afford it, we will continue to give. If not, then I guess I will get more hunting in on Saturdays and just watch on tv.

[zambam]

Legal is on the right track here. The people that have the seats in question have 10 and 20 of them. Many of them also have a contract from years ago that gives them the rights to those seats, along with parking under the stadium. For a lump sum of money, they bought this priviledge years ago and they can pass it down to whomever they designate. The people that are in the century club are mostly in the corners and the endzones. They cannot pass down the rights to their tickets. When they are gone, the tix are up for grabs.

It is interesting that the people that are in this thread saying "may the highest bidder win" don't seem to be in the market for season tickets. Let's hear from somone who has the $10k and just can't seem to get in the stadium.

By the way, the normal use of PSL=Permanent Seat License but in the reports about the changes PSL=Personal Seat License. A subtle but oh so important difference.

[LegalCock]

Yeah, ASL would be more apt.

[sc455]

As someone further back the the thread mentioned, the timing of this is suspect. The more I hear about this plan the more I get the feeling there is a hidden agenda for freeing up seats. Maybe its new donor money, maybe large corporate sponsors who want blocks of seats - I don't know - but nearly a thousand members dropped their seats this year because of the most recent increases (to my benefit). More will follow with additional increases - how many more depends on the increased cost. With the reseating plan, if I end up with worse seats next season after moving up this season, I'm gone - I've already increased my GC level twice in the last two years (short year giving) and can't really afford any more, especially if I'm paying new fees too. I think we have right to be worried about this.
one of the ancilliary benefits for the university with the new plan is that the members who are buying extra seats and selling them will drop considerably. that would free up extra seats for lots of folks.

[sc455]

i love how they throw this out in an article but dont have details. dont release something if you arent going to be able to have the details. now all we will do is guess and guess.

[Gamecock_girl_west]

i love how they throw this out in an article but dont have details. dont release something if you arent going to be able to have the details. now all we will do is guess and guess.
come on now, no one ever accused the state of being thorough...

[spurmanski]

Hey yall it's not new....it's been hinted at and promised for several years, not two and I' glad they are finally doing something about it. In my view they need a break-in period to allow some individuals who want to revise their seats some selection based on points but I'm extrely doubtful that will happen. In order to keep up we must do it...just that smple....I dont like it either but we are in the SEC and we have to try to keep up with the Jones (who have thse aggressive seating costs). There are probably 4 schools wh dont have some sort of license....all the better schools do.

The top price At Clem is $700 between the 40s. Their plan is on the internet and I will try to find a link

It will be an Annual License that is not stock as Permanent Seat License try to simulate. That has been leaked in the past. I'm tolld that current ASLs such as the Zone will not go up and are safe in the future....do I believe that...well, no

An above poster related:

Unless they have changed from the original proposal it is not going to be a true PSL it is more of an ASL (annual seat license). Meaning that it will be charged every year and the prices will vary based on seat location. I heard startiing at $75-$100 and going up to $500. This may have changed but about a year ago this was the talk.

I personally do not agree with this. It will price the average fan out of the stadium and become more of a corporate event. There are other ways to bring in money without running off the average fans. If this passes I know where 4 seats in Sec. 4 are going to become available. Yes I am a lowly half scholly (since 1977) and I am not near the fan of some the high and mighty SS, so I will choose to give you my seats and still tailgate in a private parking lot near the stadium and watch the games on TV. If I choose to go in then I will by a ticket the day of the game. I am glad that some of you think that the last 32 years of loyalty is worth nothing, but I personally believe it sho

I know of a few people who dropped out with the very modest changes that were made this year. I will probably drop the Zone and go to less expensive seating since a large part of my being there was that my wife and I dearly loved being there together and that can no longer happen. I will try to go to a lower west location.

I sincerely fear the dropout that some of our young boarders think is so cool. There are so many of the young who dont appreciate what they've been GIVEN by their elders. Take a look at some of the posts and you can determine the age and experience by the attitude.

Anyways I'm glad the time is near and I sincerely hope they handle this a whole lot better than several other challenges of recent years.

One more thing that needs to be done in my view is to reduce the number of tickets at each level by two. One thing that is going to happen and has already happened with the new GCC Levels is more people combining their funds to advance to a higher levels.

[TopCockOnTheBlock]

This could be my last year buying season tix. I already pay SS dues, buy 4 full books, and who knows how much in merchandise a year, and if that's not enough....then I'll just buy from scalpers if I decide to go to a game.
:spurrier:
This is the EXACT reason I will never pay to go watch the Panthers!

The Panthers don't sell every seat in the stadium as PSL.

[Blitzer]

I sincerely fear the dropout that some of our young boarders think is so cool. There are so many of the young who dont appreciate what they've been GIVEN by their elders. Take a look at some of the posts and you can determine the age and experience by the attitude.
This is true. But I see a sense of entitlement coming from some of the "older" crowd that surprises me more than the "what have you done for me lately" crap that comes from the youngsters. The ones who donated and gave for all those years got what they were entitled to- seats for all those years and the right to continue to sit in them if you pay what they charge for them. You are not entitled to pay whatever you personally see fit to keep your seat just because you paid and sat in that seat for many years.

[TopCockOnTheBlock]

Screw it just buy from a scalper and move down to the student section.

[spurmanski]

The Clemson Seat Plan 2008 (internet title) is supposed to take into consideration the current giving level of the donor so that the fan is not double dipped and it appears to do so. basically they say that given seat is worth X dollars and the your IPTAY giving level combined with a seat charge each year must reach that level in order to continue purchasing your tix. I hope ours is as good as theirs and that we do as good a job in presenting the plan thru a brochure. I DO think it is entirely necessary that we should have a road tour to sell the plan and answer all questions as well.

[buzzcock]

IF they are 100-350 per YEAR donors for 40 years, its time for them to move on.

sorry people who donate more should get the rewards not low donating loyalists

its the way of the world money talks...and the world listens...ask UGA bad it hurt them when they REQUIRE 10,651 dollars to even be ABLE to buy tickets THEN you have to pay for the actual tickets.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2008/07/15/uga_tickets_0716.html


We aRE WAAAAY behind the curve people, its time to push out the OLD way things have been done at Carolina and enter into the REAL world of SEC football


I hate to use anything UGA...but from my perspective, they are doing pretty darn well and still sell their tickets.

When was the last time UGA did not do well in their football program? 50 years ago, before you were born?

What goes around will come around. If I were still alive when it came your turn to be in the same boat as the older fans, I'd just laugh, but I'll be dead by then. One day you'll see.

So, you'd like to see Willy given the boot? He's a prime example of your way of thinking. How would you handle his case?

Anyway........go Cocks.......:kill:

and to HE!! with UGA........

[bcgibson75]

ASL/PSL, whatever you want to call it...it is a ticket price increase.

Personally, I hope they include it in the Gamecock Club Dues....so I don't keep writing checks every 3 or 4 months (dues, then tickets, parking, etc).

But the one thing I don't see on this thread is Carolina MUST increase their football budget, bottom line. I don't have the figures to list for everyone, but USC is in the bottom half of the SEC annual football program budgets. This includes recruiting budgets, team travel expense, facilities.....everything the Athletic Department allocates in the annual football program's budget.

As you can probably guess---Georgia, Florida, LSU, Alabama, Auburn & Tennessee are at the top of the SEC in their football budget. The one figure I saw was Florida's budget was 14 million plus, while Carolina was in the 10 million dollar range. The teams I listed above are the ONLY schools that have won an SEC championship since expansion in '92 (w/ USC & Arky joining).

My grandfather was a Gamecock Club member, he brought me to my first game when I was 4, and I'll be buried with my Carolina class ring on. So as a Gamecock fan, I think my grandfather would want me to support the school/athletics in any way I can----be it financial, or attending USC events with the same passion in which he had since the '50's (he was at the last 'Big Thursday' game between Carolina/Clemson).

I challenge every Gamecock Club member (I include myself in this) to get a Piggy Bank or Mason jar, even an empty Maker's Mark bottle---my personal choice----and drop your spare change in it everday for a year. Dedicate it as your Carolina fund....you'll find you save more than you think (even if you use a debit card like myself, I still have use cash sometimes). This will help with you dues/PSL cost, AND it will help our university & football program win SEC Championships!

As I come down off my soapbox, I yell a loud

GO COCKS!!!

[FeartheSpur]

Sorry but this is a load of crap....

I know people that have been Full Schollys for like 18 years and are going to lose their seats so someone else can come in there and scalp the tickets on ebay...this is a load of BS...where were all these people when we were 0-11 and you couldnt give tickets away...I can remember going to the games and my dad having two tickets left over and put them on the car windshield so someone would take them...we would come back and there would be 100 tickets on the window...

[sc455]

ASL/PSL, whatever you want to call it...it is a ticket price increase.

Personally, I hope they include it in the Gamecock Club Dues....so I don't keep writing checks every 3 or 4 months (dues, then tickets, parking, etc).

But the one thing I don't see on this thread is Carolina MUST increase their football budget, bottom line. I don't have the figures to list for everyone, but USC is in the bottom half of the SEC annual football program budgets. This includes recruiting budgets, team travel expense, facilities.....everything the Athletic Department allocates in the annual football program's budget.

As you can probably guess---Georgia, Florida, LSU, Alabama, Auburn & Tennessee are at the top of the SEC in their football budget. The one figure I saw was Florida's budget was 14 million plus, while Carolina was in the 10 million dollar range. The teams I listed above are the ONLY schools that have won an SEC championship since expansion in '92 (w/ USC & Arky joining).

My grandfather was a Gamecock Club member, he brought me to my first game when I was 4, and I'll be buried with my Carolina class ring on. So as a Gamecock fan, I think my grandfather would want me to support the school/athletics in any way I can----be it financial, or attending USC events with the same passion in which he had since the '50's (he was at the last 'Big Thursday' game between Carolina/Clemson).

I challenge every Gamecock Club member (I include myself in this) to get a Piggy Bank or Mason jar, even an empty Maker's Mark bottle---my personal choice----and drop your spare change in it everday for a year. Dedicate it as your Carolina fund....you'll find you save more than you think (even if you use a debit card like myself, I still have use cash sometimes). This will help with you dues/PSL cost, AND it will help our university & football program win SEC Championships!

As I come down off my soapbox, I yell a loud

GO COCKS!!! or you could save those pennies, let someone else take the seats and donate to charity.

[gAmkok]

.... I DO think it is entirely necessary that we should have a road tour to sell the plan and answer all questions as well.

Another GC chapter meeting I won't know about. I wish they'd do better involving folks in the local chapters. I emailed the Rich/Lex president about "joining" and he didn't give two $#!+$ about getting someone new involved.

Anyway, I have mixed feelings about the whole ASL thing. Yes, we need to raise more money and yes, football is the cash cow of the ath dept, but multiple drastic increases in fees have more than just a little potential of backfiring BIG TIME. What have you accomplished if you price 15,000 (random figure) people out of football seats and in the process make it too expensive to replace them? I'm sure Hyman and crew have a risk figure (of probably defections) in mind, and that they've done extensive cost-benefit analysis on that figure and that is where the final charges are going to come from, but I really do think this has more potential to go bad than they believe. That is my worry.

[JAYBEZ]

A personal seat license or PSL gives the holder the right to buy season tickets for a certain seat in a stadium. This holder can sell the seat license to someone else if he no longer wishes to purchase season tickets. However, if the seat license holder chooses not to sell the seat licenses and does not renew the season tickets, the holder forfeits the license back to the team. Most seat licenses are valid for as long as the team plays in the current venue. - Wikipedia

Assuming this is how the AD runs this thing, you will buy a PSL once. This gives you the seat forever (as long as you purchase season tickets every year). If you decide not to buy one year, you lose your PSL and the University will sell it to someone else.


Actually, that is incorrect of how ours will be handled. This is not the panthers and it will not be handled that poorly.

The seat license will be done annually (ASL) and will be on a per ticket basis.

A large portion of the seats will not actually have I license (i believe). The lower levels and between the 20s will see the higher seat licenses. meanwhile, some upper deck seating will have a license of somewhere between 10-20 per ticket.

[JAYBEZ]

As someone further back the the thread mentioned, the timing of this is suspect. The more I hear about this plan the more I get the feeling there is a hidden agenda for freeing up seats. Maybe its new donor money, maybe large corporate sponsors who want blocks of seats - I don't know - but nearly a thousand members dropped their seats this year because of the most recent increases (to my benefit). More will follow with additional increases - how many more depends on the increased cost. With the reseating plan, if I end up with worse seats next season after moving up this season, I'm gone - I've already increased my GC level twice in the last two years (short year giving) and can't really afford any more, especially if I'm paying new fees too. I think we have right to be worried about this.

The timing of this? Take off the tin foil hat conspiracy guy. They have been telling us about this for some time now. It isn't some kooky plan that they are springing on us. In fact, they even told us that they would be releasing the details around this time LAST YEAR!

Go back to the basement and blog with your buddies about UFOs

[spurmanski]

Just a guess Jay but I think 40% to 50% of the stadium will be involved...maybe more. Take a look at the Clemson plan which has to weigh heavily since there is so much intermingling and then if you have access take a look at the NCS plan which was the base plan from 6 years ago

[JAYBEZ]

Just a guess Jay but I think 40% to 50% of the stadium will be involved...maybe more. Take a look at the Clemson plan which has to weigh heavily since there is so much intermingling and then if you have access take a look at the NCS plan which was the base plan from 6 years ago


Isn't that what I said?

Lower levels, priority areas in the upper decks.... that seems more like 60-70 to me.

[SNEEZ]

When was the last time UGA did not do well in their football program? 50 years ago, before you were born?

What goes around will come around. If I were still alive when it came your turn to be in the same boat as the older fans, I'd just laugh, but I'll be dead by then. One day you'll see.

So, you'd like to see Willy given the boot? He's a prime example of your way of thinking. How would you handle his case?

Anyway........go Cocks.......:kill:

and to HE!! with UGA........

I'm not saying run them out...

I'm saying if they have the good seats and have been paying $100 a year for 40 yerars offer them the seats at upgraded prices, then move them out if they don't pay

progress with the times or get left behind.

[talon]

guys people do not have a bottomless pit when it comes to money. you can not price everyone out. I now will pay $6000 to buy tickets for baseball. Next year I willhave to pay 3000 for football. who knows if we win in bball. At some point I will say enough. All I can say is that for 20000 a year befor I pay for tickets they better win and win big. If I have to pay this kind of money to see poor performance I will not take long to get pissed off. If the coaches think that there was pressure before wait until this keeps coming down.

[TopCockOnTheBlock]

Why don't they do this.... Make all of the seats in the lower level the tickets that you can buy for certain levels of donating or whatever.

The Upper Level seats are fair game for everyone - Some people don't have $10,000 lying around to come to 7 games a year.

[zambam]

There are certainly ways to do this that would be fair. As long as they do take into consideration "time served" it should work out. I am reserving judgement on the plan until they actually tell us what it is.

[spurmanski]

Zambam...take a look at Clemson's plan....i really hope we use their thinking of the method to apply. That also is a test plan for us just setting there.....I dont think Clem last that many and our ADs DO exchange info.

From above:
I'm sure Hyman and crew have a risk figure (of probably defections) in mind, and that they've done extensive cost-benefit analysis on that figure and that is where the final charges are going to come from, but I really do think this has more potential to go bad than they believe. That is my worry.

I'll bet we havent done a valid study. We have worked with NCS in the past an may be working with Clem now and I hope so. I agree totally with the underlined part. We had a fair number of defections this year over a very small adjustment............this has to be done well and handled well

[TheGuitarCock]

Hyman is going to present it at 10:45 to the BOT then at 1:00 there will be a Press Confrence

[sc455]

i think we are missing something in this whole thread..everyone is talking about higher costs due to the seat license but what about what the article said in the first paragraph..what does "reseating" actually mean? to me it means that actual reseating will take place. does it mean that the ones who wont ante up will leave thus giving someone like myself, who has been paying full scholly dues for 12 years and still sits in the endzone, a chance to possibly sit on the west or east side? the only thing that is clear to me is that more money will be asked for from usc on top of what we already give.

[TKE226]

Probably been posted, but here is an article...before I leave for home...will take effect for 2009 season

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/08/08/southcarolina.seating.ap/index.html


COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina's athletic department will ask some season-ticket holders to pay up to $395 for the rights to retain their seats at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The school's board of trustees approved the plan late Friday morning. Athletic director Eric Hyman and other personnel outlined the plan, which is expected to raise $7.6 million.
Seat fees will range from $25 to $395. However, trustees were told that the average seat fee would be $157.

[spurmanski]

SC455
Actually it does not affect your current seating but allows you to buy into better seating for relatively few dollars compared to the rest of the SEC and I guess that is what you said in my mumbly terms, eh. I recall that you were a bit upset before the details came out...ME TOO

[sc455]

Probably been posted, but here is an article...before I leave for home...will take effect for 2009 season

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/08/08/southcarolina.seating.ap/index.html


COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina's athletic department will ask some season-ticket holders to pay up to $395 for the rights to retain their seats at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The school's board of trustees approved the plan late Friday morning. Athletic director Eric Hyman and other personnel outlined the plan, which is expected to raise $7.6 million.
Seat fees will range from $25 to $395. However, trustees were told that the average seat fee would be $157.
ok, this is exactly what i mean..this article only talks of the fees to retain the right to keep seats. it says nothing about reseating. i think the word reaseating was a mistake to use.

[sc455]

SC455
Actually it does not affect your current seating but allows you to buy into better seating for relatively few dollars compared to the rest of the SEC and I guess that is what you said in my mumbly terms, eh. I recall that you were a bit upset before the details came out...ME TOO
thanks but i dont think that is totally right..i called the gcc and was told that i could probably get a better seat if i did a couple things in combination..move up a level to ss and pay the dues in the short year to qaudruple my points. sounds to me like they want more money and want it quicker. almost like a bribe. oh geez, now that i think about it, if i am fortunate enough to get better seats, my psl will just go up per ticket...no win.

[spurmanski]

ssounds trashy but when did you call? BTW, Hyman is probably gonna take calls on 107.5 and I imagine they will send out surrogates on shows for awhile.

I think though, that was before the new plan.......i think you can move for SL money

[morgan n' 7™]

Seat fees to raise cost of a season at USC stadium

Starting in ’09, season-ticket holders must pay a premium for right to purchase seats


South Carolina season-ticket holders can keep their seats at Williams-Brice Stadium next season, as long as they’re willing to pay for what athletics officials say is the cost of being competitive in the Southeastern Conference.

USC athletics director Eric Hyman on Friday unveiled a long-anticipated seat-equity plan that will require fans to pay premiums for the right to purchase their seats beginning with the 2009 season.

USC’s board of trustees unanimously approved a proposal that has been a year and a half in the making.


Story...
http://www.thestate.com/gogamecocks/story/484568.html

[gAmkok]

The timing of this? Take off the tin foil hat conspiracy guy. They have been telling us about this for some time now. It isn't some kooky plan that they are springing on us. In fact, they even told us that they would be releasing the details around this time LAST YEAR!

Go back to the basement and blog with your buddies about UFOs

Damn dude, chill out. You labeling me a nut tells me you're an ass. I bet my assessment is closer than yours. If you don't like what I post, please ignore it in the future. That is what the adults around here do.

[usc89]

That wouldn't be so bad, but according to the materials I've read, the PSL will be assessed EVERY year. If they do that, we need to go back, audit the games I've been to over the years and issue me a credit for those games in which I worked harder to get there than the team did. I would list the games, but it'd take up too much room. I love my Gamecocks, but truth be told, the money this athletic department is staggering.

[Spur 'Em]

the PSL will be assessed EVERY year

Yes, it will be levied each year and the whole plan evaluated again in 2011. That was the disappointing part. If it were a one time shot, but that adds $580 every year to keep my seats. I really didn't expect up top 15 yard line seats to command that much.

[spurmanski]

actually Jay, LY they said they would announce it last Spring...then it ws early Summer and finally now, late Summer. One thing they got the advantage of by waiting is a bit of a read on the CU results and also the unplanned losses we had this year due to the small raise. CU is much more severe and I dont think their defections swere too bAD.....AT LEAST THEY HAVENT ADMITTED IT

[Spur 'Em]

Actually IPTAY giving went up, they took in over 5 million more than last year.

[theuscerock]

It doesn't look to bad...looks very similar to Bama's pricing