Season Tickets

I’ve had 2 season tickets in section 106 since I graduated in 2013. Prices jumped up to 990 per ticket so I downsized to one ticket and took over the second seat of a friend who has seats in non-donation section. Saving myself around $1,500 next year. Tough call because I loved my MSG seats but couldn’t justify spending around $2k on tickets.
 
I don't argue the fact that increases made sense. I rather pay less, who wouldn't, but I still consider the prices a fair value. Obviously I respect anyone who feels differently as that is a personal decision. I also totally agree this is a business. A big business. And that's why I have issues with how things are progressing under Cragg.

This rollout has been done minor league all the way and there will be non-renewals that could have been avoided. That's not good business.That's on the AD, and comes right after an embarrassing coaching search that had SJU laughed at all over the U.S.A. Which was the A.D.'s first real test.

The only excuse I have heard about this latest botch job was not enough staffing in the ticket office. A strong AD can pursuade his management that more staff is needed. Just like a strong AD would have been able to not allow his bosses to turn a coaching search into a three ring circus.

I am guardedly optimistic SJU lucked into a solid basketball coach with Anderson. That doesn't make me forget that Paul Hewitt (!!!!!!!!!) was a final candidate. From my vantage point as long as Cragg is the AD SJU will need all the luck it can get.
 
I've never been a season ticket holder because I never have the ability to make the majority of the games, just have too much going on. But my question is, what is the benefit of buying season tickets as opposed to just buying off of StubHub, which most of the time has discounted prices when the team is bad? I get why MJMaher and his crew want season tickets so their whole group can always be together. But otherwise what is the benefit? Just wondering.
 
BTW if anyone is looking to buy single tickets to any carnesseca games let me know. I haven't gone to those games in a few years and pretty much just ate the cost but now I'm going to sell them
 
[quote="Room112" post=356676]I've never been a season ticket holder because I never have the ability to make the majority of the games, just have too much going on. But my question is, what is the benefit of buying season tickets as opposed to just buying off of StubHub, which most of the time has discounted prices when the team is bad? I get why MJMaher and his crew want season tickets so their whole group can always be together. But otherwise what is the benefit? Just wondering.[/quote]

Exactly one of the reasons I gave them up years ago. You give money up front, site unseen. You get a 'gift' that often was underwhelming and then you had to pick it up at games, I think maybe they started shipping it but charged which was a bit ludicrous.

I particularly loved sitting in my seat game after game year after year and seeing a revolving door in front of me where each time I asked to move up was told no. And this wasn't a case of a ticket holder re-selling. It was general seating purchases. More current ticket holders can provide some more 'talking points' now but I'm sure its the chance for BE tickets and the like. As I've gotten older priorities change. Instead of focusing on other teams in the BE I think SJU should look to see what teams across sports are doing for some outside the box ideas.
 
[quote="Moose" post=356678][quote="Room112" post=356676]I've never been a season ticket holder because I never have the ability to make the majority of the games, just have too much going on. But my question is, what is the benefit of buying season tickets as opposed to just buying off of StubHub, which most of the time has discounted prices when the team is bad? I get why MJMaher and his crew want season tickets so their whole group can always be together. But otherwise what is the benefit? Just wondering.[/quote]

Exactly one of the reasons I gave them up years ago. You give money up front, site unseen. You get a 'gift' that often was underwhelming and then you had to pick it up at games, I think maybe they started shipping it but charged which was a bit ludicrous.

I particularly loved sitting in my seat game after game year after year and seeing a revolving door in front of me where each time I asked to move up was told no. And this wasn't a case of a ticket holder re-selling. It was general seating purchases. More current ticket holders can provide some more 'talking points' now but I'm sure its the chance for BE tickets and the like. As I've gotten older priorities change. Instead of focusing on other teams in the BE I think SJU should look to see what teams across sports are doing for some outside the box ideas.[/quote]

Thanks for the response. Just to note, I've gone to the BE tourney each year for the past decade at least. Never had issues getting tickets on the secondary market. Never really had to overpay for them either.
 
[quote="Room112" post=356676]I've never been a season ticket holder because I never have the ability to make the majority of the games, just have too much going on. But my question is, what is the benefit of buying season tickets as opposed to just buying off of StubHub, which most of the time has discounted prices when the team is bad? I get why MJMaher and his crew want season tickets so their whole group can always be together. But otherwise what is the benefit? Just wondering.[/quote]

Room 112, your reasoning for your approach makes perfect sense given your ability to get to games. I have had season tickets for what will be my 39th season. I have been fortunate to arrange my work around the game schedules over the years (and now retired it is easier to do). Why do we go--its is like when I smoked, the nicotine had me. In this case it is the teams I have seen--so many great players/teams over the first 20 years and then the ups and downs over the last 20 years--just when you get frustrated, a team plays over its head (Marcus and 2003 NIT champs; Hardy and 2011 team beating Duke and going to NCAA's; D'Angelo, et. al. in 2014-15 beating Cuse in the Dome and going to NCAA's). I love the being at the game as I get too nervous watching on TV--believe it is Scream therapy of being at the game. My wife calms me down as she was worried once that Timmy Higgins was going to get me tossed from the Garden when he looked at me, I loved to get on the Pillsbury Dough Boy. I have always been a glass half full guy so I guess that is why I subject myself to years of elation and frustration. Tomorrow is always a better day as the song says. I am hoping CMA is that "tomorrow"

Also, I remember when we always had sell outs; don't know if we will see those days again but if we do those tickets could become expensive in the secondary market which we would all enjoy because it would mean that the team has finally come up to our hoped for excellence.

As a life long Met fan, I remember Tug McGraw's mantra and apply to Redmen basketball: You Gotta Believe!
 
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[quote="Room112" post=356676]I've never been a season ticket holder because I never have the ability to make the majority of the games, just have too much going on. But my question is, what is the benefit of buying season tickets as opposed to just buying off of StubHub, which most of the time has discounted prices when the team is bad? I get why MJMaher and his crew want season tickets so their whole group can always be together. But otherwise what is the benefit? Just wondering.[/quote]

Honestly, other than consistent location, with SJU none. We have had our current plan five years after a few years going all Stubhub. It’s cheaper to buy game by game and you can always get whatever you want. We decided to do it as a small way of supporting the program, that’s really about the only reason for anyone to have them.
 
On the other hand I have a 20 game plan with the Mets for an almost identical amount as my SJU tickets. As a Mets plan holder I received the following this year:

- Vouchers for free tickets for two for three other games - for seats with a higher retail value than mine.
- A twenty five percent discount on any other tickets I buy versus individual ticket prices
- A pre-game meetup with free ballpark food, beer and soda
- An invitation for a child or family member (my nephew went) to take batting practice and shag fly balls at Citi Field when the team was away
- A one hour question and answer session with the GM, Farm Director, and two other staff members before a home game.

As a customer a pretty stark difference, which shows one organization that values volume customers and one who does not.
 
[quote="IDRAFT" post=356685]On the other hand I have a 20 game plan with the Mets for an almost identical amount as my SJU tickets. As a Mets plan holder I received the following this year:

- Vouchers for free tickets for two for three other games - for seats with a higher retail value than mine.
- A twenty five percent discount on any other tickets I buy versus individual ticket prices
- A pre-game meetup with free ballpark food, beer and soda
- An invitation for a child or family member (my nephew went) to take batting practice and shag fly balls at Citi Field when the team was away
- A one hour question and answer session with the GM, Farm Director, and two other staff members before a home game.

As a customer a pretty stark difference, which shows one organization that values volume customers and one who does not.[/quote]

This is actually pretty cool. And I believe the type of creative incentives that Moose was getting at for SJU
 
So like I said last night I am making my donation over
10 months which like the “Netflix” model makes it a little
more palatable for me. You know the price of a cup of coffee every day. I also made the following two decisions. I found a friend that was willing to split the tickets with me. He loves basketball and is moving closer
to semi retirement. We plan to sell one of the more attractive Garden games to recover our contribution. At that point I told my wife who I knew would be happy because it keeps me out of the house more. I also told my 16 year old son who I proudly have to say is a pretty smart kid. His response was “so they suckered you in again”. One year at a time I guess.
 
[quote="SJU11Redmen" post=355719]Just got an e-mail essentially stating that every season ticket will now have a required donation of at least $100 to buy tickets. Yikes. There has got to be a better way than that to pay for Mullin's buyout.[/quote]

Do you how many major conference programs don't require a donation in order to purchase season tickets?

I guess the good news is that donations are tax deductible, and if you were already donating the increase isn't as great.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=356755][quote="SJU11Redmen" post=355719]Just got an e-mail essentially stating that every season ticket will now have a required donation of at least $100 to buy tickets. Yikes. There has got to be a better way than that to pay for Mullin's buyout.[/quote]

Do you how many major conference programs don't require a donation in order to purchase season tickets?

I guess the good news is that donations are tax deductible, and if you were already donating the increase isn't as great.[/quote]
https://leafferlaw.com/resources/new-tax-law-focus-deduction-sacked-season-ticket-holders/
 
[quote="FranWho?" post=356866]This program continues to be an embarrassment on many levels.[/quote]

Well it’s been awhile but good to see you haven’t changed ;)
 
[quote="Andrew" post=356848][quote="Beast of the East" post=356755][quote="SJU11Redmen" post=355719]Just got an e-mail essentially stating that every season ticket will now have a required donation of at least $100 to buy tickets. Yikes. There has got to be a better way than that to pay for Mullin's buyout.[/quote]

Do you how many major conference programs don't require a donation in order to purchase season tickets?

I guess the good news is that donations are tax deductible, and if you were already donating the increase isn't as great.[/quote]
https://leafferlaw.com/resources/new-tax-law-focus-deduction-sacked-season-ticket-holders/[/quote]

I'll have to read this from a desktop, but I also will ask the AD to weigh in on the I'mpact of this ruling. It appears to penalize donors simply for purchasing tickets.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=356876][quote="Andrew" post=356848][quote="Beast of the East" post=356755][quote="SJU11Redmen" post=355719]Just got an e-mail essentially stating that every season ticket will now have a required donation of at least $100 to buy tickets. Yikes. There has got to be a better way than that to pay for Mullin's buyout.[/quote]

Do you how many major conference programs don't require a donation in order to purchase season tickets?

I guess the good news is that donations are tax deductible, and if you were already donating the increase isn't as great.[/quote]
https://leafferlaw.com/resources/new-tax-law-focus-deduction-sacked-season-ticket-holders/[/quote]

I'll have to read this from a desktop, but I also will ask the AD to weigh in on the I'mpact of this ruling. It appears to penalize donors simply for purchasing tickets.[/quote]

I did meet with the athletic department and was told that there are possibly ways to still make a deduction on your income tax for this but was advised to consult an accountant.

Spoke at length about some of the characterizations of athletic department personnel that have been posted here, and although it's always impossible to defend someone in a he said she said scenario was given a very different story, including spending 45 minutes on the phone with a person, where the complainant asked for a refund of 15 years of season tickets, complained that athletic development wasn't recruiting a big man (they raise funds, not recruit).

Admittedly, they are aware that the requirement for donations comes at a time where it appears we may have a down year. But on the other hand, the new structure is consistent with other conference schools. In the past, donations were only required for the best seats.

My take is that we all rail for a big time program, and even for very good seats, the required donations are somewhat small. They are at a level where any passionate fan who can afford to should already be donating at that level or above if they want a high quality program. Donations are discretionary, but if we ever want to compete at the highest levels with a Villanova, Georgetown, or any other Big East schools either academically or athletically, donations are a huge part - quality costs money.


Not going to respond to this subject again, but will stand by my opinions of the athletic department personnel over relationships and interactions with them over the past 25 years. They are first and foremost mostly alumni themselves, are great fans, and more than that, great people.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=356946][quote="Beast of the East" post=356876][quote="Andrew" post=356848][quote="Beast of the East" post=356755][quote="SJU11Redmen" post=355719]Just got an e-mail essentially stating that every season ticket will now have a required donation of at least $100 to buy tickets. Yikes. There has got to be a better way than that to pay for Mullin's buyout.[/quote]

Do you how many major conference programs don't require a donation in order to purchase season tickets?

I guess the good news is that donations are tax deductible, and if you were already donating the increase isn't as great.[/quote]
https://leafferlaw.com/resources/new-tax-law-focus-deduction-sacked-season-ticket-holders/[/quote]

I'll have to read this from a desktop, but I also will ask the AD to weigh in on the I'mpact of this ruling. It appears to penalize donors simply for purchasing tickets.[/quote]

I did meet with the athletic department and was told that there are possibly ways to still make a deduction on your income tax for this but was advised to consult an accountant.

Spoke at length about some of the characterizations of athletic department personnel that have been posted here, and although it's always impossible to defend someone in a he said she said scenario was given a very different story, including spending 45 minutes on the phone with a person, where the complainant asked for a refund of 15 years of season tickets, complained that athletic development wasn't recruiting a big man (they raise funds, not recruit).

Admittedly, they are aware that the requirement for donations comes at a time where it appears we may have a down year. But on the other hand, the new structure is consistent with other conference schools. In the past, donations were only required for the best seats.

My take is that we all rail for a big time program, and even for very good seats, the required donations are somewhat small. They are at a level where any passionate fan who can afford to should already be donating at that level or above if they want a high quality program. Donations are discretionary, but if we ever want to compete at the highest levels with a Villanova, Georgetown, or any other Big East schools either academically or athletically, donations are a huge part - quality costs money.


Not going to respond to this subject again, but will stand by my opinions of the athletic department personnel over relationships and interactions with them over the past 25 years. They are first and foremost mostly alumni themselves, are great fans, and more than that, great people.[/quote]

Thanks for clearing that up. Good to know. I would thank them myself, except it's been two weeks since I was told I would get a call and my phone still hasn't rung. But now that I know they were busy walking you through your 2019 taxes I'm fine.
 
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