DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,909
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Post by DFW HOYA on Mar 20, 2007 19:27:27 GMT -5
Striking while the iron is hot, so to speak, season ticket renewals for UCLA basketball are due back by March 30. That's right, next week. "The basketball renewal date has changed to better position us for the future," reads the release. The earlier renewal date provides for better customer service through an improved and more thorough reseating process; it provides a longer window in which to provide specific seat locations; it improves our ability to sell every seat for every game; and it provides for the greatest amount of flexibility moving forward. uclabruins.cstv.com/tickets/07-08-mbb-fb-tix-renewals.htmlWhen should Georgetown realistically start the renewal program? |
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PDRHoya99
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 766
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Post by PDRHoya99 on Mar 20, 2007 21:32:56 GMT -5
Seems like the folks at Pauley have a pretty good idea, as long as you're confident on a decent March performance.
When is a fanbase more excited for the team that during the tourney? Of course this could easily backfire with an early exit (or no NCAA appearance). Given that Pauley is gonna be sold out regardless (the number of UCLA alums in the LA area is staggering), it doesn't matter when they have the forms due. However, since there is likely a decent financial donation needed to secure the best seats, I'm guessing this system maximizes revenues in Westwood. Despite being an alum of their business school, I have no idea how one would get tickets, so I can't say definitively. The only time I ever set foot in Pauley was to play intramurals - I am not one to practice college basketball fan bigamy.
Given that the Hoyas aren't selling out the phone booth yet, I doubt you'd want to have the forms due any earlier than you absolutely have to have them. Making fans commit to a whole season 6 months before it starts is a hard sell when they know good seats will still be available.
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kghoya
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,070
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Post by kghoya on Mar 20, 2007 21:39:59 GMT -5
id send out the ticket renewals right after green and hibbert decide to come back to school for their final years...
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McBricks
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
What Rocks.
Posts: 1,173
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Post by McBricks on Mar 20, 2007 21:59:53 GMT -5
GU would be downright silly not to have renewal mailers and emails going out this week. That being said, I fear they are silly.
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mrsixer123
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,283 
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Post by mrsixer123 on Mar 20, 2007 22:34:31 GMT -5
why the rush? we have TWO mcd aa's joining a back-to-back sweet 16 program. i would bet the house that the renewal rate will be in the high 90s
also, i bet ucla's bball office staff is 3 or 4 times larger than ours so they can tackle more. hell, we dont even have more than a few telephones to take tix orders, so there is no way we can handle planning travel and season tix renewals at the same time
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HoyaSpirit
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Gotta love Smitty - 1989 Big East Player of the Year
Posts: 305
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Post by HoyaSpirit on Mar 21, 2007 1:58:59 GMT -5
I think do the following: send the renewals out now while people are pumped, but let the due date be whatever it usually is. As someone above said, having a later due date is key b/c MCI does not sell out easily right now and people know it. And since pauley does sell out, they can do what they want. That said, someone is much more likely to mail in their renewal form after watching an NCAA tourney win in the heat of the moment - thinking "Damn I'm going to do this now - I'm psyched." "I definitely want more of this, where is the form - I'm mailing it" etc. Compare this to getting it during the late spring or summer on your way out the door to a barbecue or the beach or a concert - and it's more of a "I'll get to it when I can" type of approach. Get 'em out while the fans are glowing.
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HoyaSpirit
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Gotta love Smitty - 1989 Big East Player of the Year
Posts: 305
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Post by HoyaSpirit on Mar 21, 2007 2:04:00 GMT -5
Mr.Sixer - what about getting some temps for 3-4 weeks to help out. It's pretty easy to train people to take phone orders and handle mailings.
Also, I don't live near DC so don't know this, but if someone new called today wanting season's tickets for next year, would someone be able to take their money? If not, I would think they definitely (even if they don't do a mailing for renewals) be able to accept new orders via the phone and to do a push on their website and via other free PR to make it known new people can sign up. I bet dfw would put in on the front page too.
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Post by ExcitableBoy on Mar 21, 2007 8:05:05 GMT -5
Traditionally the time after the tourney has been a very slow time for the ticket people in McDonough. Remember, they're humans too and have been going pretty much full steam since November.
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Big Dog
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,912
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Post by Big Dog on Mar 21, 2007 11:26:12 GMT -5
Are there any of you who purchase season tickets but don't live in the DC area? If so, how do you handle the games you can't go to? I've toyed with the idea of doing this but wonder how big of a waste it would be.
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FOTP
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,435
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Post by FOTP on Mar 21, 2007 11:37:41 GMT -5
Big Dog - I live out of the area and got a season ticket for this year. I went to as many games as I could (weekends mostly and Big East mostly) and went to all the games in the NY area.
I sit with 6 other friends of mine (and did for years until I so rudely moved to NJ) so I wanted to keep going to as many games as possible.
I viewed it as I was going to give to Georgetown anyway so I might as well give to the Hoyas and get a ticket. It's worked out great.
That being said Wife FOTP was not happy about it and it will be up for re-negotiations each year...
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Post by PushyGuyFanClub on Mar 21, 2007 11:43:25 GMT -5
Seriously, they should be selling 5-year renewals after this year. As any business knows, get the cash up front and get it as soon as possible. With a big inflow of cash, they could probably spruce up facilities.
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HoyaChris
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,414
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Post by HoyaChris on Mar 21, 2007 11:52:25 GMT -5
Are there any of you who purchase season tickets but don't live in the DC area? If so, how do you handle the games you can't go to? I've toyed with the idea of doing this but wonder how big of a waste it would be. I live in St Louis and have great seats at the Verizon Center. My tickets are in a block with my local DC friends. When I am not going to be there (all but 2-3 home games a year) my friends invite others or bring one of their children. You always have the option of donating the unused tickets back to the University. |
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FOTP
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,435
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Post by FOTP on Mar 21, 2007 11:54:40 GMT -5
What about a points system that rewards long time season ticket holders who stuck with the program during the down years? Hard to do, but MD does it as do a ton of other schools.
Just a thought.
I'd send out the renewel form ASAP. No need to wait and strike while the iron is hot.
I know no one will like this, but they should force more giving to get the good seats (with the caveat that long term holders in the point system would still get good seats at lower cost). If you come on board now it should cost you more to get good seats and don't penalize the long time givers.
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jahidihoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
jahidihoya
Posts: 534
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Post by jahidihoya on Mar 21, 2007 12:37:41 GMT -5
Next season I am simply going to call up the USC ticket office before each game and get seats. It seems so much easier!
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Gold Hoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,578
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Post by Gold Hoya on Mar 21, 2007 12:39:41 GMT -5
I live in Chicago and I do the same thing as HoyaChris and FOTP (sans the pesky wife in the FOTP case).
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