After attending Penguins game, I observed a way to raise money for Position Endowment & other stuff.

[mdpitt]

I haven't been to a Pens game in years but I had a great experience and noticed a few things Heinz Field and Pitt should do.

The 50/50 raffle is something Pitt has to do this year. People take money all over the arena and print an electronic ticket and then towards the end of the game, they draw it. For a crowd of about 18,000, the 50/50 was about $30,000. So take this out to 45,000 at Heinz, maybe you get about $70,000 conservatively, maybe $100,000 for a max capacity game and it would be pretty impressive seeing someone win $35,000- $50,000 but it would be better to fund Scholarships this way. It would be pretty cool to announce every game what position is being funded and hopefully after a few seasons we start moving onto other sports to fund their positions. Just use the same people from Pens games because they were really good at it and the ticket lines rotated quickly.

I really enjoyed how the Penguins have a bunch of Temporary Vending stations in concourses. Dunkin Donuts with Coffee, craft beers, etc really made the lines go quickly so people could get back to the action.

Basically, the vending was much smaller, spaced out and efficient.

Again with the 50/50. Pittsburghers absolutely eat this stuff up. It's a voluntary thing that effects nobody that disagrees and benefits Pitt Athletics. This should happen.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

There's probably an NCAA rule against it because that is clearly gambling. However, if they could make it work, that's a good idea.

 

[HailtoPitt]

I doubt it is a violation, since Michigan State does it.

 

[PSU_Nut]

I doubt it is a violation, since Michigan State does it.

Rutgers also does it.

 

[pitt-girl]

I haven't been to a Pens game in years but I had a great experience and noticed a few things Heinz Field and Pitt should do.

The 50/50 raffle is something Pitt has to do this year. People take money all over the arena and print an electronic ticket and then towards the end of the game, they draw it. For a crowd of about 18,000, the 50/50 was about $30,000. So take this out to 45,000 at Heinz, maybe you get about $70,000 conservatively, maybe $100,000 for a max capacity game and it would be pretty impressive seeing someone win $35,000- $50,000 but it would be better to fund Scholarships this way. It would be pretty cool to announce every game what position is being funded and hopefully after a few seasons we start moving onto other sports to fund their positions. Just use the same people from Pens games because they were really good at it and the ticket lines rotated quickly.

I really enjoyed how the Penguins have a bunch of Temporary Vending stations in concourses. Dunkin Donuts with Coffee, craft beers, etc really made the lines go quickly so people could get back to the action.

Basically, the vending was much smaller, spaced out and efficient.

Again with the 50/50. Pittsburghers absolutely eat this stuff up. It's a voluntary thing that effects nobody that disagrees and benefits Pitt Athletics. This should happen.

Email someone at the AD - my sense is Pitt has zero control over concessions, but I love the idea of the 50/50 raffle. Even better, award the money as a scholarship to one of the students at the game. Although I hate to say it, if people don't think they might win all the $$, not sure how well it will do.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Have the 50/50 and announce the winner sometime mid to late 4th qtr. during a commercial. It might keep more fans in the bueatiful mustard yellow seats.
Must be there to collect the $$$$.
Even students would take a shot a that kind of money and more would hang around!
Noone is more popular than a college student about to hit the bars with some "walking around" money.

 

[Panther Holla]

Great idea if they confine the ticket sellers to booths out of the middle of concourses or in the stands. The Pirates go overboard with hawkers at their games. They are like waiters pushing drinks on a cruise ship.

 

[Jpripper88]

I doubt it is a violation, since Michigan State does it.

I don't believe you are allowed to sell tickets or announce winners in the stadium.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

50/50's are a good scam, er sorry,...revenue opportunity.

I run one down at my social club. I call it 50/25-25, Ol' Darth gets his first, ya dig? The trick is to have a really cute kid sell the tickets and if they say no, their $3.99 Salisbury Steak gets some extra toppings....if you catch my drift.

Papa VadEER and a local Councilman ran the softball league 50/50 back when I was a kid. We always ate good during softball season and our street was always plowed FIRST during winter. The good ol' days.

 

[ratking17]

You just need a gambling license. Do the steelers run one? Maybe there is some obscure rule that heinz cannot do the 50 50 due to the proximity of the casino? (Just grasping at straws) I think it is a win win for the athletic department. Sometimes you even get the winners to feel generous to donate their winnings back to the organization raising the money

 

[Panther Holla]

Why not just put Steve P in a dunking booth at $10 a throw? Three for $15. Pitt would raise enough bling to build that on-campus stadium.

 

[OnSHATterday]

You just need a gambling license. Do the steelers run one? Maybe there is some obscure rule that heinz cannot do the 50 50 due to the proximity of the casino? (Just grasping at straws) I think it is a win win for the athletic department. Sometimes you even get the winners to feel generous to donate their winnings back to the organization raising the money

The Steelers run one.

http://www.revenue.pa.gov/FormsandP...ments/Small Games of Chance/sgoc_overview.pdf

For $125 a year it appears Pitt could as well.

 

[pittdan77]

Could just pass a hat like they do at little league games.

 

[ratking17]

Could just pass a hat like they do at little league games.

I volunteer myself to "count" the money

 

[HailtoPitt]

Let's equipt Heinz Field ushers with these!

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

I doubt it is a violation, since Michigan State does it.

Then we should absolutely do it.

 

[YourPittDanceTeam]

The Steelers run one.

http://www.revenue.pa.gov/FormsandPublications/FormsforBusinesses/Documents/Small Games of Chance/sgoc_overview.pdf

For $125 a year it appears Pitt could as well.

I do love the fact that gambling is illegal unless...
- it is done in a local bar
- it is done by the local church
- it is done in the local bowling alley
- it is done by your child's baseball, football, hockey, basketball, etc... sports team
and lastly...it is controlled by the State of Pennsylvania.
Do you have a gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler
Had to add the gambling problem disclaimer at the end, because that seems to make it okay then.

 

[Piranha]

Have the 50/50 and announce the winner sometime mid to late 4th qtr. during a commercial. It might keep more fans in the bueatiful mustard yellow seats.
Must be there to collect the $$$$.
Even students would take a shot a that kind of money and more would hang around!
Noone is more popular than a college student about to hit the bars with some "walking around" money.

Agreed - perfect solution.

 

[CrazyPaco]

I haven't been to a Pens game in years but I had a great experience and noticed a few things Heinz Field and Pitt should do.

The 50/50 raffle is something Pitt has to do this year. People take money all over the arena and print an electronic ticket and then towards the end of the game, they draw it. For a crowd of about 18,000, the 50/50 was about $30,000. So take this out to 45,000 at Heinz, maybe you get about $70,000 conservatively, maybe $100,000 for a max capacity game and it would be pretty impressive seeing someone win $35,000- $50,000 but it would be better to fund Scholarships this way. It would be pretty cool to announce every game what position is being funded and hopefully after a few seasons we start moving onto other sports to fund their positions. Just use the same people from Pens games because they were really good at it and the ticket lines rotated quickly.

I really enjoyed how the Penguins have a bunch of Temporary Vending stations in concourses. Dunkin Donuts with Coffee, craft beers, etc really made the lines go quickly so people could get back to the action.

Basically, the vending was much smaller, spaced out and efficient.

Again with the 50/50. Pittsburghers absolutely eat this stuff up. It's a voluntary thing that effects nobody that disagrees and benefits Pitt Athletics. This should happen.

Definitely should be considered. All options to fund scholarships and scholarship endowments should be considered. Should be done at football and basketball games and frankly, everywhere else it makes sense, including for non-athletic purposes and events.

Email your suggestion if you haven't already.

 

[wicker]

These are good sources of $$ because many winners don't realize they won. Hold off on announcing the numbers til last few minutes/inning of game. Many ticket buyers have left and won't know about checking numbers. I know of one team that made extra bucks for its charity by doing it this way. And there were a few times they just delayed paying the winner even after a ticket was shown

 

[H2P2004]

I put 50/50 raffle in the survey asking for ideas... Technology already in stadium.... Announce winner middle of 4th quarter