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Topic: Front row tickets--you want 'em?
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Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 10/19/2012 12:09 PM
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I have two front row (BobcatBlack) season tickets but can rarely use them since I live in L.A. 

I want to benefit athletics and the School of Accountancy (I've found a career as a CPA).  So, my tickets are for sale for each game to the highest bidder.  Pay me and I promise that 50% of what I receive will go to your Bobcat Club  and the rest (around 50%, I believe) will go to Accounting.

The only conditions are that I'll put some minimum, reasonable price on the seats and I'll need payment well in advance upfront.

Mercyhurst anyone?

How about some Portland with 16 celebration?





I need to speak with someone about scheduling more games in L.A..  The Bobcats are huge out here.
Last Edited: 10/19/2012 12:10:10 PM by Monroe Slavin
DayvidGallagher
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Posted: 10/19/2012 12:45 PM
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Just out of curiosity, if you can rarely use them, why did you buy them?
bobcat72
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Posted: 10/19/2012 1:21 PM
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DayvidGallagher wrote:expand_more
Just out of curiosity, if you can rarely use them, why did you buy them?


Really???

The same reason everyone else should be buying season tickets - to support the program. I think more fans should take a cue from Monroe.
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Posted: 10/19/2012 5:34 PM
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DayvidGallagher wrote:expand_more
Just out of curiosity, if you can rarely use them, why did you buy them?


I just blew a fuse.
DayvidGallagher
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Posted: 10/19/2012 5:37 PM
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I mean if that is the case, why not just make a donation?
bobcat72
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Posted: 10/19/2012 11:42 PM
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Programs, for better or worse, are judged on a variety of factors. Season ticket holders - and the number of them - is one of them. I'd encourage all out-of-towners to follow Monroe's lead and contribute to the department through both tickets and donations. The top programs have 1,000s of season ticket holders that live hundreds of miles away and rarely attend the games. Hopefully we get to that level soon!
RSBobcat
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Posted: 10/20/2012 12:01 AM
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bobcat72 wrote:expand_more
Programs, for better or worse, are judged on a variety of factors. Season ticket holders - and the number of them - is one of them. I'd encourage all out-of-towners to follow Monroe's lead and contribute to the department through both tickets and donations. The top programs have 1,000s of season ticket holders that live hundreds of miles away and rarely attend the games. Hopefully we get to that level soon!


Absolutely. Living in Columbus, and with my business schedule, occasionally (though VERY rarely) I have to miss a game, and always manage to give my tickets to some one else. That is why I REALLY liked the system when we had the cards instead of single game actual tickets - there was a way I could go online and have my "seats/tickets" for the game assigned for someone else to just pick up at will call - no need for mailing, etc. That was Especially handy on short notice of schedule conflicts. 
Last Edited: 10/20/2012 12:02:21 AM by RSBobcat
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 10/20/2012 1:18 AM
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DayvidGallagher wrote:expand_more
I mean if that is the case, why not just make a donation?


Dayvid, that's what I'm driving at here.  There's a pretty stiff donation/license fee required on the seats each year--so that's the first donation.  By selling the seats that I don't use and donating the proceeds to BobcatClub and School of Accounting, I'm making a second donation.  And I get to use the tix when I can get in for a game (not a donation but a hefty price between airfare, hotel and vacation days used).
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 10/20/2012 1:31 AM
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The tix are the best of the BobcatBlack--first row center court.  The seats (after license fee/donation) are listed at $275 per.  Based on a 20 game home sched, that's about $14 apiece.  Crazy, crazy cheap for first row center tix at a premier program.


I'm not looking to gouge anyone.  I'd hope to get $30 apiece or a bit more for each seat.  And I'll probably insist upon a minimum of $18.04 per ticket.

For each game I'd like to close the bidding about 10 days before the game--to give the winning bidder enough time to get payment to me and me to get the tix to the winner.

If I use the tix once and, then, get a little over $25 per on average, BobcatClub and School of Accounting get $500 donations each.  Not great but a place to start.



Gotta believe comparable seats at all the other teams as good as ours cost at least 3 times what OUr seats cost.
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Posted: 10/20/2012 7:19 AM
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Monroe Slavin wrote:expand_more
I mean if that is the case, why not just make a donation?


Dayvid, that's what I'm driving at here.  There's a pretty stiff donation/license fee required on the seats each year--so that's the first donation.  By selling the seats that I don't use and donating the proceeds to BobcatClub and School of Accounting, I'm making a second donation.  And I get to use the tix when I can get in for a game (not a donation but a hefty price between airfare, hotel and vacation days used).


That is truly fantastic. I'm a current CoB student and I'll follow your lead after graduation. 

(in marching 110 style) Go, OHIO! 


Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 10/20/2012 1:54 PM
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Monroe, I applaud you for doing this, especially as your fellow CPA and Ohio school of Accountancy grad.  But also, because I'm a nerdy CPA...I see some potential flaws in you proposed bidding system every game,  First, if you want to close the bidding 10 days before the game, and get payment before you send the tickets, I see some logisitical/timing problems there.  I also think expecting a bidding war for every game could be unrealistic - 95% on here either already have season tickets or live out of the area and amost never get to a game.  Plus, if I see some Bobcat fan excitingly bid $30 for some tickets, I don't really want to be the jerk that steps in and bids $31 and shoots his excitement down.

Perhaps you could list your asking price now (e.g. $15ish for Wofford, $50ish for Akron) and see if you can find some buyers early...and drop the price as games go unsold and the date nears. 
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 10/20/2012 3:59 PM
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Good thoughts.  I'd prefer to keep the bidding on this site as I want to make sure the seats stay with OHIO rooters.  I hope that there will be enough bidders between those who don't have tix already or want to upgrade or who want to help friends get tix.

I don't want to annoy anyone (the bid 'em up by bidding $1 more per ticket) but that's inevitably the nature of an auction, isn't it--there's only one winner?!  If I control it, I can choose to exclude someone who has won the tickets a time or two in favor of a lesser bid that brings in new blood (and maybe I'll make up the known difference out of my own pocket).

This system won't be perfect but I'll try to make it the most beneficial for all, given that there will probably be about 19 auctions.

Who's in for Mercyhurst?!
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 10/20/2012 4:23 PM
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Also, I want all bids pm'd to me.  I'll keep them private.  I know; you'll have to trust me.  But having the bids public on this site is a recipe for a firestorm which would more than cancel the goodwill for the University and Ohio fans which I hope to generate.
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Posted: 10/21/2012 7:28 AM
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i think this is pretty cool.

bornacatfan
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Posted: 10/21/2012 11:01 AM
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Great seats. Been down there ( thanks for the opportunity Monroe) and enjoyed the company with 695 and family and the ability to let refs know how it looks from that POV. Tis a fine idea Monroe. Truly an enoyable experience and well worth the price...which really is pretty cheap for those seats..
OU77BCJ
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Posted: 10/21/2012 3:54 PM
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My six tickets in the platinum are $345.00 each after donation.  I think you are forgetting the $900.00 per seat donation along with the $275.00 cost, unless you have some connection?
Last Edited: 10/21/2012 3:55:57 PM by OU77BCJ
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 10/21/2012 4:04 PM
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Kudos to you for going big for season tix, '77BCJ.  I'm '77, too so OUr class is strong.  Hope others follow!

I didn't factor in the license fee as I figure that's kind of a 'gone' cost and it'd raise the avg ticket price by $45 (to a total of about $60 each).  I'm not sure that there will be much bidding if people think it's a minimum of $60.  Of cOUrse, the tickets are worth that.  I'm just hoping that a friendly bidding process will both generate$1-2000 or more for the University and give the winners the opp to see some terrific OHIO ball from right on the floor!
intrpdtrvlr
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Posted: 10/21/2012 8:35 PM
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Boy, if I thought I was able to make it Athens this year, I'd take you up.

Hopefully, I can coordinate my dissertation defense with a home basketball game in the next couple of years!
DayvidGallagher
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Posted: 10/22/2012 10:43 AM
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Monroe Slavin wrote:expand_more
I mean if that is the case, why not just make a donation?


Dayvid, that's what I'm driving at here.  There's a pretty stiff donation/license fee required on the seats each year--so that's the first donation.  By selling the seats that I don't use and donating the proceeds to BobcatClub and School of Accounting, I'm making a second donation.  And I get to use the tix when I can get in for a game (not a donation but a hefty price between airfare, hotel and vacation days used).


Sorry for the delay I don't usually post on the weekends.  Your plan is sort of flawed for a few reasons, but here are my thoughts:
  1. Your first donation is valid and I commend you for your contribution to the team. The only downside is that you are potentially taking a ticket away from someone who would buy it and actually be there. But you are helping to prevent that downside by getting someone there.
  2. You really aren't making a second donation.  Lets say you resell it for $25 and donate that money.  Nothing is out of your pocket, it's coming from the person who bought it from you.  You are acting as a glorified middleman in a transaction between a fan (money), and the athletic department (Tickets).
  3. Every ticket you resell, is a ticket that someone now doesn't have to buy from the school. So although you donate the money the department doesn't see an increase.
  4. Worse, you are only donating half of the money to the bobcatclub, the other half is going to the school of accounting.  You are taking away a ticket sale where all of the proceeds go to athletics, and funneling half of it to academics. Knowing this I can't imagine what you are doing is increasing funding to the athletic department in any way.
  5. So who is the real winner then? I guess the school of accounting will get some money it normally wouldn't.  Not you per se, because you are donating all of your resale proceeds not just profits, so you pay the same no matter what.  The only real winner here is whoever buys your tickets, and it comes at the expense of the athletic department being the only real loser in the situation.
Number 5 brings me to the most important point.  The reason those tickets require donations and aren't available single game,  etc is to create exclusivity for a premium experience. Like buying first class airline tickets.  By reselling these tickets you are making something available to a customer who normally couldn't afford them, a limitation that was decided was in the best interest of the program.  A fan that wants to sit there needs to pony up the full donation.  If they wanted to sell courtside seats on a per game basis for $25 they would have.

You bought the tickets, fantastic and good on you, but don't use the fact that you can't go to games to undermine the economics of the department and funnel half of their money to academics.

Last Edited: 10/22/2012 10:47:11 AM by DayvidGallagher
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Posted: 10/22/2012 10:59 AM
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DayvidGallagher wrote:expand_more
I mean if that is the case, why not just make a donation?


Dayvid, that's what I'm driving at here.  There's a pretty stiff donation/license fee required on the seats each year--so that's the first donation.  By selling the seats that I don't use and donating the proceeds to BobcatClub and School of Accounting, I'm making a second donation.  And I get to use the tix when I can get in for a game (not a donation but a hefty price between airfare, hotel and vacation days used).


Sorry for the delay I don't usually post on the weekends.  Your plan is sort of flawed for a few reasons, but here are my thoughts:
  1. Your first donation is valid and I commend you for your contribution to the team. The only downside is that you are potentially taking a ticket away from someone who would buy it and actually be there. But you are helping to prevent that downside by getting someone there.
  2. You really aren't making a second donation.  Lets say you resell it for $25 and donate that money.  Nothing is out of your pocket, it's coming from the person who bought it from you.  You are acting as a glorified middleman in a transaction between a fan (money), and the athletic department (Tickets).
  3. Every ticket you resell, is a ticket that someone now doesn't have to buy from the school. So although you donate the money the department doesn't see an increase.
  4. Worse, you are only donating half of the money to the bobcatclub, the other half is going to the school of accounting.  You are taking away a ticket sale where all of the proceeds go to athletics, and funneling half of it to academics. Knowing this I can't imagine what you are doing is increasing funding to the athletic department in any way.
  5. So who is the real winner then? I guess the school of accounting will get some money it normally wouldn't.  Not you per se, because you are donating all of your resale proceeds not just profits, so you pay the same no matter what.  The only real winner here is whoever buys your tickets, and it comes at the expense of the athletic department being the only real loser in the situation.
Number 5 brings me to the most important point.  The reason those tickets require donations and aren't available single game,  etc is to create exclusivity for a premium experience. Like buying first class airline tickets.  By reselling these tickets you are making something available to a customer who normally couldn't afford them, a limitation that was decided was in the best interest of the program.  A fan that wants to sit there needs to pony up the full donation.  If they wanted to sell courtside seats on a per game basis for $25 they would have.

You bought the tickets, fantastic and good on you, but don't use the fact that you can't go to games to undermine the economics of the department and funnel half of their money to academics.


The point that you are missing is that Monroe has already given the University & the Athletic Dept. the full cost of those seats.  But offering them again, and not keeping the proceeds for himself, he is adding an additional 50% value for those seats to the Athletic Dept., and the Accounting Dept. benefits as well.

Great Idea, and I applaud you for it Monroe!  If I can get back to Athens this season, I will bid on some myself.
DayvidGallagher
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Posted: 10/22/2012 11:12 AM
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OUbobcat9092 wrote:expand_more
The point that you are missing is that Monroe has already given the University & the Athletic Dept. the full cost of those seats.  But offering them again, and not keeping the proceeds for himself, he is adding an additional 50% value for those seats to the Athletic Dept., and the Accounting Dept. benefits as well.

Great Idea, and I applaud you for it Monroe!  If I can get back to Athens this season, I will bid on some myself.


   See points 3 and 4.  That is only true if they would not have bought a standard ticket. And is made significantly worse if they would have bought BobcatBlack seats, but instead just bought a few games from Monroe to skirt the donation and having to buy the full season.
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Posted: 10/22/2012 12:28 PM
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DayvidGallagher wrote:expand_more
The point that you are missing is that Monroe has already given the University & the Athletic Dept. the full cost of those seats.  But offering them again, and not keeping the proceeds for himself, he is adding an additional 50% value for those seats to the Athletic Dept., and the Accounting Dept. benefits as well.

Great Idea, and I applaud you for it Monroe!  If I can get back to Athens this season, I will bid on some myself.


   See points 3 and 4.  That is only true if they would not have bought a standard ticket. And is made significantly worse if they would have bought BobcatBlack seats, but instead just bought a few games from Monroe to skirt the donation and having to buy the full season.


But you aren't taking into consideration the half of the ticket sale that goes to OBC could actually put more money into athletics coffers depending on how the money of a normally bought ticket is divided up.  Plus it has already been mentioned that people more than likely to shell out for this ticket are those who don't normally make it to games.  And thus are more than likely to be willing to pay a premium to be able to sit in some very unique seats.
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Posted: 10/22/2012 1:24 PM
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DayvidGallagher wrote:expand_more
The point that you are missing is that Monroe has already given the University & the Athletic Dept. the full cost of those seats.  But offering them again, and not keeping the proceeds for himself, he is adding an additional 50% value for those seats to the Athletic Dept., and the Accounting Dept. benefits as well.

Great Idea, and I applaud you for it Monroe!  If I can get back to Athens this season, I will bid on some myself.


   See points 3 and 4.  That is only true if they would not have bought a standard ticket. And is made significantly worse if they would have bought BobcatBlack seats, but instead just bought a few games from Monroe to skirt the donation and having to buy the full season.


Aren't the Bobcat Black seats sold out? 

While we are hypothesizing instead of congratulating, what if sitting in these seats actually increases the desire for those to have Bobcat Black seats when they become available and there is now a waiting list?  What if sitting in those seats create a desire to give more? 

It the last few years have taught us anything it should be that consumers are odd and no one really knows how they are going to react in any given situation.
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Posted: 10/22/2012 1:39 PM
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sargentfan wrote:expand_more
  But you aren't taking into consideration the half of the ticket sale that goes to OBC could actually put more money into athletics coffers depending on how the money of a normally bought ticket is divided up.  Plus it has already been mentioned that people more than likely to shell out for this ticket are those who don't normally make it to games.  And thus are more than likely to be willing to pay a premium to be able to sit in some very unique seats.


   I think speculating on how ticket revenues are divided versus how OBC allocates their money is out of our reach for a fair analysis, I think it is just as likely to be an argument for my stance rather than your's.  I also think that your assumption that those who didn't plan to buy an original ticket will buy scalped court side seats is a reach as well. Especially when the sales avenue is BA.com.  Here it is much more likely someone will be upgrading versus their normal ticket purchase.

 The debate about whether people buying these resold tickets will create a future demand for them that will boost future sales is anyone's guess.  There have been numerous studies about promotional pricing to drive up demand and try to win long term customers that I wont go in to.

  The point to always keep in mind is that the athletic department should be the one who controls ticket pricing and availability and if they decided that making these seats unavailable to some fans was a good decision then I respect their decision.
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Posted: 10/22/2012 2:45 PM
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DayvidGallagher wrote:expand_more
The point to always keep in mind is that the athletic department should be the one who controls ticket pricing and availability and if they decided that making these seats unavailable to some fans was a good decision then I respect their decision.

He could've just put them on StubHub.  What's the difference?
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