Two ideas for improving butts in seats when tickets are purchased.

[mdpitt]

Why not put $5 per ticket scanned per game into a rewards card that can be used the following year for tickets, beverages, food or Pitt Gear. So add $2.50 to the cost of the ticket and just use the other $2.50 as a sort of a coupon that leads to other purchases. What this will likely do is maybe get the fans to put the tickets in the hands of someone who wants to use them, Stubhub them or get them back to Pitt so they can give them to groups, parents, future students. Maybe add more value per game for better seats but $5 minimum for bad seats. It also adds value for retaining fans the following year because they would be throwing money away if they don't renew.

The cameras face the Visitor's section. Charge a substantial discount for people to sit in the upper deck to create a better visual. Charge significantly more for home side upper deck between the 20s. Nobody can complain because displace people can sit on the other side for less.

This will provide cover for AD when tickets increase after our 10 win season this year. Added value.

Thoughts?

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Why not put $5 per ticket scanned per game into a rewards card that can be used the following year for tickets, beverages, food or Pitt Gear. So add $2.50 to the cost of the ticket and just use the other $2.50 as a sort of a coupon that leads to other purchases. What this will likely do is maybe get the fans to put the tickets in the hands of someone who wants to use them, Stubhub them or get them back to Pitt so they can give them to groups, parents, future students. Maybe add more value per game for better seats but $5 minimum for bad seats. It also adds value for retaining fans the following year because they would be throwing money away if they don't renew.

The cameras face the Visitor's section. Charge a substantial discount for people to sit in the upper deck to create a better visual. Charge significantly more for home side upper deck between the 20s. Nobody can complain because displace people can sit on the other side for less.

Thoughts?

You think people who aren't using their tickets already purchased are going to make the trip in because of a nominal rebate?

It's not a good enough incentive.

Revenue generation is Pitt's main problem. So long as they are buying the tickets- that's the most important thing- they can use them as they want.
Stop worrying about the people buying tickets, and focus on how to get more people to buy tickets.

 

[mdpitt]

You think people who aren't using their tickets already purchased are going to make the trip in because of a nominal rebate?

It's not a good enough incentive.

Revenue generation is Pitt's main problem. So long as they are buying the tickets- that's the most important thing- they can use them as they want.
Stop worrying about the people buying tickets, and focus on how to get more people to buy tickets.

I think you are missing the point. It won't get purchaser to go but it could get them to scan their ticket and have it on the market ( even at half price ) or give it to Pitt to do something with it. Worst case scenario, you get 5 bucks.

I believe many people are like myself when purchasing on stubhub. I won't sit in peanut heaven but I will buy a great seat at a reasonable price. There are a lot of bad seats on the secondary market cheap and many great seats way too expensive.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

I like the idea of the scan reward. You should send this EJ. I did something smililar a few months ago and he thanked me for the ideas and said he would bring to the fan experience group.

 

[HailtoPitt]

You think people who aren't using their tickets already purchased are going to make the trip in because of a nominal rebate?

It's not a good enough incentive.

Revenue generation is Pitt's main problem. So long as they are buying the tickets- that's the most important thing- they can use them as they want.
Stop worrying about the people buying tickets, and focus on how to get more people to buy tickets.

I fundamentally disagree with your view that revenue generation is the only thing that matters. It isn't. Everything is interconnected.

 

[pittdan77]

I think winning helps.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

I fundamentally disagree with your view that revenue generation is the only thing that matters. It isn't. Everything is interconnected.

So true especially with regard to cfb. Not realizing it is flawed.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I think winning helps.

 

[big marty]

That includes a discount on beer too this fall.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Why not put $5 per ticket scanned per game into a rewards card that can be used the following year for tickets, beverages, food or Pitt Gear. So add $2.50 to the cost of the ticket and just use the other $2.50 as a sort of a coupon that leads to other purchases. What this will likely do is maybe get the fans to put the tickets in the hands of someone who wants to use them, Stubhub them or get them back to Pitt so they can give them to groups, parents, future students. Maybe add more value per game for better seats but $5 minimum for bad seats. It also adds value for retaining fans the following year because they would be throwing money away if they don't renew.

The cameras face the Visitor's section. Charge a substantial discount for people to sit in the upper deck to create a better visual. Charge significantly more for home side upper deck between the 20s. Nobody can complain because displace people can sit on the other side for less.

This will provide cover for AD when tickets increase after our 10 win season this year. Added value.

Thoughts?

I agree and this is an idea I've had for years. Pitt has a very big problem in that our no-show rate is very high. I have seats on the 40 in the lower level and the people who bought those seats only came to the ND game (and they were Pitt fans).

Like you said, charge more per ticket and rebate it back with either a loaded value to be used at concession stands, or if unused, apply it to next year's season tickets or maybe at the Team Store or whatever.

If I couldn't make a game and couldnt sell it on Stubbhub and couldn't give it away, I would leave my tickets on the floor at Wal Mart in the hopes someone would pick it up and used it (I actually did leave an extra football ticket or 2 at a grocery store once because it was before Stubhub and I knew I couldnt go).

 

[deepelemblues]

Here are my two ideas for improving the butts in the seats this year:

1. Zumba classes
2. Elliptical machines

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

I think you are missing the point. It won't get purchaser to go but it could get them to scan their ticket and have it on the market ( even at half price ) or give it to Pitt to do something with it. Worst case scenario, you get 5 bucks.

I believe many people are like myself when purchasing on stubhub. I won't sit in peanut heaven but I will buy a great seat at a reasonable price. There are a lot of bad seats on the secondary market cheap and many great seats way too expensive.

More of an incentive, than...say... RECOUPING the cost of the ticket by selling it?

Think it through.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

I fundamentally disagree with your view that revenue generation is the only thing that matters. It isn't. Everything is interconnected.

For a cash constrained department, it's absolutely the top priority.

 

[HailToPitt71]

Why not put $5 per ticket scanned per game into a rewards card that can be used the following year for tickets, beverages, food or Pitt Gear. So add $2.50 to the cost of the ticket and just use the other $2.50 as a sort of a coupon that leads to other purchases. What this will likely do is maybe get the fans to put the tickets in the hands of someone who wants to use them, Stubhub them or get them back to Pitt so they can give them to groups, parents, future students. Maybe add more value per game for better seats but $5 minimum for bad seats. It also adds value for retaining fans the following year because they would be throwing money away if they don't renew.

The cameras face the Visitor's section. Charge a substantial discount for people to sit in the upper deck to create a better visual. Charge significantly more for home side upper deck between the 20s. Nobody can complain because displace people can sit on the other side for less.

This will provide cover for AD when tickets increase after our 10 win season this year. Added value.

Thoughts?

Will this eliminate the coupon on back?

I already use the coupon on the back of my tickets. BOGO - a Pick 2 at Panera. Its on average a $7.50.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I think you are missing the point. It won't get purchaser to go but it could get them to scan their ticket and have it on the market ( even at half price ) or give it to Pitt to do something with it. Worst case scenario, you get 5 bucks.

I believe many people are like myself when purchasing on stubhub. I won't sit in peanut heaven but I will buy a great seat at a reasonable price. There are a lot of bad seats on the secondary market cheap and many great seats way too expensive.

Not really. One thing that people make a mistake is to think this is an economic thing. The Pens have what, 400 some straight sell outs with an average ticket price about the price of a single Pitt FB season ticket? Same with the Steelers. A couple of years ago when I had Pitt season tickets, I went to the FSU game. And the ND game. Didn't use my tickets for the other games. I know, I suck. Regardless of reasons, I am far from rich. But I am fairly comfortable in income levels. The unused tickets were nothing to me. Had no economic impact.

That is the same thing, $5 rebate per ticket? Holy Christ, I throw away that much on a daily basis. That is why I say Pitt needs to RAISE prices to make these tickets more valuable to me, or whoever poaches only the good games.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Not really. One thing that people make a mistake is to think this is an economic thing. The Pens have what, 400 some straight sell outs with an average ticket price about the price of a single Pitt FB season ticket? Same with the Steelers. A couple of years ago when I had Pitt season tickets, I went to the FSU game. And the ND game. Didn't use my tickets for the other games. I know, I suck. Regardless of reasons, I am far from rich. But I am fairly comfortable in income levels. The unused tickets were nothing to me. Had no economic impact.

That is the same thing, $5 rebate per ticket? Holy Christ, I throw away that much on a daily basis. That is why I say Pitt needs to RAISE prices to make these tickets more valuable to me, or whoever poaches only the good games.

Yep.
We've constantly devalue our own product.
It's a failed premise.

 

[Cover2panther]

Sell Brewskis.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Sell Brewskis.

You think $10'coors light is a draw?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Not really. One thing that people make a mistake is to think this is an economic thing. The Pens have what, 400 some straight sell outs with an average ticket price about the price of a single Pitt FB season ticket?

The Pens sellout streak is like Pitt bball's old streak or #107k. Its not real. The Pens email me every game begging me to buy tickets. There are ad banners all over the Internet for Pens tickets.

 

[PSU_Nut]

Pitt has two major problems with getting seats filled. The first problem Is the give out tickets like candy to corporate sponsors. For a couple of grand Pitt will give a company an ad space in the program and a block of 20 tickets and a handful of gold lot parking passes. That why you see many premium seats and area of gold lot empty. The company will give a way the tickets and just trash the un used one because it not a big deal. It all written off as advertisement expense. They aren't going to resell them on stub hub not is the person who they are given to if something comes up and they can't go.

Secondly Heinz Field is to large and therefore tickets especially season tickets are so cheap. I have known Penn State, Notre Dame and Florida State fans who buy season tickets just for one game. At $100 they don't care if they throw away the other tickets. A single event ticket cost more than that at many places. In addition it allows for people to drop and add season tickets each year with out risk of being sold out. Until demand is at a level where you have to hold season ticket year to year and the price is to much to eat a ticket you will see a ton of empty seats.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Isn’t it true that between PITTsburgh and Philly the only competition in Pennsyltucky is the Farm Show?

Pitt has two major problems with getting seats filled. The first problem Is the give out tickets like candy to corporate sponsors. For a couple of grand Pitt will give a company an ad space in the program and a block of 20 tickets and a handful of gold lot parking passes. That why you see many premium seats and area of gold lot empty. The company will give a way the tickets and just trash the un used one because it not a big deal. It all written off as advertisement expense. They aren't going to resell them on stub hub not is the person who they are given to if something comes up and they can't go.

Secondly Heinz Field is to large and therefore tickets especially season tickets are so cheap. I have known Penn State, Notre Dame and Florida State fans who buy season tickets just for one game. At $100 they don't care if they throw away the other tickets. A single event ticket cost more than that at many places. In addition it allows for people to drop and add season tickets each year with out risk of being sold out. Until demand is at a level where you have to hold season ticket year to year and the price is to much to eat a ticket you will see a ton of empty seats.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Pitt has two major problems with getting seats filled. The first problem Is the give out tickets like candy to corporate sponsors. For a couple of grand Pitt will give a company an ad space in the program and a block of 20 tickets and a handful of gold lot parking passes. That why you see many premium seats and area of gold lot empty. The company will give a way the tickets and just trash the un used one because it not a big deal. It all written off as advertisement expense. They aren't going to resell them on stub hub not is the person who they are given to if something comes up and they can't go.

Secondly Heinz Field is to large and therefore tickets especially season tickets are so cheap. I have known Penn State, Notre Dame and Florida State fans who buy season tickets just for one game. At $100 they don't care if they throw away the other tickets. A single event ticket cost more than that at many places. In addition it allows for people to drop and add season tickets each year with out risk of being sold out. Until demand is at a level where you have to hold season ticket year to year and the price is to much to eat a ticket you will see a ton of empty seats.

Nail on head.

 

[Swervin27]

You think $10'coors light is a draw?

for the casual fan, male demographic, 21-40 years old, I think it is. Yes.. It gives it an "event" feel instead of a game. Lets face it, only die hard pitt fans care about the actual game of Pitt vs. villanova or Pitt vs marshall. YOu want to create a reason for someone to go spend 4 - 5 hours of their day on the North Shore, beer accessibility helps..

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Pitt has two major problems with getting seats filled. The first problem Is the give out tickets like candy to corporate sponsors. For a couple of grand Pitt will give a company an ad space in the program and a block of 20 tickets and a handful of gold lot parking passes. That why you see many premium seats and area of gold lot empty. The company will give a way the tickets and just trash the un used one because it not a big deal. It all written off as advertisement expense. They aren't going to resell them on stub hub not is the person who they are given to if something comes up and they can't go.

Secondly Heinz Field is to large and therefore tickets especially season tickets are so cheap. I have known Penn State, Notre Dame and Florida State fans who buy season tickets just for one game. At $100 they don't care if they throw away the other tickets. A single event ticket cost more than that at many places. In addition it allows for people to drop and add season tickets each year with out risk of being sold out. Until demand is at a level where you have to hold season ticket year to year and the price is to much to eat a ticket you will see a ton of empty seats.

This is unfortunately, accurate.

UNC look at me like I"m crazy for having season tickets, in the club section, for Pitt games...which I don't get to travel up for much anymore.
Then I tell them the cost of those tickets, and they laugh..because their nose-bleed seats cost more.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

for the casual fan, male demographic, 21-40 years old, I think it is. Yes.. It gives it an "event" feel instead of a game. Lets face it, only die hard pitt fans care about the actual game of Pitt vs. villanova or Pitt vs marshall. YOu want to create a reason for someone to go spend 4 - 5 hours of their day on the North Shore, beer accessibility helps..

If buying beer is an incentive for attendance- why wouldn't people go to a bar- with better and cheaper beer- and watch on TV?

Or watch from their home TVs?

Think it through. NOBODY is going to attend a Pitt game to buy an over-priced beer. NOBODY.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Not really. One thing that people make a mistake is to think this is an economic thing. The Pens have what, 400 some straight sell outs with an average ticket price about the price of a single Pitt FB season ticket? Same with the Steelers. A couple of years ago when I had Pitt season tickets, I went to the FSU game. And the ND game. Didn't use my tickets for the other games. I know, I suck. Regardless of reasons, I am far from rich. But I am fairly comfortable in income levels. The unused tickets were nothing to me. Had no economic impact.

That is the same thing, $5 rebate per ticket? Holy Christ, I throw away that much on a daily basis. That is why I say Pitt needs to RAISE prices to make these tickets more valuable to me, or whoever poaches only the good games.

I agree. Our football tickets are too cheap. Raise the prices by a decent amount and you still get almost all of the same die hards buying tickets. Those are the vast majority of people who buy the tickets and go to the games. They aren't going anywhere. If they are still here after the last 30 years they aren't going away because the price of the tickets goes up to an amount a little closer to what the top schools charge on a regular basis.

 

[OriginalEther]

If buying beer is an incentive for attendance- why wouldn't people go to a bar- with better and cheaper beer- and watch on TV?

Or watch from their home TVs?

Think it through. NOBODY is going to attend a Pitt game to buy an over-priced beer. NOBODY.

I largely agree but we do have a lot of dumb fans who would make that a determining factor.

 

[HailtoPitt]

This is unfortunately, accurate.

UNC look at me like I"m crazy for having season tickets, in the club section, for Pitt games...which I don't get to travel up for much anymore.
Then I tell them the cost of those tickets, and they laugh..because their nose-bleed seats cost more.

The ticket prices aren't the problem. The main issue is that people don't care enough. What are north club seats this year, close to $1000? One can get Steelers season tickets in that section for $2000. Here is the difference... the Steelers could double that price and still see all of them sold. If Pitt raised club seat prices they would sell a lot fewer season tickets. The Steelers have built demand over time and the stadium is appropriately sized, or too small even. For Pitt, the demand is too low and the stadium is too big, which makes it even worse for athmosphere.

Pitt needs to tarp the entire upper deck portion of Heinz Field. They can then raise the ticket prices for the lower bowl and club seats. The result will be a much higher fill rate and better athmosphere.

 

[mdpitt]

If buying beer is an incentive for attendance- why wouldn't people go to a bar- with better and cheaper beer- and watch on TV?

Or watch from their home TVs?

Think it through. NOBODY is going to attend a Pitt game to buy an over-priced beer. NOBODY.

That's exactly what people are doing for all sports.

Think it through

Adding beer is adding value. I hate to tell you this but there are about 15,000 people from last year's season tickets that will gladly buy one, two or three beers at $7.25 and enjoy the game even more. I'm not saying I agree but adding value of any kind get's people to Heinz and not other places. People will be permitted not to buy beer.

Think it through.

 

[big marty]

Why pay $5 for a Soda or a hot dog? It's an added value to some. It's the same thing as a $8 beer. If cost matters then stay home. It enhances the experience of the game. Why argue about something that is a done deal.?

 

[NTOP]

Why pay $5 for a Soda or a hot dog? It's an added value to some. It's the same thing as a $8 beer. If cost matters then stay home. It enhances the experience of the game. Why argue about something that is a done deal.?

So buy the tix on StubHub, which lets you buy more beer???

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

That's exactly what people are doing for all sports.

Think it through

Adding beer is adding value. I hate to tell you this but there are about 15,000 people from last year's season tickets that will gladly buy one, two or three beers at $7.25 and enjoy the game even more. I'm not saying I agree but adding value of any kind get's people to Heinz and not other places. People will be permitted not to buy beer.

Think it through.

But, that's value to people in attendance.
Your entire topic is getting people who have ALREADY bought tickets to ATTEND.

Nobody shows up at a game because of concessions. Nobody.

 

[PSU_Nut]

The ticket prices aren't the problem. The main issue is that people don't care enough. What are north club seats this year, close to $1000? One can get Steelers season tickets in that section for $2000. Here is the difference... the Steelers could double that price and still see all of them sold. If Pitt raised club seat prices they would sell a lot fewer season tickets. The Steelers have built demand over time and the stadium is appropriately sized, or too small even. For Pitt, the demand is too low and the stadium is too big, which makes it even worse for athmosphere.

Pitt needs to tarp the entire upper deck portion of Heinz Field. They can then raise the ticket prices for the lower bowl and club seats. The result will be a much higher fill rate and better athmosphere.

Club seats in the north are $653. The point they are making is that even if they made season tickets $50 it not going to increase attendance. Cost is not keeping people away. What they are saying is that because of the low price people think nothing of skipping a game. This year season ticket start at $147. So Joe Casual Fan buys a season ticket. If he make 3 games he feels he got his money worth because $49 a game is a fair price for a P5 football game. The theory is if you raise the prices that people will try to make more games to get their "money's worth".

 

[Panther Parrothead]

Why not put $5 per ticket scanned per game into a rewards card that can be used the following year for tickets, beverages, food or Pitt Gear. So add $2.50 to the cost of the ticket and just use the other $2.50 as a sort of a coupon that leads to other purchases. What this will likely do is maybe get the fans to put the tickets in the hands of someone who wants to use them, Stubhub them or get them back to Pitt so they can give them to groups, parents, future students. Maybe add more value per game for better seats but $5 minimum for bad seats. It also adds value for retaining fans the following year because they would be throwing money away if they don't renew.

The cameras face the Visitor's section. Charge a substantial discount for people to sit in the upper deck to create a better visual. Charge significantly more for home side upper deck between the 20s. Nobody can complain because displace people can sit on the other side for less.

This will provide cover for AD when tickets increase after our 10 win season this year. Added value.

Thoughts?

I like the general idea, but does Pitt control the concessions money? How much of the purchases at Heinz Field are Steelers revenues? With so much misinformation out there, I'd like some clarification about this.

 

[PSU_Nut]

But, that's value to people in attendance.
Your entire topic is getting people who have ALREADY bought tickets to ATTEND.

Nobody shows up at a game because of concessions. Nobody.

It goes back to if people have fun at the game they are going to return. Pro baseball especially minor leagues are master of this. For some having beer and good food increases their enjoyment of the game. Therefore they are more likely to attend games even when things like performance, weather, opponent are not great.

 

[California Panther]

It goes back to if people have fun at the game they are going to return. Pro baseball especially minor leagues are master of this. For some having beer and good food increases their enjoyment of the game. Therefore they are more likely to attend games even when things like performance, weather, opponent are not great.

Opponent would probably never be a component of attendance in minor league baseball would it? Unless it is a local rival team, if they have those in minor league baseball?

 

[QuitCallingMeWanny]

Fireworks
Fireworks are the answer for everything
Fireworks when they come out of the tunnel
Fireworks for when they score a TD
Fireworks for when they kickoff
Fireworks When Brian Gold walks into the stadium

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Fireworks When Brian Gold walks into the stadium

Too late. He's already there.