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12/29/00- I tried to support the basketball team...Really... I tried to go the UM/Towson basketball game on Wednesday night. Really! After hearing about $7 tickets I thought that I'd take my 2 1/2 year old daughter to see a Michigan basketball game. I've already taken her to a Michigan football and hockey game so basketball seemed like a good idea. Now if you ever have been around a 2 1/2 year old you know that a lot depends on their mood and behavior. I decided that it would be game time decision as to whether or not we would go to the game. Wednesday she was excited about going to the game and in good spirits so I decided to venture out to Crisler Arean. We arrived a little after the start of the game and we parked in the lot next to Crisler Arena. After trudging through 4 inches of snow we arrived at the Crisler Arena ticket window. I was told that that the $7 tickets were sold out. I looked into the arena and observed a half capacity crowd at best. The only tickets left were $14 seats- and I'd need to buy two tickets because according to Big Ten rules every one, no matter what age, needs to have a ticket. Edito'sr Note: The same sign informing people of the Big Ten ticket rules hangs at the Hockey ticket windows at Yost. I want to inform the people who run the athletic department that the hockey team plays in the CCHA not the Big Ten so why they have that sign posted in Yost is mystery... So I stood at ticket window and briefly considered what better ways I could spend my $40 ($28 for tickets, $12 for concessions, parking, etc.) Then I left. Bill Martin can have his scandal ridden sub .500 basketball team and I'll keep my money. From what I hear I'll need it in order to afford my football tickets after the prices gets jacked up for the upcoming season. $14 to see this team? People are wondering why the place is half empty? The bigger question is how do they get anybody to show up? Upon returning to my car I realized something else. I had parked without paying. I had figured that since attendance was so low parking was free. I noticed that the cars in the lot had parking passes that allowed them to park there. So let's get this straight- someone paid extra money to use a parking lot that wasn't even shoveled. The snow was past my ankles. Nice way to treat paying customers... Now don't get me wrong, I understand the economics of college athletics. The problem that the athletic department seems to have is that they don't appreciate the value (or lack thereof) of the services they provide. I have been to sporting events all over this country at almost every level of competition. Major league, minor league, semipro, high school. Football, baseball, hockey, The Olympics, etc. The services (parking, concessions, payment, etc.) that the athletic department provides are second rate. Which is fine when the product on the field, court, or rink is superior. It's fine when ticket prices are reasonable. When the athletic department raises football ticket prices they will need to improve the services that they provide. The athletic department loves to point out what other universities charge for their football tickets. What they don't seem to realize is that there is intense competition for the entertainment dollars in the Michigan area. The Detroit metro area has a glut of sports entertainment options available. Major league basketball, baseball, football, hockey are all within driving range. Ever been to Columbus? Not a hell of lot to do there. What about State College? Beautiful town- not a lot of entertainment options. Omaha? Please- even the minor league baseball team packs them in there. Go Blue! |
