I'm not sure I understand the "cheapskate" comment. My lower level tickets, bought on Stubhub, are going to cost me around $300. This doesnt include the Syracuse game, where I paid Pitt $85 to sit in the Zoo or the Duke game,.where I will have to pay $115 to sit in the upper deck. Also, for many of the games, I take family so I am buying 2-4 tickets unless I go with a friend.
I am paying similar prices as other folks. The only difference is I pay Pitt's secondary ticket market official sponsor for my lower level tickets because I'm under 65 and can't get lower level tickets through Pitt. I would be thrilled to buy lower level season tickets through Pitt. But, if you think I'm dumb enough to drop a grand on uppers, which have a combined market value of about $400, you're crazy.
As for Barnes, yes, he may prove to be as dumb as Barnes when it comes to ticketing. I can, promise you, right now, we will have a minimum of 2500 unsold season tickets in the upper deck next year. So, Econ 101......what do you do when demand drops? You lower the price. FWIW, I think prices of lower level tickets should be raised. Pitt cant be charging everybody the same price anymore minus donations. Thats just plain dumb.