Pricing ourselves out of an ND sellout and thoughts on the mini-packages?

[JoeScaz]

Hey all.. I noticed today when I got the email about individual tickets for the Notre Dame game.. that there still seems to be probably 7-10k unsold tickets for the ND game.. Maybe we will get there, but do you all think that the $85 individual game price-tag will keep the place from being full for the game? I know, I know-- most schools have sold at this price, but generally not us... I also noticed that the ND at Temple game HAS sold out. Are people apprehensive about not knowing the time? It certainly doesn't reek of the (always claimed) 15k ND fans..

I am not sure if the mini-packages were a good idea... I would like to see full-season and individual games only for next year...

 

[WCSordill]

Hey all.. I noticed today when I got the email about individual tickets for the Notre Dame game.. that there still seems to be probably 7-10k unsold tickets for the ND game.. Maybe we will get there, but do you all think that the $85 individual game price-tag will keep the place from being full for the game? I know, I know-- most schools have sold at this price, but generally not us... I also noticed that the ND at Temple game HAS sold out. Are people apprehensive about not knowing the time? It certainly doesn't reek of the (always claimed) 15k ND fans..

I am not sure if the mini-packages were a good idea... I would like to see full-season and individual games only for next year...

I was able to purchase four tickets in the West upper stands on about the 40 yard line about ten days ago. That doesn't sound like a potential sellout to me.

 

[Panther Parrothead]

Hey all.. I noticed today when I got the email about individual tickets for the Notre Dame game.. that there still seems to be probably 7-10k unsold tickets for the ND game.. Maybe we will get there, but do you all think that the $85 individual game price-tag will keep the place from being full for the game? I know, I know-- most schools have sold at this price, but generally not us... I also noticed that the ND at Temple game HAS sold out. Are people apprehensive about not knowing the time? It certainly doesn't reek of the (always claimed) 15k ND fans..

I am not sure if the mini-packages were a good idea... I would like to see full-season and individual games only for next year...

I suspect that the mini-package was a marketing attempt based on their projected sales (or lack thereof). When Pitt starts to win regularly again, they won't have to do it.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Maybe Irish fans went more for the cheaper (60.) Temple ticket the week before? The haven't played in Phila in 20+ years.

 

[ratking17]

I sold my pair weeks ago for 400

 

[Pittx9]

Notre Dame is also huge in Philly. Nobody goes to Temple games. We don't have great attendance, but Pittsburgh is definitely Pitt territory. I don't think it will be a sellout, but I also don't think there will be as many Irish fans as usual. Also there's probably somewhat of a correlation between the two.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Pitt rarely sells out the ND game though sometimes they get pretty close.

Here's the deal. 45,000 Pitt fans will be there, most of whom bought season tickets. Very, very few non-season ticket holding casual Yinzer Pitt fans are going to pay the steep price for a single game ND ticket when tbey can watch it in HD at home. Just too expensive.

This means that 15,000-20,000 ND fans have to show up to sell out. And that doesnt look like its going to happen. NE Subway alums are going to Philly instead the week before. Probably looking at a crowd around 58,000.

 

[PSU_Nut]

Pitt rarely sells out the ND game though sometimes they get pretty close.

Here's the deal. 45,000 Pitt fans will be there, most of whom bought season tickets. Very, very few non-season ticket holding casual Yinzer Pitt fans are going to pay the steep price for a single game ND ticket when tbey can watch it in HD at home. Just too expensive.

This means that 15,000-20,000 ND fans have to show up to sell out. And that doesnt look like its going to happen. NE Subway alums are going to Philly instead the week before. Probably looking at a crowd around 58,000.

I also think ND fans now have so many games in the area recently that the novelty for many of the subway alums is gone. Look at this year. They play in Philly, Pittsburgh, Boston and Virginia. So no matter where you in the north east the is at least one game close and for many several close games. In the past Notre Dame might only play once in the north east.

 

[Cap pitt]

I also think ND fans now have so many games in the area recently that the novelty for many of the subway alums is gone. Look at this year. They play in Philly, Pittsburgh, Boston and Virginia. So no matter where you in the north east the is at least one game close and for many several close games. In the past Notre Dame might only play once in the north east.

Maybe a lot of people are wanting to see what Pitt does the next three games.

 

[ThePanthers]

Maybe a lot of people are wanting to see what Pitt does the next three games.

I think this hits it on the head.

If both teams come in like 7-1/6-2, I think you will see a fantastic crowd.

That said, if fans don't want to pay $85 to see Pitt play ND, then we as a fanbase have bigger issues.

 

[Pghfan]

If Pitt is 6-2 or 7-1, casual Pitt fans will show up for this game, especially if its a later start time. Nd will have about 7-8k there, regardless. This could be an EVENT type game. Casual pghers won't go to a noon game against Akron because they don't see it as an event, this is perceptionally much more appealing.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I think this hits it on the head.

If both teams come in like 7-1/6-2, I think you will see a fantastic crowd.

That said, if fans don't want to pay $85 to see Pitt play ND, then we as a fanbase have bigger issues.

Yes, the bigger issue is we dont have that many fans. What do people not understand about that? Its a pro town with 3 of the most rabid pro fanbases out there. We dont have casual fans who are going to run their credit card for $340 for 4 upper deck seats for a Nov game against ND. They'll watch on TV.

Pitt draws 45,000-50,000 Pitt fans for ND. Always have, always will. We dont have many more fans than that.

If Pitt won the next 3 games by 50 each, the Yinzers still wouldnt come. They arent big enough fans to pay that price. The Pens/Steelers/Pirates fans will watch Pitt when they are in TV and they have nothing better to do. Just about everybody I know, including Pitt alums is like this. These people will never go to games. Never. The stadium is far too big for our fanbase.

 

[GENAC]

I also noticed that the ND at Temple game HAS sold out.

Philly is a bigger market and less saturated than Pittsburgh with fans of the local team. Philly is also an easy train or car ride from NYC, NJ, and DC. The only thing Pittsburgh has going for it is it's a shorter trip from Indiana, but the majority of ND fans at away games aren't travelling from Indiana.

 

[Pittx9]

but the majority of ND fans at away games aren't travelling from Indiana.

I swear I think the guy behind me at the 2011 game was straight from Ireland. God, was that annoying when Notre Dame scored. Sounded like a leprechaun. And I don't like ND's leprechaun either.
H2P!!

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Philly is a bigger market and less saturated than Pittsburgh with fans of the local team. Philly is also an easy train or car ride from NYC, NJ, and DC. The only thing Pittsburgh has going for it is it's a shorter trip from Indiana, but the majority of ND fans at away games aren't travelling from Indiana.

In years past, I think we drew a lot of ND fans from Philly/NY/NJ/DC. This year, they are all going to Philly. That's the simple reason why this will be the lowest attended ND game in a long time. Good news, less annoying subway alums.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

5 ND games at Heinz
66451
66421
65374
65050
65500

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

5 WVU games at Heinz
66731
53541
55642
63019
60562

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Other >60k
Cuse 61421 03
Va T 66207 03
Cincy 63387 09
FSU 65500 13

 

[ThePanthers]

Philly is a bigger market and less saturated than Pittsburgh with fans of the local team. Philly is also an easy train or car ride from NYC, NJ, and DC. The only thing Pittsburgh has going for it is it's a shorter trip from Indiana, but the majority of ND fans at away games aren't travelling from Indiana.

Pitt plays ND almost every year (now 3 times in 12 years). How often has ND played Temple. It's a much bigger deal.

There will be a nice crowd for the game in November. Just might not be a sell out.

 

[#99HUGHgreen]

If Pitt is 6-2 or 7-1, casual Pitt fans will show up for this game, especially if its a later start time. Nd will have about 7-8k there, regardless. This could be an EVENT type game. Casual pghers won't go to a noon game against Akron because they don't see it as an event, this is perceptionally much more appealing.

Agreed. If both teams come into the game with 2 or fewer loses, there will be 60k+ once again. Heck, there will likely be that many even if someone loses 3 games. It's Pitt vs. ND. Always a big crowd. Just like Pitt WVU and Pitt PSU games. It will be a hot ticket.

Also, Let's not forget all of the fans who now live in other states and can only come back for one or two games a year (I fall into that category). Which game do you think is on the top of their list to come back to see?

I'd bet there are thousands of out-of-town fans who fall into this category- even if it means bringing along an ND fan with you.

 

[Pghfan]

Well, that's what they ANNOUNCED. But its not accurate. The Todd Graham ND nooner wasnt even close to a sellout, probably 59,000 as there were entire rows of all yellow. FSU game was similar to this. The last ND didnt sell out either, probably 61K.

And since you brought it up, that Pitt/Syr game in the Larry era probably has the world-record for most Pitt fans to attend a game. 60k was fairly accurate but there were no Syr fans. Our fanbase isnt big enough to get crowd like that from teams who dont bring 10k-20k fans.

SMF, in another thread, I pulled up the attendance numbers to compare the '11 game (noon kickoff) with the '09 game (8pm kickoff). Announced attendance was very similar 65k+ for both. I was at both games, that noon kickoff wasn't even close, not even close, to being 65k. If I had to guess, I'd say 53-56k tops.. That night game in '09, that was legit, butts in seats, 61-63k. Youtube the Nd-Pitt '09 game and you can see, there are no real empty seats..

 

[TFloss]

Love love love all the guys who are experts at counting to 47,000+ on Saturday afternoons.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

2011 ND

 

[Pghfan]

2011 ND

Good find Tiger-Paul.. OK, I may have to go back on my previous post.. This crowd is more than I thought. People in the corners, that's a legit 57k in this pic.. Heinz holds 65k and got to take into consideration the multiple factions of people that hang out in the amenities of this stadium..

 

[Pghfan]

Lots of empty yellow in the upper deck closest to river. It was worse on the Pitt side that you cant see. I'd say actual attendance was 59-60

Yeah, I had some cheaper seats at this one, remember sitting about halfway up on the 25-30 yard line and it being pretty empty. I must have been on the other side of this pic.. Regardless, still a decent crowd for a noon game..

 

[ddc17]

keep in mind that people get up, get drinks, take a piss. Never are all of the seats going to be totally full...

 

[wbrpanther]

Hey all.. I noticed today when I got the email about individual tickets for the Notre Dame game.. that there still seems to be probably 7-10k unsold tickets for the ND game.. Maybe we will get there, but do you all think that the $85 individual game price-tag will keep the place from being full for the game? I know, I know-- most schools have sold at this price, but generally not us... I also noticed that the ND at Temple game HAS sold out. Are people apprehensive about not knowing the time? It certainly doesn't reek of the (always claimed) 15k ND fans..

I am not sure if the mini-packages were a good idea... I would like to see full-season and individual games only for next year...

They will have no problem finding 7000 to 10,000 domers to buy them up.

 

[Ray-Ray]

Hey all.. I noticed today when I got the email about individual tickets for the Notre Dame game.. that there still seems to be probably 7-10k unsold tickets for the ND game.. Maybe we will get there, but do you all think that the $85 individual game price-tag will keep the place from being full for the game? I know, I know-- most schools have sold at this price, but generally not us... I also noticed that the ND at Temple game HAS sold out. Are people apprehensive about not knowing the time? It certainly doesn't reek of the (always claimed) 15k ND fans..

I am not sure if the mini-packages were a good idea... I would like to see full-season and individual games only for next year...

Tarp the damn thing and we would not be worrying about empty seats.

 

[cbpitt2]

I know the last time ND was here there were some empty seats. Not a lot but enough to doubt it was sold out.

It would be a shame if we don't sell out the ND game. We always play them tough. Any other place that ND visits they don't sell out?

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

For the record the vast majority of notre dame fans at Heinz every game are locals with no actually affiliation to nd except they chose to like that team