To *sorta* bring this back to BA.com relevancy, I think this type of trend is what may be the downfall of pro sports and I would hope help schools like OU. Let me explain:
I have a hard time justifying shelling out these outrageous prices to pro games to watch guys making $20M half-ass it. But, I still enjoy live sports, especially with my kids or friends.
I've resorted to minor league baseball games to get the same type of live sports experience at a fraction of the cost. And these guys play hard.
Same for college sports. OU is such a great ticket value for what you get (not counting concessions). And these kids play hard. As pro sports price themselves out of a normal fan's budget, hungry live sports fans may turn to college sports to get their fix.
You make a good point. I've turned towards racing in the summer for an affordable ticket and great experience for that very reason. Other than certain special events, you can't sell me on a $100 football ticket, be it NFL, or P5 College football. I just won't pay it and instead I'll watch on TV. Same applies to concerts, and other sporting events. Ask me to pay $75 for nosebleeds at a concert and I'll just stay home. The value proposition isn't there for me.
And that's one thing that I try to sell people on regarding Ohio Football and Basketball. Depending on what your ticket package is, a day trip to Athens for an OU game is a lot of bang for your buck. Tailgating is dynamite. Three nice breweries, two nice wineries, and plenty of hiking, biking, and shopping opportunities make for a good day to go with a game as well.