Lose It Or Move It
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 10:44 AM EST
in Penn State Football
267 comments
What is this view worth, anyway?
Mostly ignored in the commotion and tension of the Indiana game was David Jones' pre-game blockbuster detailing the changes coming for students and season ticket holders at Beaver Stadium, beginning with the 2011 season:
When asked about the plan Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center, where he was watching the Penn State-Penn men’s basketball game, athletic director Tim Curley would neither confirm it nor discuss specifics. He responded with generalities about the athletic department’s need to raise additional money soon:
"The bottom line is, right now, everyone around the country is looking at ways to create new revenue sources. We’ve tapped out a number of sources so far — adding a 12th game, the Big Ten Network. We’ve tried to benchmark ourselves against other schools right now. And we’re looking at creative ways to generate more revenue.
"And now’s the time we need to do it. We need to create new revenue in order to maintain our broad-based program."
Exact details of the plan have not yet been released by Penn State, but based on multiple accounts, these seem to be the basics:
- The current Nittany Lion Club point system as you know it will be abolished. Poof. (Update -- But they have to take past donations into account when figuring out who gets first shot at tickets, right? So perhaps it won't be totally abolished after all.)
- The new giving levels will not be in addition to the current NLC minimums for football tickets.
- There will be a per ticket charge, which is essentially a one-year lease on your seat. Obviously, this charge will be highest for midfield seats and decrease in cost approaching each end zone.
- End zone seats between the goal lines will be subject to a $100 "lease", per seat. (Nobody knows what PSU will actually call these quasi-PSL's. I'm going with "lease", because it's only for one season and you don't own it.) According to Jones, seats between the goal lines and the 40's will cost $400/seat and seats between the 40's will be $600/seat. Loosely corroborated message board chatter indicates it may be more of a gradual increase from $100 to $500:
The color code for this: Gray (students), green (club seats), blue ($100), light green ($200), red ($300), white ($400), red ($500). This plan is more logical and less lucrative than the "everyone between the 40's and goal lines pay $400" plan, so you can probably guess which way Penn State will lean. Subsequent columns on this subject by the Altoona Mirror and Daily Collegian essentially parrot Jones' information, so nothing new there. We'll have the official numbers once the mass mailing goes out to season ticket holders following the Michigan State game.
In order to accommodate all of the expected shuffling, the student section is going to be shifted away from the east stands and further into the south endzone:
The student section would move from its current range of seats between the ED section and past the tunnel to seats between the EA and WA sections. That would include upper deck seating for students sitting in sections EA and WA. Students would also be permitted to enter the stadium through Gates A and B under the new plan.
According to the tentative plan, the student section could actually increase by up to 800 tickets, prompting ridiculous quotes like this:
"I don't wanna brag, but we're some of the most knowledgeable fans in the country," [Paternoville Coordination Committee (PCC) President Alex ] Cohen said. "We're passionate, and in the end I think we really do deserve these 800 seats. There are tons of people on campus who would love to go to every Penn State football game, and to add 800 more seats is great."
...
"The athletic department, every decision they make is in the best interest of the teams, the school and the fans. I trust them," Cohen said.
They're so knowledgeable that they don't know what time the game starts, right?
Okay, first, I'll point out that 800 seats might be added to the student section in 2011. Might. The students are being shunted into worse seats for 2011, and (cue the irresponsible speculation!) I would not be surprised if this alleged addition to the student section never materializes. It'll likely depend on the renewal rates of regular season ticket holders who don't want to pay the increased costs, and how many of them are moved to less desirable sections of the stadium...like the edges of the south end zone.
Second, no, no. Students don't deserve any additional seats after this season. And given the dregs that are on the schedule next season, not to mention what is probably a four-loss Penn State team, who thinks the student attendance will even be equal to their paltry 2009 attendance? Anyone? Alex has an organization to defend, and he's right to do so. Nobody can doubt the dedication of the Paternoville kids, but that passion simply doesn't extend to the rest of the student season ticket holders. We'll see how the students do with the ability to enter two gates next season. Maybe that will solve everything. I have my doubts.
You have questions.
Why are they doing this? Why does anyone do anything? Because they can. And the reality of the situation is that there are a lot of people who have been getting midfield seats for decades while making the minimum donation to the NLC. We can debate whether that's a good thing (loyalty to longtime ticket holders and older alumni) or a bad thing (come on, $60 a game for seats on the midfield stripe?!?), but Penn State sees a very good opportunity to tap some wallets here. And you know Penn State's love for some American cash money, especially when they can justify it by invoking the image of an adorable field hockey team crying on the shoulder of Route 22 because their 43 year old school bus broke down.
But me! How does this affect me? I don't know you, sorry. But let's say you're my father, and have had four tickets in section EJ for the last 15 years. He currently pays $100 for each seat, plus the face value of each ticket. Because these seats are in the area between the goal lines, the cost won't change for him in 2011 if what Jones reported ends up being correct. It would be an extra $100/seat under the color-coded diagram above.
What if I'm one of the lucky ducklings getting away with minimum donations at the 50 yard line? Time to pony up, sucker. Four tickets are going to cost somewhere between $2,000 and $2,400, and that's before you even pay for the actual tickets. These are people who have essentially been getting a free ride for premium seats -- the true, dead wood of the Nittany Lion fanbase -- and they are the people who are going to be hit the hardest:
For instance, there is currently a contribution level Penn State calls Lion Loyalty where NLC members must give between $400 and $799 in order to get four season tickets. Someone who's had seats for quite a while and has racked up NLC points over the years might have four seats between the 40 yard lines and be paying only $400 a year for the right to hold onto them.
These are the people, and others in similar situations, that the new arrangement is targeting. Season ticket holders between the 40s will all be asked to pony up $600 per ticket per year. Do the math for someone in these seats: 4x$600=$2,400 annually before you even buy the tickets themselves. Someone like this will have a substantially higher bill, hiked by $2,000 a year. If they don't want to pay, they'll have the option to move to less desirable seats.
And if I'm a young alumnus/alumna with money to spend, but currently stuck with crappy seats? Well, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.
The other side of the coin: Let's say someone already gives between $2,200 and $2,999 annually, what PSU calls the Honorary Coach (unfortunately, you don't get to call in plays for Joe). For this, you get the right to buy up to 10 season tickets at $55 per game. But the real reason many people give at this level is that it's the minimum to get a reserved parking spot. Some only buy four season tickets; they just want the nice spot so they don't have to park in the fields.
So if, say, someone is already paying the minimum $2,200 to get the parking spot and only takes four season tickets, they'll only have to add on an extra $200 to account for that 4x$600=$2400.
So if you're somebody who gives a big chunk of money but is stuck in row 87 of Section UUSEUUU, this is an opportunity to seriously upgrade your seats. These are the people who are unbelievably happy with the proposed plan, and rightfully so.
Why is this happening in 2011 instead of 2010? Well, you see, uh, there's this.
2010 Home Schedule
September 4 Youngstown State
September 18 Kent State
September 25 Temple
October 9 Illinois
October 23 Michigan
October 30 Northwestern
November 20 Michigan State
2011 Home Schedule
September 3 Indiana State
September 10 Alabama
September 24 TBA
October 8 Ohio State
October 15 Iowa
October 29 Purdue
November 12 Wisconsin
There's going to be outrage whenever this is formally announced, and plenty of it. If Penn State tried to implement a re-seating plan for a slop schedule like 2010, there would also be mobs and torches and LOUD NOISES.
So this is an unconscionable money grab by a morally corrupt university, right? Well, yes and no. There are plenty of people who still believe that college football is about student-athletes and Success With Honor and all that stuff. That's fine. That's a sign of a healthy, sustainable program with proper moral bearings, and it makes us, as Penn State fans, rather proud. Nobody feels particularly good about their favorite team being on probation, having players constantly arrested, or 18% graduation rates. But at its heart, college football is a tremendous opportunity for universities to make tons of cash. That's why so many coaches are fired every year, that's why so many programs are willing to play on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. That's why there's no playoff. For a self-sufficient athletic department like Penn State, money is even more important. There are only two programs that make money at Penn State -- football and men's basketball. In a sense, it's amazing that PSU held off this long in implementing a quasi-PSL program like the one about to be rolled out. It's going to generate millions of dollars each season.
Millions? Millions.
So they'll stop scheduling teams like Indiana State, Eastern Illinois, and Youngstown State? Sure, bongjockey. They'll get right on scheduling those home-and-home series with Texas and Florida. You're very likely to see the Parade Of Pastry continue marching through Beaver Stadium on early autumn Saturdays. Don't think for one minute that this will lead to more aggressive scheduling. Home games pay the bills.
How about a surprise? I love surprises! Well, there's this bit of information:
Penn State is giving season ticket holders the option of transferring tickets to not just relatives but anyone at all – for a one-time fee. The fees will vary by location of seats and there will be extra hoops to jump through in order to transfer the highest-priced seats.
That'll create a little flexibility, though I'm interested in what the "one-time fee" will be. And by "extra hoops", I'm assuming "extra donations."
The verdict, your honor? Tentatively approve, subject to a review of the full details of the plan. It's easy to feel some pangs of sympathy for the folks near midfield who will undoubtedly be quoted by surreptitious newspaper reporters looking to stoke the fires of this story. Wait, wait. Can I address this?
Just because for so many years the school decided not to address the fact that people in its best seats were paying the same as people in the end zone for the "right" to watch Eastern Illinois and Coastal Carolina and Florida International and Youngstown State and, in 2011, Indiana State, doesn't mean that all those people - some now on fixed incomes and having seen their personal investments dwindle - should have to swallow this increase in one full (or is it fool?) swoop.
Talk about sheep being herded toward the end zone.
That's just blatant pandering. You know what those people on fixed incomes and crippled 401(k)'s can do? Either move to a more affordable part of the stadium or not buy overpriced football tickets at all. Maybe that would be a sound financial decision. 'Till death do us part isn't being part of buying season tickets. Those people have been getting an absurdly good deal -- that can't be overstated -- on midfield seats for one of America's most storied football programs for decades. The (basically) free ride has to end at some point. Try getting midfield season tickets at Michigan or Ohio State. Run those numbers and tell me that those poor PSU fans haven't been treated fairly.
You were saying? Yeah. Tentatively approve, pending further information. Some fans may choose to walk away in a huff instead of ponying up the cash or moving to a different location. That's unfortunate but it's their choice to make. A great number of fans currently in the upper decks or end zones won't be affected at all, and will finally have an opportunity to upgrade their seats if they so choose.
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"Students don't deserve any additional seats after this season."
The students deserve every ticket, it’s their school. We, the alumni, had our shot to be students and go to (or not go to the games). The current students should have that same oppurtunity whether they choose to show up 4 hours before, or 2 hour into, any game they choose.
I know I’m being idealistic but the team plays for a school, a school the alumni no longer attend. These students, whether we like it or not, have earned the right to show up, cheer, or not cheer whenever and however they want to. They only get 4 years to experience the stadium as a student and each and every one should be given that oppurtunity.
I do think the possible new configuaration is kind of cool though, having opposing teams have to go right at the student section would be interesting.
by Mr. Pennsylvania on Nov 17, 2009 10:54 AM EST reply actions
You are clearly drunk.
They already get 20% of the stadium and don’t fill it. Picking the correct number of allotted student tickets isn’t an easy thing, but it’s safe to say that the athletic department overestimated this season. And I get what you’re going for in the idealistic sense, but you have to know that a stadium like ours requires asses in seats. It’s like having a smoking section in a restaurant that nobody uses.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
I wish I was drunk
Does the allottment of student tickets change every year?
And yeah, I know its ideallistic but I would just hate for a student to not get a ticket while a random fan does.
by Mr. Pennsylvania on Nov 17, 2009 11:09 AM EST up reply actions
I know what you mean.
I really do. The number has been steadily rising the past few years, but I’m of the opinion that the increases were based on a level of student enthusiasm that has not only leveled out, but decreased. I think that PSU tried to capitalize on this “best student section in the country” meme, and it kind of blew up in their faces this year.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
on the flip side
I would hate for an alumnus/random fan to not get a ticket while a student burns the ticket by staying home.
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 17, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
I agree
If they are not filling the seats, let someone who is going to support the team be there.
It irks me to no end when people say to me “why are you a Penn State fan if you didn’t go to school there?” My response is “well, how are you a (Redskins) fan if you never worked for the organization?”
I grew up in PA and was a fan of PSU going back to the Jimmy Cefalo days (who went to my HS). I went to a DIII school without a football program and like many people who live in PA became avid fans based on geography. My point is that the football team is representative of the people of the state not just the students. I am a far more avid fan than some kid from MD or VA who went to Penn State and all of a sudden started cheering for the Nits at age 18.
When we were recruiting Terrell Pryor we always hoped he'd help us take down Ohio State... and he did!
I know a few MD and VA alums who would disagree with your statement
Blogging about D.C. Baseball since April '04. Penn State alum. Also partial to the Washington Capitals, New York Yankees and Yale football.
+1
I live in MD and my former roommates like in NY/CA/VA….PA is basically an old rust best state with limited opportunity for high paying gigs…gotta go where the jobs are, that means leaving PA.
Most people don’t stay local anymore, its a fact of life. PSU is much bigger than PA…we are nation wide Sir.
HAHS circa 93' "Football is 1/2 Offense, 1/2 Defense, and 1/2 Special teams".
I agree that psu is nation and even worldwide
I worked in the Fla. Keys for a few summers through college and it was amazing meeting people who had also gone to, or were fans of PSU.
I do see that a set of seats bought by a family driving up from MD who will be loud and have fun is better than an empty section of students who were too drunk to show up. I just want the students to always have the choice to show up to the game, whether they want to or not is up to them.
by Mr. Pennsylvania on Nov 17, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions
gradiology was referring to out-of-state students specifically
Ultimately, why argue amongst ourselves who is more avid? We’re all on the same side, let’s not look for things to divide us?
Blogging about D.C. Baseball since April '04. Penn State alum. Also partial to the Washington Capitals, New York Yankees and Yale football.
Agreed.
After all, it could be worse, it could be 2003 or 2004
by Mr. Pennsylvania on Nov 17, 2009 9:06 PM EST up reply actions
Boom
Being from New England, and knowing many fellow New England born PSUers, all of whom would disagree.
by PSUinBOSSton on Nov 17, 2009 9:10 PM EST up reply actions
I am pretty sure I still pay, but not to go there
I get my tickets by contributing. So I pay, but do not even attend the university. And the point is that they are not getting more tickets. they will probably not get the extra 800 tickets, unless they can’t be sold at a higher value to we alumns.
"I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! I invented the piano key necktie, I invented it!" - Mugatu
by Captain Hairdo on Nov 17, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions
Short term gain= long term loss
I feel that the robbing of the students of the prime seats will be a major long term loss for the over-all program and will decrease the the over-all game day experience in Beaver Stadium. Granted – for whatever reason – be it ticket policies – time of games – weather – the bland schedule – the students didn’t have the same attendance or enthusium this year. So this is reason to cut them from the good tickets? Look at the BJC for basketball. Is there a more bland place to watch hoops than the BJC? Could it be how the tickets are distrubuted? Look at where the student section is located and where the seat license donors are located? Compare that to the Peterson Event Center at Pitt. They were able to strike a great balance in terms of the layout of the seating in the building- they have the suites on one side of the floor for the high rollers – but have the students on the other side, right behind the media – next to the floor (like at Duke’s Cameron). I ’m a die hard P$U fan – but I much rather watch a Pitt basketball game at the Pete than watch the Lions at the BJC.
It is also a matter of whose’s team is it anyway? Lest we forget – the students are the one shelling out the $75 K for the Penn State education. If sucessful, they will have a greater connection to the school than any joe from Harrisburgh,who’s only association with the program is that he always liked joe paterno. Students should be given the opportunity to take in the game experience – from not only just from any seats – but from the good seats. These are their classmates playing the game. These are their freind who are cheerleaders – band members and even on the field helping as equipment staf, etc. Students deserve to be close to the action. They should not be stuck in the corners. The rich alumni can spend time in the in the high end end seats in he Nittany Lion Lounge – or the sky boxes. Were not these items built so to raise more revune – so they would not need to pull ticket stunts like the ones they are going to do in 2011?
If the current student can enjoy the football game day experience during thier college days – they are more likely to be want to come back and enjoy the experience as an alumni. They are more likely to have a more enjoyable experience watching their team from a good vantage point rather than being stuck in the corners of the stadium. I think the adminisration would be foolish to attempt to make such a drastic move to make a short term gain – at the expense of losing their future ticket buyers …
BJC seating
I believe this adjustment was made prior to last season at the BJC:
They were able to strike a great balance in terms of the layout of the seating in the building- they have the suites on one side of the floor for the high rollers – but have the students on the other side, right behind the media – next to the floor (like at Duke’s Cameron). I ’m a die hard P$U fan – but I much rather watch a Pitt basketball game at the Pete than watch the Lions at the BJC.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 19, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
And this comment needs to be in this thread.
[Originally posted here.]
Personally, I love this. I want to give this plan a big kiss.
1. So the students have to move to the end zone. What other stadium in America gives 1/4 of it’s premium seats to students? I don’t know, but I’d wager none. At least we put all students in one place, unlike OSU.
2. I don’t get the argument that we can’t do the ‘We Are’ cheer. Life will go on, regardless of whether you need to learn new words or not.
3. I don’t get the argument that students will enjoy themselves less, therefore be less willing to donate/return in the future. A large part of the student body doesn’t care about the games – they just go to socialize. Those that do care will be coming back in the future regardless if they’re in section SC or EB, because they’re true fans. If we’re really the #1 student section, they can be just as loud from the end zone as they can from the 30.
4. Why should people get to sit on the 50, just because ‘they always have’? Why not reward those who provide the operating capital for our athletic department? If you paid $5k for a plane ticket, would you be happy sitting in coach just because someone else has ‘always sat in first class’ and took the last first class seat?
I appreciate the loyalty of the long term fans, but if they’re truly loyal they’ll be happy to sit anywhere to cheer on the Lions. Especially considering that they’ve skated by for decades while contributing nothing for the past 40 years.
The only people this hurts? The people who willingly sit in the south end zone, but will now be moved to wherever to make room for the students. Maybe the scalpers who buy season tix, but then again maybe not.
I will be curious to see if these extra 800 student tickets are available for the games where there is huge student demand (Alabama, OSU) or for those where no alumni care to buy them (Youngstown St, Bellefonte HS). I’m guessing the latter, but what do I know.
Respectfully yours,
Future Resident of the 50 Yard Line seats
by Tailgate Shogun on Nov 16, 2009 6:35 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 10:58 AM EST reply actions
Loved the plane ticket analogy!
And thanks for the fresh perspective. At first read, I was thinking I’m probably getting screwed, do I really want to continue to pay (‘give’ to use proper NLC lingo) for the right to buy tix? But this helps remind me that I’m a person who might benefit. Maybe we’ll get opps to do the anti-George Jefferson? I never used to think in terms of a ‘five year plan,’ and this year I missed more games than I intended, but with two little boys on the way, I can more clearly see further down the 20-year road, where there’s likely a continued grand outdoor experience to share with my family.
Here’s to meeting you on the 50 for a big high five!
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
Just so I get this straight
My tickets in WAU are secure but I may be sitting around a bunch of students? Also, I’ll be paying an additional $100/seat.
If that’s the case I can live with that. We all knew this was coming. I like the idea of spreading out the students. The day is coming when JoePa’s salary will be gone and a new coach is going to cost a lot more than JoePa so we’ll have to increase revenue. I suppose this is the start of a necessary policy to pay for the next coach.
Do I have it straight?
That's sort of the gray area
Not a color-coded stadium chart pun. I don’t think we’ll know exactly what will happen with the sections like WA/WAU. Will it be students, will it be considered a non-end zone seat? Don’t know yet.
And I have a feeling — without any sort of evidence, mind you — that this isn’t the only huge change we’ll have in 2011.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
TONY DUNGY HEAD COACH IN 2011
You heard it here first, folks — breaking news from RUTS.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
No way, it's COWHER POWER.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
I like Gruden but he's
a Pitt guy. Think he could deal with the shunning?
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
IFYKWIMAITTYD
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 12:40 PM EST up reply actions
I really GERG'd that one up.
That was supposed to be a “Bobby Bowden <= dirt” joke, which should have been offensive and juvenile, but not sexual.
“invoking the image of an adorable field hockey team crying on the shoulder of Route 22 because their 43 year old school bus broke down”
Now I’ll have to bite my tongue, I guess…
Screw that
I’m tired of choking in big games!!!
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
cowher is a
carolina guy.
for further proof look at his support of the ’canes over the ’guins last post season.
We have little tranquility but tons of tranquilizers.
by mikeissurreal on Nov 17, 2009 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
Bill Cowher turns his back on Pittsburgh for the joy of twirling a siren and high-fiving a mascot…
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
be careful high-fiving a mascot
at least if you are a player, it’ll get you an unsportsmanlike (see: Purdue player celebrating with child molester Purdue Pete against MSU)
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 17, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, really
Didn’t Sebastian the Ibis get clocked in the nuts by a kid’s face once recently?
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
WE'RE TOTALLY WINNING THE NATIONAL TITLE IN 2011
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
I don't like the prospect of that...
Why bring up things like this? I need to go take a test now and all I’m going to be thinking about is this.
AGHHHHHH this.
I'm in WAU
but I thought a pressbox expansion would possibly displace me first.
adorable field hockey team crying on the shoulder of Route 22 because their 43 year old school bus broke down.
Lol, field hockey strugglebus.
I think I will stick with my current plan of saving for my kids eventual tuition(rather than blow it all on FB) and just pony up to see some game that I can get leftover tickets to once per year. I love Penn State Football, but to spend thousands of dollars on it is beyond my level of dedication. Especially with the crappy home games we all love to complain about.
A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice.
Bill Cosby
People buy what they can afford. I, (like you, I’m guessing) can’t justify spending the money on season tickets. I also don’t have the time to travel to SC 8 times a year, and what if I move even further away than I am now?
For me, this whole thing is a gasoline fight I get to watch from the Wendy’s across the street. This frosty tastes good from behind the glass.
BSD
nice product placement
The revenues from Dave should allow you extra coin to invest back into tix, no?
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
ahh, yes
It’s Comcastic! Talk about Big Brother. Mr. Cohen would do well to seek out a position with them after graduation. Not that he needs it: sounds like he’s already a company man with the AD.
So far, I’m diggin my cable change after burbin it outta Chinatown. It’s nice to see that Fiber to residences’ time has finally come.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
I like this
It makes sense, it’s good for the fans, and it helps the athletic department.
It’s rare PSU finds a plan that makes sense and benefits everyone involved. So rare, this might be the first.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
Very informative, thanks
Can someone answer me something? Since I only go to one game a year and I’m not as familiar with Beaver Stadium as a lot of other people on here are, can you tell me what is the deal with the 5 rows of seats that appear to have chair-backs at the 50 yard line (I’m assuming they are in sections WE and EE)? Is there any significance to those rows (i.e. why are they chairbacks?), and is is possible that people were paying the minimum donation for THOSE seats for years? If so, not a bad deal for sure.
by mundyscorner99 on Nov 17, 2009 11:08 AM EST reply actions
Your speculation is irresponsible!
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
The proper rhetorical question to the answer 'because he can'
Is ‘why does a dog lick his balls?’
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
sip sip the kool-aid
“The athletic department, every decision they make is in the best interest of the teams, the school and the fans. I trust them,” Cohen said.
that is some serious 1984-type, big brother shit right there…
We decide when you hear the snap count...
I LOL'd
Also things Cohen loves because they are only looking out for his best interest:
-Credit card companies that update his contract every 3 months
-The nice people at the DMV
-The IRS
BSD
It's a political type of statement, IMO.
The type of thing that’s in a press release.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
so much for being the voice of the students
and not an athletic department tool
We decide when you hear the snap count...
Meh.
The AD holds all the cards and he knows it. I think he’s wise to say nothing controversial and go with the flow.
but but...
students never go with the flow.
unless there’s flowing alcohol!
We have little tranquility but tons of tranquilizers.
by mikeissurreal on Nov 17, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
Would you rather have them just double prices?
They probably could
by InScoresOfOtherGames on Nov 17, 2009 11:24 AM EST reply actions
No, I think this is reasonable, as proposed.
One of the issues is that the face value of midfield tickets is either equal to or $10-20 more than the face value of seats in the upper decks. Sure, they could just totally adjust the face value of ticket prices, but that would probably create re-sale and scalping issues that I don’t really have the time or desire to analyze. With the NLC donation increases, at least the money is in the athletic department’s hands and they can do what they wish with it.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, scalping
That remains my biggest unknown at present. This fall, with a bunch of games I was unable to attend, saw me unload our tix and fairly hasslefree. But at ticket Face Value. NOT at Real Cost, which is more commonly referred to as Scalping, since it is more than the value on the face.
I’m still curious how the resale market, with the volume of tickets available in this stadium, will react to these changes. When I cannot go, will I continue to eat the difference between the cost of our NLC donation and the Face Value, or ‘scalp’ to recover it? And what does that answer tell me about the best way to proceed? Drop the season tix, and buy individually? Or, continue to ‘give’ in order to preserve the convenience of avoiding individual game ticket searches?
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
As a guess
the market value of all your tickets combined is likely far lower than the “actual” price. This may not be true in 2011, which has some nice games, but over several years, after you add in years like 2010 that will most certainly have mirrors, no chance you get face plus fees for 7-8 games a year.
BSD
I'm sure you're right
It hasn’t bothered me in years past. Or my ignorance has prevented me from properly evaluating it. I’ll have to see how it plays out and peep the numbers involved, but the Kevin & Buggy model is now officially in play in the TotheP household!
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
The affect on the aftermarket would only be in the minds of the sellers
not necessarily market value. People purchasing aftermarket tickets aren’t going to care about the seat license, The market determines the value of the tickets based on face value, opponent, timing of game (time of year and day), hype and PSU’s record.
In the NFL have PSL licenses affected the aftermarket prices? I assume it’s some sort of standard ratio based on face. (less than face for meaningless games, usually no more than 4-5x face for big games)
by InScoresOfOtherGames on Nov 17, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
So does that mean that NLC giving is no longer required?
Or do I have to give to get to a certain level, then sign up for seats, then pay the PSL for wherever they put me? What if I want to pay the cheapest amount I can, being massively in debt for legal education that is serving no good…what are my options?
And it’s “one fell swoop”, not FULL or FOOL
similar question/situation
i just graduated, and would like to start getting myself in a position where i can get season tickets (obviously not soon, but in the future). how do i go about doing this?
do i give at a certain level and get on a waiting list for tickets, then once i get tickets have to give extra, plus ticket prices? or do i give at a certain level, and then become eligible for a certain level of tickets?
We decide when you hear the snap count...
Can't answer those.
The info isn’t out yet. I don’t know about waiting lists, or what younger alumni will need to give in order to get their foot in the door.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
You donated and accrued NLC 'points' according to how much you gave.
And annually, there would be an announced cut-off of NLC points, below which people who gave money would not actually receive football tickets.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong on that.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
This *is* the NLC giving, I believe.
That’s the “PSL” money. Previously, the NLC giving would be $100/seat, minimum, and you had to have a certain amount of NLC “points” to qualify for season tickets.
One of the missing pieces, as far as I can tell, is what happens if too many people decide they’d rather be in the end zones for the cheaper price, and there aren’t enough end zone / upper deck seats to accomodate them?
The poor folks who work for the NLC are going to be in for a long, long winter, both this year and next.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
Since you seem to be the expert, would it be too much trouble to ask for a working synopsis of how to actually get tickets?
I feel like I’m dealing with AES or some other student loan company. “Take form 14B to Reception, get an I-74 data sheet with the pink cover NOT the green cover, and take them all to room 108. Then trade them in for a working collarboration book to take to your attorney. Then notarize six copies….”
How does one actually get tickets? I give the minimum to NLC right now cause I’m not in a position to afford the tickets but want to keep accruing points. Are you saying that my points are useless? Tell me about the f***ing golf shoes, man!
Not even close to the expert.
I’m just gathering available info, and you see the sum of it above. The dilemma of those who are currently frozen out of tickets due to insufficient NLC points is a big, big missing piece of this equation. I can’t believe that so many people will be priced out of season tickets that there will essentially be no “waiting list”, for lack of a better term.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions
I arrived here late today.
There was a fanpost last night – something about a painting. Did that get deleted?
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 11:38 AM EST reply actions
Yes, I spiked it and it sucked.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
offendor?
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
I forget.
It was someone selling copies of a PSU painting, and the picture of it never even showed up correctly (it was the dreaded Red X).
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
bummer
I was hoping for something more provocative. thx4theinfo. 7174Lif3!
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
[flashes Amish gang sign.]
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
i completely hated this at first
now i have one question:
will this policy increase or decrease the number of bored alumni golf clapping through the entire game?
Decrease substantially.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
i hope this is true, and i tend to agree
people nodding off in the stands have to have been paying $10 for their spots forever, right?
Do we know this?
There are rich old people, most certainly. Sure they will be outraged about the hike, but if they’ve been going to every game for 30 years, are they really going to stop because of a $2,000 hike?
Just asking questions, unlike Mr. Cohen above.
BSD
ha!
Party Line, beeeotch! Get to steppin!
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
yeah that was the other angle i wondered about
had a bad experience being the only one cheering between the 40s once, that’s why it’s on my mind
And for the down in front golf clappers left behind
they will be in for a shock when a truck load of “involved fans” are dropped in their laps.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
I disagree with the assumption.
Look at baseball, which has done the the best job of pricing their seats on a sliding scale. I think you could argue that the more expensive the seat, the less involved the fans. Now there is a whole corporate angle in pro you don’t get in college, but I think it’s a mistake to assume that jacking up the prices of the primo seats will automatically draw in a more involved crowd.
BSD
agreed- its always the cheap seats
that have the rowdiest crowd
it's kind of an unfair rich person stereotype
but it’s a completely justifiable old person stereotype
i think on the one hand you might see people who had the seats forever but didn’t like the rowdy crowd and the drinking and the tailgating and the vice give them up
on the other hand, as mentioned above, if you’ve been paying for those seats forever why stop?
I don’t mean to claim there aren’t exceptions, there most certainly are…if this whole thing goes down there will be some great fans on the 50, but also some rich ones who own seats right behind home plate back in the city they live in and act a lot like the old heads we are condemning.
BSD
Maybe. I don’t really know. I just think it’s a mistake to assume it will be an automatic upgrade. The student ticket policy that the AD created was designed (or so we were told) to stop scalpers from buying tickets and get them back in the hands of the “real fans.” Look how that turned out.
BSD
The tickets sure weren't being sold by scalpers.
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
yeah i guess we'll have to wait and see
it is my hope that any upheaval that does occur is in the direction of a more involved crowd
I’m a former student and quasi-golf clapper. I get loud, but not like I did as a student.
My fear is what happened at the OSU game—two dimwits next to me (per folks who sold their tickets) who literally dropped the F-bomb the entire first half, and uttered gems like, “Joe, throw the f—-ing ball you f—-ing c—-s—-er.” This went on until nearly the end of the second quarter, when a guy in front of them lost his patience. They then proceeded to mockingly yell “F-word you, _______” to any OSU coach, player, etc. Then I lost my patience and went off on that.
They were gone in the second half—voluntarily to the student section (which had seats open—way to go, best student section in the country).
All that being said, I don’t mind it rowdy. But keep the pure crap out of the alumni sections.
absolutely
you don’t need to drop f bombs all game
you shouldn’t get dirty looks for doing the “penn state” in the we are… penn state cheer
I have a friend who told pretty much the exact same story
Might have been the same section. He also said there was a guy who kept ripping on Zug the entire game. He went to high school with Zug so he’s a pretty big Zug fan so they got into a shouting match.
by PSUisMyHeart on Nov 17, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
When I say involved...
I mean being “permitted” to stand up and cheer (especially when the folks in front of you are standing) without getting the stink eye with a heaping side of sit-down.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
right
as a guy who is occasionally guilty of dropping an f-bomb in inappropriate situations i am acutely aware of the enormous gulf between the behavior of the guys at the OSU game described above and fans who show up to cheer and make noise
in all honesty, even if you get hammered at a tailgate and then go to the game, it’s pretty easy to mind the swear words… it also gives you immense satisfaction with holding the moral high ground over the golf clappers when you do make noise
All this talk from PSU and Jones about season contribution or quasi-seat license
is just confusing the masses. All it is is a ticket price increase for the better seats in the stadium, which can be reduced by NLC donations. That’s it, plain and simple.
Oversimplication initiatives rarely succeed
And this one is no different.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
Agreed, at first I
thought that on top of my $1500 NLC dontation, I was going to have to pony up and extra $100-$400 dollars per seat + ticket costs. Not the case at all.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
Great write up, RUTS
Should be an interesting offseason.
What remains to be seen is how far off David Jones is in his first cut at the details of this plan. No offense, but I imagine some of the final details will look a little different than what he’s reporting. He’s big on self-promoting his “inside knowledge”, but you don’t hear much from him when he’s way off base. Like how his Board of Trustees contacts assured him Joe was being removed pronto. I digress.
by Tailgate Shogun on Nov 17, 2009 12:13 PM EST reply actions
Oh, I'm quite sure the final details will look different
From what I’ve read, PSU has already delayed the release of this new plan twice. Plenty of unanswered questions out there. With recruiting pretty much wrapped up, this is likely going to be the big story between the end of the Sparty game and our bowl game.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
In your defense
It was a fine digression.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
I get it...
in theory…this makes sense. I would be one of the lucky few to benefit. I’m stuck up in SHU row 79 (second to last row in the Stadium)…i would have the opportunity to move down. Now there is no way i could afford to pay $2,600 for my for seats on top of the cost of the tickets..
I do tend to think old money alumni will not like this one bit. You know the alumni sitting in section EG with MD or Esq after his/her does not want to part with the cash….it will be interesting
"I'm not affraid to compete"
~Robert Bolden
funny
I was thinking that demographic wouldn’t bat an eye.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
funny
I was thinking that demographic wouldn’t bat an eye.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
Man, freakin work network snailing me to the department of redundancy department
I’ll sign off and check back later.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
Old Money
The reason they are old money is because they don’t want to detatch the money from the bank account.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see some loopholes in their for people who have donated for x amount of years or have reached x amount of dollars….i.e…Old Money, MD calls the NLC and they tell him if he donates $16,000 in 2010, this plan wont effect him in 2011..he would do it
"I'm not affraid to compete"
~Robert Bolden
Transfer "Donations"
The Transfer Donations (to transfer a ticket) will range from $500 to $2000.
by PSU Prof on Nov 17, 2009 12:35 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Thanks for that info.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
+1 for this gem.
We have little tranquility but tons of tranquilizers.
by mikeissurreal on Nov 17, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
I hope the points system doesn't go completely kaput
Points are used for basketball seat locations, bowl ticket availability, and presumably for seat locations under this new plan among members who are interested in the same price level. They shouldn’t throw out the recognition of past donations altogether.
they need to clear up that uncertainty
or they might stand to take a big hit next year if people aren’t sure what will happen to their accumulated points the year after.
We decide when you hear the snap count...
Holding seats in the end zone since 1991,
I periodically complained to the ticket department about their uniform price (except for chairbacks)for all seats. I worked for a major league baseball team that had 18 different priced levels in a 46,000 seat stadium, less than half Beaver Stadium capacity. Why should I be paying the same as the guy sitting on the 50 ? Annual price increases finally forced me to sell 2 of my 4 season tickets. I was wondering how long it would be before I was totally priced out of the stadium for good. Hopefully this new system will reduce the need to increase prices on at least a portion of seats and keep them at a more affordable level.
I find their method a little unusual, but it is long overdue that the better seats cost more. I guess going with the increase in NLC fee will allow people to use it as a tax deduction. The problem for these prime seats holders will be when they need to unload seats for bad games. The face value on the ticket may say $55 (09 price) but will have ~$85 ($600/7games)worth of NLC fee as hidden cost. Good luck selling these outside the stadium on game day.
So...
What happened to all the extra coin from the Big Ten network, the multiple BCS games the conference is typically in, the 12th overall game the 8th home game this year, the parking increase, et. al.
Seriously, is Penn State adding 17 more high risk varsity sports? Arm wrestling? Equestrian? Fist-to-Cuffs? What’s the great need for so much extra loot?
Can we hear what cuts to the budget will be made for this vast new array of expenses?
(not really expecting an answer here). I guess that cash machine will just keep running forever.
“We need to increase revenue streams” is not a very compelling argument from the AD of a public university. More than likely, Mr. Curley does not know what his true costs are.
Of course I'm home. I'm always home. I'm uncool.
The extra loot is needed
to hire a head football coach. They just won’t come out and say it.
Thomas Ivan Bradley
Can be got for 800 large. That should EASILY be covered by the sweet, sweet cash from that crappy, crappy network.
What else ya’ got?
Of course I'm home. I'm always home. I'm uncool.
by WestPointLion on Nov 17, 2009 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
Nuthin
and I don’t understand why for 800K we can buy a passive cover-3, but if we want tight bump-and-run man it’ll cost us millions.
I did neglect
a new regime may require a special teams coach. There’s millions more to the expense column I hadn’t thought of. Revenue away!
Of course I'm home. I'm always home. I'm uncool.
by WestPointLion on Nov 17, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
+1
Always talking about revenue, but when I walk around campus, there seems to be more facilities than you can shake a stick at. How much training equipment do you need? How many different ways can you do a bicep curl?
This week has me confused
my understanding is that not a single dollar from football actually goes to the “school”, as in it’s non-sport facilities, prof salaries, ect. This came up in the fanshot about how rising tuition is a reason for raising student ticket prices. I was always under the impression we were talking about two very separate beasts here.
BSD
I believe you to be right
and I think that’s why they use the term “self-sustaining” athletic department.
Perhaps we are weaving a wicked web
Of course I'm home. I'm always home. I'm uncool.
by WestPointLion on Nov 17, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, the athletic department and scholastic part of PSU are completely seperate
I am under the impression that is true anyways. The football program and AD are completely self sustaining entities, financially anyways.
Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."
To clarify:
The athletic department doesn’t take money from the University.
However, the athletic department has to PAY the university – the tuition bills for all athletes on full scholarships, and the tuition fees covered by partial scholarships. Full scholarship only means “free” for the family of the student. The bursar still needs someone to pay their bill every semester.
Therefore, when tuition goes up (as it has tremendously over the past decade), the expenses for the athletic department go up tremendously.
by Tailgate Shogun on Nov 17, 2009 2:36 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
I never even thought about it.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 3:59 PM EST up reply actions
Now you know. And knowing is half the battle.
by Tailgate Shogun on Nov 17, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions
'cause knowledge is power
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
by Horse N Buggy on Nov 17, 2009 10:31 PM EST up reply actions
This means we need to take
more in-state kids. Thse out of state schollie are responsible for this.
(I kid, I kid)
TS...that is why you are the money man
You always said, PSU is about the $$$$$
HAHS circa 93' "Football is 1/2 Offense, 1/2 Defense, and 1/2 Special teams".
Thanks.
When I was last in a meeting in Old Main, it was revealed that the capital campaign currently underway has done so well, even in this shitty economy, that they’re bumping the fundraising goal to $2.2 BILLION. PSU has a license to just straight up print money.
However, my plan to get everyone to call Spanier “C.R.E.A.S.E.” hasn’t gotten off to the hot start I had hoped for.
As a reminder, that stands for “Cash Rules Everything Around Spanier, Ese!”
Keep this fact in mind, and you’ll go far.
by Tailgate Shogun on Nov 17, 2009 8:44 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
I like this "CREASE" idea
Supported.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 9:24 PM EST up reply actions
C.R.E.A.S.E. Get the Money, Dollar Dollar, bill y'all
A man with a dream with plans to make C.R.E.A.S.E.
Which failed; He went to Highland Park High School at the age of 15.
This is unusual by the way
I’m pretty sure (and I think the recent USA Today articles on coaches salaries backs me up) that a super-majority of D-IA programs do rely on the university for funding. That is a credit to Intercollegiate Athletics and the university in general. It is also why the whole “What does Joe Paterno make?” story was a silly one for the Patriot-News to put so many resources into.
Blogging about D.C. Baseball since April '04. Penn State alum. Also partial to the Washington Capitals, New York Yankees and Yale football.
JoePa
So when JoePa leaves and we actually have to pay a coach what he is worth (and not get the legend discount)….are the tickets going to be just as expensive as iO$U and scUM?
Big Ten Titles for everyone.
Yes
and I also suspect we’ll be paying to watch the blue/white game.
Only a matter of time for B/W game fee
HAHS circa 93' "Football is 1/2 Offense, 1/2 Defense, and 1/2 Special teams".
Currently, no charges anywhere.
other than food inside the stadium. Tix, parking are free.
by Tailgate Shogun on Nov 18, 2009 6:50 PM EST up reply actions
This won't raise enough revenue.
They need to build the stadium out to 135,000 seats.
/sarcasm
Then there would have to be 10
home games to justify the expansion.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
The NLC recently sent out materials
Should I hold off on my yearly “donation” until this thing breaks officially? And if my math is correct, things won’t change for the cheapos like me, right? $200 donation for 2 tickets, plus 55*8*2 = 1080 for two season tickets? Sorry for the repeat questions, I’m just trying to get my head around all this. And I just went through all the trouble this past summer to get my NLC points started.
Depends where the tickets are.
If there’s in the blue area in that stadium chart, you should be fine.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
I think we will see a mass exodous
to the cheaper end zone seats. Wouldn’t that be something to see prime seats empty in Beaver Stadium similar to the new Yankee Stadium’s over priced prime seats – which they embarrassingly had to reduce in price. Will there be enough end zone seats to accommodate demand? What will happen to minimum donaters in end zone if someone with high point total wants to downgrade?
I’ve been paying my NLC fee for the past 19 years like all the other "cult " members. While the NLC fee is stated as a yearly fee I would not have had the option to buy tickets for year 19 unless I paid for years 1-18. Many years (especially when the team was down) I felt like a fool holding full priced tickets while people were paying half price outside the stadium. I’ve endured too many non-competitive games in my end zone seats which I’ve grown to like. Bottom line – if PSU attempts to bump me out of my seats for some 50 yd line guy who was under paying for decades they will never see another dollar of mine ever.
You may have to lower
your NLC donation to keep your end zone seats (Ha ha).
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
But keep in mind
Just because you donate to the NLC, it doesn’t mean you HAVE to purchase season tickets. It just gives you the RIGHT to. Maybe those people paying 1/2-price outside the stadium also donated to the NLC, but thought, “The team is going to suck this year. I’m not going to get season tickets, I’ll just get them at the gate for 1/2-price for the games I actually attend”.
That’s the chance you take when you get season tickets…but then again you also get tickets for the “big” games at face value.
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
by Horse N Buggy on Nov 17, 2009 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
Right, you could pick and choose
which years to buy season tickets while maintaining NLC membership, BUT you would lose your seat location and have to start over again with whatever was available, which likely would be much worse than old seats. Also depending on demand if your point total wasn’t high you may not even be able to get seats at all. So you really are forced to stay in.
The thing which thousands of NLC members do is maintain the minimum giving level and sell off the seats to friends, but they are reluctant to end club membership for fear of not getting back in later.
Ah, right...I did not think about that part
I did not realize you’d lose your seat location…so it seems they do have you by the short and Curleys (pun intended).
But then again, I have been patiently donating what I could afford for the last 7 years…and still have yet to earn enough points for season tix.
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
by Horse N Buggy on Nov 17, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, really?
Dag, I had you pegged as workin the system, makin it your biatch.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
Unfortunately, I is the biatch
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
by Horse N Buggy on Nov 17, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
If they realistically expect a huge bump in revenue
then that means people will obviously be paying a lot more money in aggregate. If they are allowing NLC donations to offset, then logically one would join the NLC and get those benefits, rather than just paying the fee. This means the ranks at all levels will swell, putting strain on the NLC to deliver on those benefits. For instance, if/when the honorary coach level gets bigger, where will they find the extra room for more numbered reserved parking spots? Are they also going to have to raise that threshold in order lower demand?
I read this as if
you were this guy
So, logically—
- If she weighs the same as a duck…
- she’s made of wood.
- And therefore?
- A witch!
he is all that is good and sacred in this world
he is the bacon way
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 18, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
I do what I can,
but I just cant keep up with everything going on here anymore and I can feel my posting skills eroding. It took way too long to gather the pic and quote. Thats what I get for getting a job…it was so much easier to read BSD when unemployed.
haha yes so true
i got a job like a month ago, and have gone whole days without getting to check BSD.
We decide when you hear the snap count...
I'm sure they'll raise the HC level for paived parking to off set...
…the increased giving at that level.
35 years of NLC “contributions”. Same seats for 33 years. WC, way up top near the end of the Press Box at about the 10 yard line. $400/seat extra, no way. We were on the edge as it was so this is a deal killer.
If it was done incrementally over a number of years if might have been more palatable but what was it, two years ago they raised the NLC levels (didn’t impact us as we paid more than the minimum for years) and they doubled the parking. Now they will quadruple the “donation” for nose bleed 10 yard line seats. This is wrong on so many levels.
I understand the 50 yard line seat value and charging more is understandable, I’d understand it right down to the 25 yard line but not the 10. I understand about “free loaders” grandfathered in who never paid NLC contributions per seat, its time for them to ante up. I understand that faculty got a real cheap ride for too long and its time for them to ante up too. I don’t understand the slap at the long time NLC donors who were loyal in plenty of average to bad years and just kept giving. All that loyalty is thrown away for some instant cash. The economy is not booming and won’t for quite a while. In a few years they will wonder where all the uber cash types went and then it will be too late to recall the loyal long term contributors back.
I hear this is expected to increase the cash flow by more than 20m. Does a new coach cost 20m more than Joe? Joe makes just north of 1m now and his bonus and other football income are not listed so he most likely makes north of 2m or 3m when it is all accounted. So we give the new guy a 5m package. That is not 20+m.
This will backfire on the PSU AD and his minions. Not immediately but in the next 10 years it certainly will. Maybe they can remove all the seats since the “real fans” don’t sit down during the game. That would earn a salvage cash value too! Charge $100 for a parking space prepaid and $250 per space purchased game day. There are lots of creative ways to gouge the fans Mr. Curley. You are acting like of govt. official with unilateral ability to raise taxes and no incentive to reduce expenses.
A total airing of DETAILED income/expenses of the NLC and the Athletic Program would be very interesting. Since it is not tax aided why isn’t it open for our view?
by FG Dreadnought on Nov 18, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Easy rec from me.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 18, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
Let's turn that bad boy green
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
by Horse N Buggy on Nov 18, 2009 9:14 PM EST up reply actions
might backfire in the short term?
Understand the need for more money, but asking loyal fans to donate more for expensive tickets during a recession on top of an overall soft schedule might not be a good idea right now.
If alums and donors retaliate with their wallets, they should jack the prices up for bigger named schools.
It's just not worth it.
…to pay all that money for 1-2 good events in a year. Back in the day (says the 42-year old alumni), even when we played scrubs, they were schools like East Carolina and Cincinnati—legitimate programs. It’s embarrassing to tell someone “I’m going to the game this weekend”, and they say “Who are you guys playing”, and we fans have to say “Indiana State.”. Come on. Ridiculous. At least schedule a damn service academy or something, rather than these worthless exhibitions. Adding the 12th game was the worst thing ever.
Really?
I don’t recall anybody thinking that East Carolina or Cincinnati were legitimate programs, because they weren’t. It’s not accurate to use the relatively recent success of these two programs to say that our schedule is appreciably different than it used to be.
Nobody was putting down money to buy East Carolina tickets in 1986.
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
Indeed
Rutgers, Maryland, Temple all sucked too.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions
ORLY?
Maryland wuz 8-3 in 1985. Cherry Bowl, suka’!
Of course I'm home. I'm always home. I'm uncool.
by WestPointLion on Nov 17, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
nor was anyone putting money down to see cincy
when we played then in 2005. 45-10 i believe?
that was the latest i ever showed up to a game as a student. just before halftime, and only because i got out of work at 1pm. luckily i lived in snyder, so it was like a 3 minute jog to the stadium.
We decide when you hear the snap count...
Check the score of the 1986 Cincinnati game
and you’ll see why I didn’t list it. They also beat us in 1983 when we were defending champs. Not that I think that has wnything to do with the point… they were not on the schedule to be a challanging game.
It’s just that periodically they had a habit of making a nuiscence out of themselves.
Of course, we beat them 81-0 in the early 1990’s.
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
ah good point
i think i read “east carolina in 1986” as “cincy in 1986”…my bad
We decide when you hear the snap count...
1991
I loved that game. I was doing a semester abroad in Australia and my mom sent me a newspaper with the score and article on it and I put it up in my aussie dorm room. I had real difficulty articulating how rare a score it was in American football. To them, it looked like a thoroughly dominating aussie rules win, but nothing of the scale it was to us.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
I was at that game (my senior year)
We were up by about 50 points, Joe was calling nothing but run up the middle, and the 4th string QB would take it for a TD. You could see Joe getting more and more frustrated every time we scored. He was probably begging the backups to just trip.
"God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy"
John Sacca's 80 yard run was priceless.
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
Pointless trivia
That was the first game with the North End Zone expansion.
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
My God
I am now pissed that I have never seen this game.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions
let's not forget
William & Mary in 1984, and Brown in 1983.
But you know, we never scheduled outside of 1-A until recently (though yes, MUCH more common now)
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 17, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions
WE SCHEDULED BROWN
JOE IS SUCH A NEPOTIT. TIST. NEOPTIST. STUPID.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
I, like a lot of others here, wonder how this will affect me
I’m currently one of those “minimum donators” who has been trying to slowly up my points to the point where I would qualify for season tickets (I am well short as of now). I imagine there are a LOT of people like me who want to take advantage of this situation and hopefully actually score some tickets, but that makes me wonder: how will they prioritize who actually gets the right to buy the PSLs and the tickets? They should at least keep the NLC point system for determining that, and on a yearly basis figure out who gets what seats based on if they buy the PSL that year or not.
I just want to know how much $ a season (including all fees ant prices) will guarantee me a seat in the stadium. As of right now I usually only make it back to the “big” games, and usually wind up paying a few times over face value just to be able to sit in the last row of the endzone, and it is usually more than I would have to donate to be able to buy season tickets (if only my points total was high enough).
Question
Since we are on the topic of the student section…What is the general consensus for the age when it becomes inappropriate to sit in the student section? 30? 40? Never? I cant imagine not standing for the entirety of the game.
IMO
when you graduate…you are no longer a student…thus you shouldn’t be in the student section.
I do however, wish they would have a section in the stadium where fans can stand, cheer, and get excited without getting yelled at, looked at funny, or mocked…
Standing and cheering and being into the game is what it is about.
At the tO$U game i was shocked that people were leaving at the start of the 4th quarter when we were still only 1 score down. That is a joke. Biggest game of the year and you are leaving for what? To beat traffic?
"I'm not affraid to compete"
~Robert Bolden
Bigger issue
Not the age you should stop going into the student section…the issue is how do we let Ohio State (or any other visiting team) fans in the student section? Either students sold the tickets to tO$U fans or, a buckeye fan was smart enough to go to Penn State.
"I'm not affraid to compete"
~Robert Bolden
I like Wisconsin's solution to the problem
When kids are bold enough to do this on a trip to Madison, the students make their lives absolutely miserable for three and a half hours — they actively try to ruin their gameday experience. This is a family blog so I can’t repeat the sort of acts of war that occur in there, but kids who try it certainly don’t end up watching much of the game.
But then again, that’s part of the reason Gameday won’t come up here anymore, so there’s a trade-off.
that’s part of the reason Gameday won’t come up here anymore...
Excpet they come here nearly every single year.
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
I think you're referring to SC
Gameday hasn’t been to Madison I believe since Chris Fowler wrote a pretty harsh letter to the Wisconsin administration back in like ‘04. The missing context in my post was that I live in Madison, so ’here’ meaning Wisconsin.
'04
Was that the “kill Penn State’s QBs, then run Matt ‘The Hebrew Hammer’ Bernstein 40 times” game?
UGH
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
That would be the one.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
Also known as
the “miss two field goals and an extra point and lose by 7” game. On homecoming. And lose two fumbles on special teams. Oh the dark years….
No, that was 2003
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
I've always been a bit put off by Wisconsin's student section
when they just (seemingly randomly) start shouting curse words. It is almost like their version of the We are…Penn State chant, but instead they say something like “Eat $#!t…F%@k you!”
Something about a premeditated and frequent mass effort at shouting curse words just seems so trite. And this is coming from someone who is very loose with curse words in daily conversation, but again, something about the way they do it seems so asinine (presumably they think they’re clever and witty getting curse words on TV?)
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 17, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
But their
Band hazing was pretty cool.
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
They live in Wisconsin, what do you expect?
I’d probably be screaming obscenities every chance I got too. (totally kidding, no offense to any PSU Wisconsinites)
And eating Polish sausage by the metric ton.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Nov 17, 2009 6:48 PM EST up reply actions
Cheese, beer, and sausage
Life is good
"In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Sure, it's immature
I don’t think it’s about TV exposure so much as it is them spending all week trying to learn and worrying about grades and being as intelligent as possible, and once a week unwinding by getting loaded and going to a football game in red-and-white pajamas and shouting ignorant words at total strangers. Label it blue collar, but I think it’s both hilarious and understandable at their age. I’m sure it’s an awesome stress release mechanism for them during the fall. Just my opinion but ESPN should be researching ways to voice-modulate crowds, because Wisconsin isn’t the only place where the crowd collectively shouts curse words, it’s just the best at it.
I remember a hearty
“F U 15” at a certain member of Minnesota’s secondary in the 2005 game. They were losing by 20 or so and he made a play and starting taunting the student section…
I remember that guy
I don’t recall his name, but I do remember him waving his arms “incomplete” after an overthrow or when he interfered with a receiver (and was penalized).
You probably shouldn’t taunt if you’re playing for Minnesota.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Nov 17, 2009 5:26 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, they're not nice.
I got a sweet glass bottle thrown at me on my way to the stadium past the frat houses. Luckily just hit the ground behind my heel. Awesome.
they probably stole the idea from the scUM hockey student section
who yell a string of obscenities after an opp. penalty. it’s called the “see-ya chant.” needless to say, their athletic department is trying to ban it.
they add a new word every year. this year it was c***s*****. classy folks up there…
see here if you care enough to read more
We decide when you hear the snap count...
yeah
lets be a bunch of assholes to people, that will make us a better student section.
JoePa in '09
Tongue-in-cheek
Though it wasn’t too long ago that a conference rival’s band complained about our student section dousing them with urine, in the midst of the game that earned them their reputation.
i never said
I liked the way our student section behaves. ;-)
JoePa in '09
whoa whoa whoa
…or, a buckeye fan was smart enough to go to Penn State.
let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
We decide when you hear the snap count...
by thedrizzle on Nov 17, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
24
You have to get all the kid stuff out of you by 24. All of it. Sleeping on the floor, smoking tropical plants, vomiting in public, cramming hotel rooms, asking mom and dad for $$$, posting on blogs, etc. Get it all out of your system by 24. Remember, you can run for Congress at 25.
Of course I'm home. I'm always home. I'm uncool.
by WestPointLion on Nov 17, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
I think if you go to grad school, you get an exemption
at least that’s my excuse.
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 17, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
That would be one exemption
But, it’s still important to feel bad while doing those things once you turn 24.
Of course I'm home. I'm always home. I'm uncool.
by WestPointLion on Nov 17, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions
All you have to do
is say; “I’m getting too old for this shit” at least once every hour, or 12 beers which ever comes first, and that gets you an exemption through to your 30th birthday.
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
Once you hit 24...
it takes longer to recover from the hangovers, etc. It’s one thing to recover after a long night when you are young and have nothing to do the next day. Once you do it once or twice on a work night, you learn your lesson real quick.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Nov 17, 2009 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
Personally, 40 is the new 25.
So, I’m mathematically still in my college years. WOOOO!
by Tailgate Shogun on Nov 17, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions
seeing as 30 is coming up in a few months
I’m adopting your school of thought
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 18, 2009 5:17 PM EST up reply actions
800 seats
Didn’t is say that those seats are game-to-game as in if students dont buy them the public can? Thats really only adding seats to the student section as they are bought…thats not so bad
i actually think thats a great idea (if they actually do it)
you’ll always have students willing to buy tickets day-of (how do you think the stands were always full before). this is why i think they should sell non-used student tickets day-of.
allow students to declare on the ticket exchange that if their tickets aren’t sold by friday or saturday (or whatever arbitrary cut-off the AD wants), then those tickets go into a pool for students to buy day-of, starting at like 8am (or like 4-6 hours before later games). the tickets get put on the ID card of the purchaser and the student who sold them gets a refund at face-value.
if they could implement it properly, you fill the student section and eliminate/reduce scalping.
We decide when you hear the snap count...
2010 Preparation for 2011 Seating
I graduated 4 years ago, got season tickets during the dark ages when they were available and have been riding out the NLC minimum ever since. I’m currently at 39 points. I’d like to take advantage of this situation to get some good seats for the long-term. Should I fork over a ton of money in 2010 to help boost my chances of getting in on a better seat for 2011? Will it even matter what I do in 2010 or is it all about spend levels for 2011?
Thanks!
My guess is that
its all about the spend levels in 2011. Give enough in 2010 to maintain your place and once the 2011 rules are written step up your donation to improve your lot.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
That seems like good advice.
But honestly, I really don’t know the answer. We haven’t heard anything yet about how they’ll treat past donations, etc.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
Just to be safe...
I think I’m just going to hand over a treasure chest to the NLC this upcoming year and the next. My points are ridiculously weak and If I do get to move into the red or white zones, it’ll be high in the ‘U’ area (which doesn’t seem any better than my current ND section)
it would seem if you have the $ to get into those sections with the PLS
you probably won’t have to worry about making big donations this year. Also, the PLS needs to be paid every year, so don’t forget about that cost.
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 17, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
I don't know, you may want to do the opposite
For one thing, last year they didn’t let anyone with less than 500 points request new seats. Also, if they effectively wipe out the value of points in 2011, you will have wasted your money.
Yeah, I agree with this.
Now is not the time to go all-in.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 4:00 PM EST up reply actions
I hope...
Penn State provides some clarity on the situation soon. There seem to be a lot of moving parts and a lot of people in unique situations
Wait a week, you'll get the letter.
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 4:21 PM EST up reply actions
RUTS
Why can’t they just make a more complicated chart then they have now? Say you still get points for each $50 you donate and 2 per year, etc, but say you want 40 yd line seats so you have to give $1,200 for 2 seats. Then if there is an opening and you have enough points you get them. If not, you just stay where you are.
They could then release a chart each year for how many points it took to get in each “section.” By section, I mean each donation level like the $600 “Between the 40’s” or the $100 endzone nosebleed section, etc.
JoePa in '09
it would result
in a lot of people trying to go “all in” in the first year or two trying to move up and would literally provide millions of extra revenue.
JoePa in '09
Yes, but there would be no way for people to maintain the same seats each year
and would also drive cost of the NLC “donations” / seat licenses up drastically year over year…essentially auctioning off seats each year.
Great for the AD, terrible for the fan…especially for recent grads who might not have a great job yet or enough spending cash to afford tix each year. Eventually, they’ll become alienated and disconnected from the football tradition.
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
by Horse N Buggy on Nov 18, 2009 9:18 PM EST up reply actions
and frankly, having considered going all in
in the next year or two, I’m glad I didn’t already. Wonder if there is anyone who dropped a one time outsized sum for a point boost in the past couple of years. They’ll be jacked.
Personally, there's NO way they get rid of NLC points
Used for other things, and what happens when a large group of people all drop a gift at the same bottom level? How do they sort out who gets tix and who doesn’t?
by Tailgate Shogun on Nov 17, 2009 7:57 PM EST up reply actions
im just looking for a place to fit in a comment
but heres my scenario.
got tickets in 05 (after i graduated), and i give enough to maintain my 2 tickets (NCU row 89.) I’m not worried about ‘moving up in the world’ because i like my seats (and honestly, im not in the point position to do so… non issue)
my questions are, are they doing away with the points system? if they do, are they wiping out everyone who HAD tickets and reviewing new applicants that give a shitton of money in their place? Im just confused, and would hate to be denied because i don’t have a mint in my basement.
For the glory
you have 39 points?
What section are you in?
I just got season tickets this year and we have 56 points…and are stuck all the way up top.
Is it true that i can start moving around the stadium if i have more points than someone else?
"I'm not affraid to compete"
~Robert Bolden
Not really.
I’m in ND… underneath overhang. When I got the tickets, there seemed to be a lot available that year. Now that I’m in my seat, I can keep the same seat each year as long as I pay the dues. So, no, you can’t move unless a seat is open and you have more points than other people who want to move for the open seat.
The application also states that
it takes 500 points for a seat upgrade. I have about 125 points and sit in NEU. Whats more, my 4 tickets are split in 2 rows. This year I put in for an “upgrade” simply to get all 4 together and didn’t get it.
I look forward to this change to unlock some of the value I’ve not seen since I joined.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
Wow....
i better learn to love SHU row 79…
at least i have the aisle seat…
Big Ten Titles for everyone.
I have WAU aisle seats
and they are on the wrong side of the aisle. All I see all game are people walking up and down to the concourse. I can’t wait to move to some section where people have better bladders than a 103 year old lady.
JoePa in '09
tell me about it
It is my biggest frustration. People getting up, at key points in the game…
two words….HOLD IT
Big Ten Titles for everyone.
I went to Scott Stadium for the UVA game
a few years back and was annoyed when the usher wouldn’t let me out of the tunnel to my seat while a play was going on. I guess you can do that in smaller stadiums.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
that how
it should be IMO.
If you can’t plan your bathroom and eating habits around the frequent tv timeouts and the 20 minute half time you don’t need to come to the game.
JoePa in '09
well, you keep the same seat, until 2011
I wonder how they’ll handle seating then
by The JuggerNitt on Nov 17, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
JOEPA SMASH.
Courtesy of PennLive.com’s Josh Langenbacher, Paterno’s reaction at his weekly press conference, on the pricing plan leak:
On pricing plan: “The only thing I know is they were debating it. They asked me what I thought. I said look, you guys have the responsibility of paying for 29 sports. … We didn’t have some of the pressure we had as far as the expenses and those things. … I think the university’s doing the best it can. What exactly the specifics of it? I don’t know. All I’ve ever said to Curley is Tim, you’re doing one heck of a job. … I’m going to be after his back to fix up the visiting team locker room. We’ve got the worst visiting team locker room in the conference. … I’m disappointed somebody who knew what was going on would let it go. They told me, wait till the season’s over and we’ll make the announcement. … I said I don’t want any part of it except I know you’re going to do a good job. … How much are we charging compared to other people? I think we’re at the bottom of the list.”
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Nov 17, 2009 3:43 PM EST reply actions
You're doing a great job Brownie...
Curley, I mean Curley….
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
NLC Points
The current Nittany Lion Club point system as you know it will be abolished. Poof. (Update — But they have to take past donations into account when figuring out who gets first shot at tickets, right? So perhaps it won’t be totally abolished after all.)
I’ve seen a number of comments about this on the interwebs, but I don’t have see where people are getting it from. Wouldn’t the logical thing be to continue the points system as currently, but have these “lease” fees simply replace the current NLC levels and you get the same amount of points. e.g. if you donate $800 for 2 35 yard line seats, you’d get 18 points (2 points for NLC membership, 1 point per $50 donation) for the year added to your total. It just seems to me that the donation level “tiers” are changing and will be less straightforward (since they will be tied to both seat location as well as ticket number, not just the number of tickets).
The NLC points can/will still be used to determine who gets away game and bowl game tickets. Plus, for new people applying for available season tickets, can be used to determine who gets them.
I think
That you have to have a sufficent amount of Nittany Lion club points to get tickets, and upgrades are given on the basis of Nittany Lion club points.
But once your happy with your tickets, all you have to do is buy them evey year and make the minimum donation, and you get to keep your tickets, no matter what.
Whatever this “lease fee” is, it seems like all it does jack up the minimum donation required to keep your seats. I don’t see why paying the lease fee wouldn’t help you acrue additional Nittany Lion Club points.
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
so would the "lease fees"
also get you NLC points, or do you think they wouldn’t count towards that?
We decide when you hear the snap count...
I assume they would
I can’t imagine that they would just cut the NLC completly out of the loop.
Land Grant or bust! Worst 10-2 team ever? Beat Michigan State.
There are a lot of people
who love their seats in the north endzone – ie those under the overhang. generous donors who would hate to move out of those seats.
I suppose they’ll have to qualify their donation – one portion for the “they won’t say they are but they really are” seat lease, and one portion so they can qualify for a reserved parking spot?
Okay, I have the money to buy 8 seats in the “white” area – will they be together? Will I be able to get 8? WIll they change every year? I don’t want to sit on the West side – I really don’t – I’d rather have seats in the endzone – will there be a way to remedy that?
Now, if I give more than the amount for the “non-lease” will I get “better” seats within that section (and mind you, to me “better” does not mean lower, it means middle). And if I pay the extra amount to sit in the yellow section (ironic color choice?) but everyone currently sitting there breaks open the trust fund piggy bank and “ponies” up – will I (sorry, can’t type from the laughing) be refunded because I’m now sitting in SEU?
What if too many people pay enough to “get” seats. Will the ticket office use some sort of “points” system then?
I think the “speculators” are correct – they’ll save their money in 2010 – pay the minimum to get their seats and/or parking spots. Oooh – are they going to throw the parking into the free market as well? you have to know that those pink parking pass people who have been exiled to lot 13 hate it out there.
I’m glad that some of you think this is fine, not bad or even great – I know plenty of people who are revolted by it – and they won’t have to change anything about their giving levels to maintain their seats.
So my cache of NLC points now means nothing. Interesting. I knew I was wasting my time. At least I have a few cute lapel pins to show for it. When my dad’s best friend died Penn State told me I needed to make a lump sum donation in order to keep those seats (I had my “own” in another section, but I digress) – that amount would, under this system buy you 4 EE seats for nearly a decade – and this was during the dark years. I decided not to do it, stopped donating to the NLC, dropped my tickets and now buy my season ticket from a friend. Guess I’m lucky I’m a spiteful person…
So my cache of NLC points now means nothing. Interesting. I knew I was wasting my time.
I don’t know why people keep saying that. There’s been no indication that PSU is doing anything differently with regards to the NLC point system. In all likelihood, the points will continue to be accumulate and continue to be used as currently — to determine who gets bowl/away game tickets, to manage any seat changes (once people get new established seats in 2011), to determine which new applicants get any available season tickets, etc. There’s no reason this new system can’t totally fit in with how points are currently used.
Away game tickets i'll give ya
assuming that they don’t change this as well
the best bowl game tickets are given to corporate sponsors – but a lot of points will get you a great seat in the end zone (irony).
there’s no indication that points will help in seat allocation in the information currently available- just each year’s donation.
there’s no indication that points will help in seat allocation in the information currently available- just each year’s donation.
There’s no indication of anything one way or the other. But that doesn’t man that they are abolishing points so I don’t know why people would jump to that conclusion
Obviously, you have to donate at a certain level to get seats at a certain location. Beyond that, they have to have a system which determines who gets seas if multiple people request them. If there are (making numbers up) 5000 total seats between the 40 yard lines and enough people donate $600/seat and request 7000 seats, then they’ll use poitns to determine who are the top 5000 requests and who gets them.
Similarly, if someone surrenders their season tickets, they have to have a system to determine which new applicant will get season tickets (assuming that demand continue to outpace supply). This also will presmuably be done in the same way as currently — person with most points gets request filled first and down the line until all season tickets are filled.
There’s a lot of specifics to be filled in, especially if there is much higher demand for a section/price level than available seats. But continuation of NLC points makes a lot of sense to solve the same issues they always have.
Keep screwing your fans
Penn $tate cares about one thing and it isn’t putting on the Greatest Show in College Football. It’s making the most money. I am 65 year old Penn St alum (class of 66) and here is my point of view if anybody cares. I have been giving every year the required amounts to keep 4 seats in section WBU. Barely goal line and up 70 rows and it’s hard climbing at this age. My income is fixed. I am not a rich alum just love Penn St football. I drive from Virginia to the games. Had tickets since 1975. Over the years I have given Penn State many thousands of dollars for Nittany Lion Club, Levi Lamb, Golden Lion Club, and, of course the tickets themselves. Much of it for crappy opponents and meaningless games. Now are they going to price me out of the market so I can’t see my beloved Nittany Lions? Could very well happen. This is scary. Know this: Curley is Joe Paterno’s hand-picked AD that he selected as a relatively young man when he was AD to succeed him. (Joe was AD and coach for a while to boost his salary…then passed it to Curley.) Curley is beholding to Joe. He doesn’t do anything Joe doesn’t concur (or instruct) him to do. Joe is not “staying out of it” in fact quite the opposite behind the scenes, I assure you. The Bryce Jordan Center is name for Bryce Jordan as his going away gift after he let Joe have his way and join the Big Ten. Curley just says “3 Bags Full” Joe. I’m sure the sponsors will be asked to “give” more for their advertisements in Beaver Stadium and pretty soon it will look like Las Vegas. Crappy games, more expense and no National Championship teams. Same old conservative play calling. JayPa ready to succeed the crown. It’s all too sick. Too bad I love Penn State football. I wanna puke.
Love your screen name
"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69
Long-time ticket holdes who now give the minimum
Before you start knocking so-called deadwood oldtimers who “give the minimum” and have been “getting a free ride,” you’d have to look at their giving patterns over the years — how much did they give in the past over what they needed to give to get their seats, and how long have they been “giving the minimum.” I have a friend who gave approximately $90,000 over a ten year period and gave about $2,000 per year for the next five. For the past two years, he gave the minimum. Is that deadwood? I don’t think so, and there will be a cost to Penn State if it views such people in that way (a “what have you done for me lately” writ large). Maybe not a net loss, given the revenue this is projected to raise, but a cost.
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