Steal this idea

[MrSparkle1]

Here's a promotion UIC might want to look into...

Because I recently earned a masters at DePaul, I received a flyer offering a "Young Alumni" season ticket special. For $99 per seat (45 percent off the regular price), I can receive season tickets in the lower bowl.

Then I look in the latest UIC alumni magazine and see the "5 games for $99" special.

Although I don't root for DePaul basketball, $198 for a pair of seats for 15 home games (including Kansas, UCONN, Marquette, etc) seems like a steal. I thought I would never have season tickets for any basketball team, but it looks as though I'm picking up the phone and dialing in for some DePaul tix in a few minutes.

Would love it if UIC could come up with a similar promotion.

[UICJohn]

I actually just got a letter from UIC athletics offering me a 6 game package for $99. I think I might take them up on their offer, especially considering that a ticket at the UC against UIUC is included, and those tickets are around $45 a piece.

But yeah, that deal by DePaul sounds like a steal.

[soccer fan]

Good point, UICjohn. Lets do the math.

DePaul: $99 / 15 games = $6.60 per game. A great deal, any way you look at it.

However, if you SELL the UIUC ticket

UIC: $99 - $45 = $ 54 / 5 games = $10.80 per game.

Now add in two Alumni games @ $5.00 ea and the effective price equals $64 / 7 games = $9.14 per game, which, while not too shabby, still costs more than DePaul.

But the analysis does not end there. DePaul plays in Rosemont, and the price of parking is $11.00-$15.00. At UIC, the cost of parking is $5.00.

So the final effective cost to attend a DePaul game is actually $17.60 per game minimum, while for UIC it can be made as low as $14.14 per game.

Now some will argue that DePaul plays better teams, and selling the UIUC ticket is a pain, while others will argue that driving to Rosemont sucks under any circumstances, and getting out of that damned parking 15 times would suck a lot more than selling a measly ticket, but these are subjective issues. The truth is, UIC is lower unit cost (see above), fewer total dollars ($99 for 7 games plus 7 parks vs $264 for 15 games plus 15 parks), and less of a commitment (7 games vs 15).

If you do the entire season with UIC and sell your UIUC ticket, the cost is $210 - $45 = $165 / 13 games = $12.69, which, when you factor in parking equals $17.69, roughly the same unit cost as DePaul.

[MrSparkle1]

I ended up buying a pair of DePaul tickets behind the visitor's bench. My guess is that I will be able to unload the Kansas (Saturday game) and UCONN tickets at a nice profit that should make the other 13 games free.

Obviously, UIC doesn't have the same sked as DePaul. My point is that I think it's a good idea (considering the success UIC basketball has had over the past five years) to cater to young alumni in such a way.

[UICJason]

I think our prices have always been ludicrous. $15 for someone off the street to come into an empty building and watch a mid-major play basketball against other no-name schools is downright silly.

To compare the DePaul and UIC prices is silly, as if DePaul's are even close (not to mention less, possibly) DePaul is the clearly better deal. They play in the best conference in the country.

Everytime a buddy of mine who has no affiliation with UIC thinks about going to a game, he's turned off by having to pay $15 to get in. In the chicken and the egg argument, I think the fans have to come first, then the revenue.

[Greg]

Actually UIC has a pretty good deal for season ticket holders. 4 games(Murray State, Illinois State, Cleveland State and UWGB are $5 for each extra lower level seat.

[soccer fan]

uicjason said:

I think our prices have always been ludicrous. $15 for someone off the street to come into an empty building and watch a mid-major play basketball against other no-name schools is downright silly.

To compare the DePaul and UIC prices is silly, as if DePaul's are even close (not to mention less, possibly) DePaul is the clearly better deal. They play in the best conference in the country.

Everytime a buddy of mine who has no affiliation with UIC thinks about going to a game, he's turned off by having to pay $15 to get in. In the chicken and the egg argument, I think the fans have to come first, then the revenue.

I am not sure I understand why comparing ticket prices is silly, but if that's your sense of humor, so be it.

FYI, sticker price for DePaul gameday tickets that are comparable to UIC's are $35.00 plus $11.00 parking plus the aggravation of driving to Rosemont.

If you think that is a better "deal", then that is probably where you belong.

I don't see it as a better "deal" so I'll stick with the Flames.

[UICJason]

soccer said:

uicjason said:

I think our prices have always been ludicrous. $15 for someone off the street to come into an empty building and watch a mid-major play basketball against other no-name schools is downright silly.

To compare the DePaul and UIC prices is silly, as if DePaul's are even close (not to mention less, possibly) DePaul is the clearly better deal. They play in the best conference in the country.

Everytime a buddy of mine who has no affiliation with UIC thinks about going to a game, he's turned off by having to pay $15 to get in. In the chicken and the egg argument, I think the fans have to come first, then the revenue.

I am not sure I understand why comparing ticket prices is silly, but if that's your sense of humor, so be it.

FYI, sticker price for DePaul gameday tickets that are comparable to UIC's are $35.00 plus $11.00 parking plus the aggravation of driving to Rosemont.

If you think that is a better "deal", then that is probably where you belong.

I don't see it as a better "deal" so I'll stick with the Flames.

Wow, way to read my post in context. We were all comparing some of the season ticket options and season ticket options for alumni, not street prices.

[soccer fan]

You mean 2/3 of your post wasn't b!tching about game day prices? Tell the truth, now.....

[UICJason]

Yeah, ha, I forgot about my own post.

I should take my own advice.

That's pretty weird. I remember it being about the math earlier...but then it sure wasn't.

[soccer fan]

In the spirit of scientific inquiry, here's the closest comparable I have been able to come up with:

Depaul season ticket: $300.00 for 15 games + $11.00/game parking, total = $465.00, $30.40 per game.

UIC season ticket: $210.00 for 13 games + United Center game. Parking $5.00/game, plus $15.00 @ UC, total = $290.00, $20.71 per game.

This is the closest comparable because although the UIC Pavilion has lesser seats, they don't offer them to season ticket holders. DePaul has cheaper packages, but not for the quality of seat that UIC offers.

Note that DePaul does not offer a premium courtside seat, so there is no comparable there, and DePaul's Young Alumni (class of 2003-2006) discount only applies to corner and upper level seats, so no comparable there, either.

Apples to apples, UIC is cheaper. Whether DePaul is worth the extra money depends on the individual and probably has a lot to do with where the individual lives.

[fyi]

The UIC season ticket actually includes 14 games at the Pavilion, not 13.

[MrSparkle1]

soccer said:

In the spirit of scientific inquiry, here's the closest comparable I have been able to come up with:

Depaul season ticket: $300.00 for 15 games + $11.00/game parking, total = $465.00, $30.40 per game.

UIC season ticket: $210.00 for 13 games + United Center game. Parking $5.00/game, plus $15.00 @ UC, total = $290.00, $20.71 per game.

The only problem is that my DePaul season tickets cost me $198 for a pair (hence the "Young Alumni Special" that inspired this thread). As for quality of seats, I'm in the fifth row behind the visitors' bench (they count that as a corner).

[soccer fan]

If they gave the expensive tickets to you, bully for you, but that's not what the seating chart on their website shows. Section 111 is RED, not BLUE.

Frankly, I suspect you may be playing loose with the truth to make a point, but it doesn't matter anyway because DePaul's young alumni discount as advertised on the DePaul website is a non-comp to UIC under any circumstances since UIC doesn't have one. That, I believe, is the whole point of this thread you started.

So shall we get back on topic?

What kind of discount would YOU like to see for recent graduates? What kind of discount would get YOU back to the Pavilion?

[Big D]

soccer said:

What kind of discount would YOU like to see for recent graduates? What kind of discount would get YOU back to the Pavilion?

As long as we have empty seats at the Pavilion, UIC should be doing everything they can do fill those seats, and if that means discounts, then they should do it. Even if they gave those tickets out for free, it would be better than having nobody there. And then those people will still spend money on food, drinks, merchandise, etc.

Of course, this would never happen, but why not some discount? What about a 50% discount for the first season after you graduate, 25% discount for the second season after you graduate, and then full price after that?

Just an idea...