|
|
|
6/10/00- SEAT LICENSES...THE FUTURE?
Why should we care what MSU does? Well, MSU had a balanced budget last year but they still have decided to institute this seat license plan. They expect to generate an additional $600K over the next couple of years. If MSU is using this plan to generate additional money and they were in the black last year, you have to believe that UM, which is running $6M in the red over the last two years, is strongly considering such a move. On the surface it seems to make sense, many pro teams already charge seat licenses so what's wrong with college programs doing the same? Well, UM should strongly consider the ramifications of such a move. In the short run, it may look like an easy answer. Many people in the media already endorse this solution. But this is my opinion as a Michigan fan and alumnus. Along with seat licenses come certain expectations. Pro teams provide a level of services that aren't currently available on the UM campus. They provide better food, better seating, better parking. Parking that closes after a hard rain (Ann Arbor Pioneer High School) isn't going to cut it. Running out of water at halftime (Notre Dame) during hot days won't cut it. Running out of hot chocolate during cold games (Illinois) won't cut it either. If UM wants to start behaving like a pro team and charging seat licenses then they'll be held to the same standard that pro teams are held. That means concessions delivered to your seat. That means new facilities. That means ushers that actually do something about drunk fans bothering you in your seats. That means ushers that will remove people who are wrongly in your seats. That means people working in the Athletic Department and ticket office who know what a customer is and not taking them for granted. Many of the college programs who charge seat licenses are doing so to help pay for new state-of-the-art arenas (OSU) that include many of these amenities. If UM wants to make money with site licenses it better get ready to spend money upgrading the services provided. Let me tell you a story. I have a mini season ticket plan at the new Tiger Stadium. One day I went to a game and found mud splattered all over my seats. The next day my account manager got a phone call from me. The next game my entire section was power washed before the game and I received a phone call the next day making sure that everything was taken care of. I went to another game and the concession stand was closed by my section. My account manager received another call and by the next game the stand was open. Try calling the UM athletic department to complain about your seats. You're better off calling the IRS and complaining about the tax code. At Michigan Stadium you're more likely to get tear gassed (OSU'97) in your seats then find a hot dog vendor. UM wants to have it both ways. They wrap themselves in the Michigan banner of tradition when it suits them. "Sorry about the concessions but that's a Michigan football game." "Oh, you're not happy with your order from athletic department? Oh, well." Frankly, I'm fine with the level of amenities provided at Michigan Stadium. It takes a certain level of loyalty to the Wolverines to sit through 95 degree heat one week and then freezing rain a few weeks later. It's part of the Michigan mystique- the great chain of tradition, where every Michigan alumnus for the last century has sat in the same seats, dealt with the same weather, and ate the same crappy hot dogs. I love it. I really do. But start taking advantage of my dedication and I'm going to start asking what I'm getting for my money. A few years ago when UM doubled the price of hockey tickets officials were quoted that UM sports compared favorably with the entertainment values provided by the metro Detroit pro sports teams. Well, when the Red Wings raised ticket prices after giving Sergei Fedorov a huge contract you can understand. But you know damn well that Mike Comrie is playing for the same scholarship he was playing for before the ticket increase. UM just decided to take advantage of the huge and loyal following that Michigan hockey has. Then we find out that people are wasting money on pie-in-sky internet projects and video production facilities. And they wonder why donations are down? In a radio interview a few weeks ago interim Athletic Director Bill Martin made comments to the effect that he couldn't believe how much attention every Athletic Department decision received. Well, Bill considering how much the Athletic Department has continued to reach into my pocket over the last couple of years you (and your successor) had better get used to it. We trusted the athletic department in the past and it seems like nobody was minding store so excuse me if I watch a little closer now... GO BLUE! UMGoBlue.COM Editor-in-Chief, Phil Callihan |
