Pitt adjusts pricing structure on tickets

[Chris Peak]

Press release:

Pitt Athletics Adjusts Ticket Pricing Structure for 2018-19 Men’s Basketball Season

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh will restructure ticket pricing at the Petersen Events Center for the 2018-19 season following a multi-year study of college basketball ticket pricing and attendance across the NCAA.

“We are continuously looking for ways to provide a better fan experience at the Petersen Events Center,” said Assistant Athletic Director of Ticket Operations and Sales Ben Smith. “Given the national trend of declining attendance, we felt it necessary to undergo a full evaluation of our pricing and policies. As a result of this process, we have developed a pricing structure that will enable more fans and families the opportunity to come out to support the team. Our goal is to once again make the Petersen Events Center one of the toughest venues for our visiting opponents to play in.”

Pitt will reduce membership costs related to ticket sales in response to recent federal tax legislation. Effective Jan. 1, 2018, payments made to fulfill priority seating and parking opportunities are no longer tax deductible. While no longer tax deductible, these scholarship-seating payments will continue to be utilized to support the academic and athletic needs of our student-athletes and Panther Club members will continue to receive other great benefits.

The resulting changes to the membership fee and ticket cost will create reduced pricing in nearly every location of the Petersen Events Center.

Jeff Capel was formally introduced as the head coach of the Pitt men’s basketball team Wednesday, March 28, in a press conference on the floor at the Petersen Events Center. He spent the past seven seasons at Duke University, including the past four seasons as associate head coach under Mike Krzyzewski. In seven seasons at Duke, he helped guide the Blue Devils to a 200-55 (.784) record, seven NCAA Tournament appearances, the 2017 ACC Tournament championship and the 2015 National Championship. In that time, Capel also helped secure commitments from 19 McDonald's All-Americans as Duke has signed a top-two class in each of the past five years, including the top class in 2014, 2015 and 2018.

Prior to his return to Duke, Capel had successful head coaching stints at the University of Oklahoma (2007-11) and Virginia Commonwealth University (2003-06). He led the Sooners to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight run in 2009 with National Player of the Year and future NBA No. 1 overall selection Blake Griffin. In four seasons at VCU, Capel led the Rams to 79 wins with a .694 winning percentage in conference play.

Overall, he has 175 wins as a head coach and has mentored 13 NBA first round draft picks, including six lottery picks.

Complete information on the new ticket pricing structure for the 2018-19 season is available by calling the Panthers Ticket Office at 1-800-643-7488 or online at PittsburghPanthers.com/tickets.

Individuals interested in learning more about season tickets, please visit pittsburghpanthers.com/tickets to place your deposit or join our interest list. You can also contact the Panthers Ticket Office by email at tickets@athletics.pitt.edu or by phone at 800-643-7488. Renewing season ticket holders should expect to receive access to their online applications by late April.

 

[pittjas]

Just more proof they steal @Sean Miller Fan ’s ideas

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Just more proof they steal @Sean Miller Fan ’s ideas

SMF will certainly be happy!

 

[levance2]

Why the heck aren’t they publishing the prices online??

 

[pittjas]

Why the heck aren’t they publishing the prices online??

http://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/2017/6/17/tickets-pitt-season-tickets-m-baskbl-html.aspx?id=42

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Just more proof they steal @Sean Miller Fan ’s ideas

I won't take credit for this because it was so obvious. A couple years too late and as I said in a previous post, these prices are still too expensive for a bottom-tier P6 team. Even at the Dixon II level of bubble-type teams, these are too expensive.

I would say these are good prices for if we were looking at Dixon I type teams. Teams that would be looking at Top 5 ACC finishes. At these prices, they would sell out or come very close to it.

At the Dixon II level, you are probably looking at 7K-9K season tickets at these prices.

Even with the excitement of Capel, the team might be historically bad, maybe worse than last year. I'd be surprised if they sold more than 5K tickets.

This plan did not go far enough. You need people in the building. It will have gone from 3rd most expensive in the ACC to by my guesstimation 6th ot 7th. Honestly, for next season, they SHOULD be the cheapest. We just went 0-19 and will be picked dead last and may go 0-19 again. Pitt isn’t helping Capel by pricing tickets above what the market value will be for his 1st team is.

 

[levance2]

http://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/2017/6/17/tickets-pitt-season-tickets-m-baskbl-html.aspx?id=42

That’s so bizarre. The general link they sent out said you had to call the office for prices.

 

[Pittnerski]

I'm in for 2 LL. Need to support the program more than ever now.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

As I suspected, because we have both football and basketball tickets we will actually be paying more under the new plan than we would have been required to under the old one. I suspect many people with tickets to both, especially if it's more than just a couple of tickets, will find themselves in the same boat.

 

[levance2]

As I suspected, because we have both football and basketball tickets we will actually be paying more under the new plan than we would have been required to under the old one. I suspect many people with tickets to both, especially if it's more than just a couple of tickets, will find themselves in the same boat.

The conclusion of their multi-year analysis was to become less transparent and trick people.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

As I suspected, because we have both football and basketball tickets we will actually be paying more under the new plan than we would have been required to under the old one. I suspect many people with tickets to both, especially if it's more than just a couple of tickets, will find themselves in the same boat.

The conclusion of their multi-year analysis was to become less transparent and trick people.

I don't think they are trying to trick anyone. With the change in tax law, I agree with just making the donation based on a per seat basis. Its much less confusing that way. However, where they fall short is not taking into account that for people that own both football and basketball tickets, many will see price increases at a time when the basketball program is at its lowest point in school history and the football team is coming off of its first losing regular season since in more than a decade.

Generally though, I think football tickets are priced correctly. The issue there is the stadium is just too big. Basektball remains overpriced

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Its a start and I think they would have went a bit further if they didn't bleed so much already. A third of the bb revenue vanished.

 

[MamontPanther]

The one positive aspect of the new pricing is that if you kept your seats through the end of the Dixon and Stallings years and your seat assignments improved, you get to keep your same seats going forward as long as you renew them each season. If Capel turns things around and demand increases, some bandwagon jumper can't bump you from your seats.

 

[levance2]

If Capel turns things around and demand increases, some bandwagon jumper can't bump you from your seats.

Until they decide they can make more money by bumping you for bandwagon jumpers, and then that's what they'll do.

 

[levance2]

I don't think they are trying to trick anyone. With the change in tax law, I agree with just making the donation based on a per seat basis. Its much less confusing that way.

"Given the national trend of declining attendance, we felt it necessary to undergo a full evaluation of our pricing and policies. As a result of this process, we have developed a pricing structure that will enable more fans and families the opportunity to come out to support the team."
...
Pitt will reduce membership costs related to ticket sales in response to recent federal tax legislation.
...
The resulting changes to the membership fee and ticket cost will create reduced pricing in nearly every location of the Petersen Events Center.

Those statements are not true for a lot of members. That's a trick. I'm not arguing that their plan isn't the "right" thing to do, but the PR they are serving is a total trick compared to what they are actually implementing.

Pitt's top priority should be getting fans engaged with EVERY sport offered. There is no reason to split up these donations and quasi-disincentivize fans from supporting basketball and football. If the new plan means reduced costs for everyone except STH of both sports, then I think they are focused on benefiting the wrong population.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Unless Capel is a magician or a miracle worker Pitt will struggle again next season on the court and in attendance . I expect both will be better than last season , but not were it needs to be to fill up the Pete . Fan support will be crucial moving forward in attracting better recruits and filling the Pete up should be their number one priority . An empty or half filled Pete doesn’t impress anyone on a recruiting visit . Those wanting the better lower bowl tickets need to pay for them , but geez sell the frickin lousy upper deck seats for $100 and if you bring a child $50 until the demand dictates higher prices .

 

[Chaos]

As I suspected, because we have both football and basketball tickets we will actually be paying more under the new plan than we would have been required to under the old one. I suspect many people with tickets to both, especially if it's more than just a couple of tickets, will find themselves in the same boat.

Yep, same here.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Unless Capel is a magician or a miracle worker Pitt will struggle again next season on the court and in attendance . I expect both will be better than last season , but not were it needs to be to fill up the Pete . Fan support will be crucial moving forward in attracting better recruits and filling the Pete up should be their number one priority . An empty or half filled Pete doesn’t impress anyone on a recruiting visit . Those wanting the better lower bowl tickets need to pay for them , but geez sell the frickin lousy upper deck seats for $100 and if you bring a child $50 until the demand dictates higher prices .

I've been saying the worst seats should cost $99/season. Here's my plan for next season and until we get good:

Including donation

Lower Level Endzone/Corners: $400
Upper Sideline: $300
Upper Corners: $200
Upper Endzone: $99

You sell 10,000 season tickets with those prices. Instead, they will sell 5000 and make the same amount of money

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

If the new plan means reduced costs for everyone except STH of both sports, then I think they are focused on benefiting the wrong population.

Which is my problem with the whole thing. I mean I get that they need to get more revenue, and in fact I have been saying for years that they should have increased the required donation levels for football tickets, that the fact that the required donation was the same in 2017 as the day the stadium opened was a mistake. But they have now come up with a plan that actually penalizes people who buy numerous season tickets.

And there are people for whom it's going to be a lot worse than it will be for me. For instance someone who had four $500 per seat donation club seats for football and two $1000 per seat donation club seats for basketball in the past would have needed to make a $2000 donation. Now they will need to make a $4000 donation. And they won't get a tax write off either (not that that should be the determining factor in making a donation). It's like they don't understand the when you drop the "price" of the each ticket by $100 but you raise the amount that you need to donate for each ticket by $150 you haven't actually saved the customer any money. And those are the customers that Pitt should be cultivating.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Until they decide they can make more money by bumping you for bandwagon jumpers, and then that's what they'll do.

No, they would never do such a thing.

For the second time, I mean.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

I won't take credit for this because it was so obvious. A couple years too late and as I said in a previous post, these prices are still too expensive for a bottom-tier P6 team. Even at the Dixon II level of bubble-type teams, these are too expensive.

I would say these are good prices for if we were looking at Dixon I type teams. Teams that would be looking at Top 5 ACC finishes. At these prices, they would sell out or come very close to it.

At the Dixon II level, you are probably looking at 7K-9K season tickets at these prices.

Even with the excitement of Capel, the team might be historically bad, maybe worse than last year. I'd be surprised if they sold more than 5K tickets.

This plan did not go far enough. You need people in the building. It will have gone from 3rd most expensive in the ACC to by my guesstimation 6th ot 7th. Honestly, for next season, they SHOULD be the cheapest. We just went 0-19 and will be picked dead last and may go 0-19 again. Pitt isn’t helping Capel by pricing tickets above what the market value will be for his 1st team is.

I agree...the tickets are way to much for a 8 win team (& 0-19 in conference).

280$ for the worst seats in the house is not a good deal imo.

They should be like $100-175 this year at worst.

 

[levance2]

And there are people for whom it's going to be a lot worse than it will be for me. For instance someone who had four $500 per seat donation club seats for football and two $1000 per seat donation club seats for basketball in the past would have needed to make a $2000 donation. Now they will need to make a $4000 donation.

If anything, Pitt should be out there marketing a package deal for FB+MBB tickets. Hell, throw in baseball tickets for “free” just to claim it has a higher value.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Unless Capel is a magician or a miracle worker Pitt will struggle again next season on the court and in attendance . I expect both will be better than last season , but not were it needs to be to fill up the Pete . Fan support will be crucial moving forward in attracting better recruits and filling the Pete up should be their number one priority . An empty or half filled Pete doesn’t impress anyone on a recruiting visit . Those wanting the better lower bowl tickets need to pay for them , but geez sell the frickin lousy upper deck seats for $100 and if you bring a child $50 until the demand dictates higher prices .

Agree 100%

Ticket prices are way too high.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

If anything, Pitt should be out there marketing a package deal for FB+MBB tickets. Hell, throw in baseball tickets for “free” just to claim it has a higher value.

Maybe even soccer too!

Lol.

 

[panthermax]

Are the prices listed on the AD's website the current prices? They look the same as those listed a week or 2 ago.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Unless Capel is a magician or a miracle worker Pitt will struggle again next season on the court and in attendance . I expect both will be better than last season , but not were it needs to be to fill up the Pete . Fan support will be crucial moving forward in attracting better recruits and filling the Pete up should be their number one priority . An empty or half filled Pete doesn’t impress anyone on a recruiting visit . Those wanting the better lower bowl tickets need to pay for them , but geez sell the frickin lousy upper deck seats for $100 and if you bring a child $50 until the demand dictates higher prices .

Agree 100%

Ticket prices are way too high.

See, if it were me, I'd make them super cheap this season with a goal of selling 10,000. We are coming off of the Death Penalty. Forget revenue for now, price them where you can sell 10K, create excitement and get people in the building. Yea, I realize if they are cheap and you sell 10K, you still might only get 2K for Nov/Dec but since so many people would hav tickets in their possession, maybe you get 9K or 10K for some ACC games.

What's going to happen is they will sell 5K and its not going to loom a lot different than last year.

I would have priced super cheap than gradually raised the prices. Get people in the building this year then start increasing the prices.

 

[CrazyPaco]

If anything, Pitt should be out there marketing a package deal for FB+MBB tickets. Hell, throw in baseball tickets for “free” just to claim it has a higher value.

That's not a bad idea. The Mike Ditka Triple Letterman package: Football+basketball+baseball.

One price and one Panther Club fee for all three. Make it a special Iron Mike Club. Get a special Iron Mike window sticker and t-shirt with your purchase.

 

[KGSB Panther]

http://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/2017/6/17/tickets-pitt-season-tickets-m-baskbl-html.aspx?id=42

Hmm. Not sure that I trust a URL that contains the sequence "2017/6/17" to be up to date ;-)