I live in the heart of SEC country and think donation based seating is long overdue. I also do not own BC season tickets, so there is no skin off of my back regardless of what they charge. I get to at least one game a year, mostly on the road and mostly pay face value.
I respect the long time fans and their years of season tickets. But I also respect market forces and supply and demand. If BC can get more money for some prime seats than they should do it…just like the Red Sox have done, just like the Patriots have done, just like Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Virginia, and on and on.
If Gene and the Athletic Department have misjudged demand and the market does not support this increase, than they will have egg on their faces and will owe the long time supporters an apology. I don’t think they are off here and I think they will get the donations they are looking for.
But in all of this many are asking “why present it as a donation?” or “wouldn’t it make more sense just to roll the costs into the ticket price?” Most assume that the school sees the donation as an easier sell than raising the face value of the seats by $200 per game. I think that explains part of it…but there is another reason for the donation. Take a look:
Alumni giving is a factor in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. If other schools use sports to improve their rating, I am sure BC thinks and hopes we can do the same.
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The bump in the U.S. News rankings has to be one reason, but I have to assume the main reason it is billed as a donation is so people signing the checks can write it off as a donation to a non-profit on their taxes.
It's also worth noting that U.S. News doesn't have a minimum donation amount. Why not just require a nominal donation of $5-25 for the remaining seats? That would inflate their numbers even more.
I bet Gene likes your thinking Mark. Look for the $5 donation next season! Ha. The tax write off is another good reason too.
Yes, and then they'll switch everything to the mandatory donation model. Kids in the dining halls will give required donations in exchange for food. Bookstore, etc.
Mark, I see a spot for you on the board of trustees.
Actually, making it a donation makes it easier on the buyers because you only have to pay the maximum amount for whatever you want to get.
Say you have football seats that require a $2000 donation, basketball seats that require $1000, and a tailgating spot that requires $4000. A single $4000 donation covers all of those. If the DBS was rolled into the ticket prices you'd have to pay $7000 (separate prices for football and bball tickets, plus the donation for your tailgating spot).
Also, a lot of companies match charitable donations by employees--so if BC charges $1250 for tickets they'll get $1250, if they require a $1000 donation for the right to buy $250 tickets they might get $2250.
On the Donation front, this is a very TYPICAL "Pre-Flutie" BC fan attitude, "I want my seat that I've had for 50 years and only make 50% of the games (No, i show up for every game, but I start mid 2nd quarter and leave between 3rd and 4th quarter.)"
BC NEEDS this to program to make compete with the elite programs in our league, To the rich Boston Blue-bloods, start bleeding Maroon and Gold, and cash out 1000 from your yachting fund to pay for BC tickets.
ON ANOTHER NOTE, Bill, congrats on just moments ago being named the Best ACC Blogger!
Gordons, no offense taken.
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