Football Seat Selection

[cryano]

Anyone pick yet?
I wondered if the new Hinkle Seats would open up some decent tix if some of the ‘big donors’ opted for the indoor seat availability with food.

Also looks like they cut some of the public seating on the side opposite the press box...anyone know if that’s correct, and why?

 

[Shuski]

It does not start until Wednesday, May 9th.

 

[cryano]

It does not start until Wednesday, May 9th.

You sure?
I pick friday - and I’d expect there to be more time needed than that to get from #1 to me....

 

[Shuski]

Yes I am sure but like you surprised that I was picking so early. The big difference is that most people just choose to keep the seats that they already have and do not even go through the selection process.

If you view the preview there are very few seats available. The only additional seats that you might see available would be those seats released from people picking before you making a change. At least between the 30's that I like to sit.

Last year I ended up just keeping my same seats when it came time because I did not see anything available better than what I already had.

 

[4NDANA]

Just curious when/how you were you able to see the preview of available seats. I pick Friday also and it's either operator error or they don't allow you to preview until closer to your selection time.

 

[stripetology]

Just curious when/how you were you able to see the preview of available seats. I pick Friday also and it's either operator error or they don't allow you to preview until closer to your selection time.

I was able to preview Friday. Kind of already determined my Friday pick this week wouldn’t yield better results.

 

[cryano]

Just curious when/how you were you able to see the preview of available seats. I pick Friday also and it's either operator error or they don't allow you to preview until closer to your selection time.

At the top of the screen, click on ‘selection’....next to ‘instructional’....

or close to that wording

 

[Shuski]

Just picked and kept same seats. Nothing available between the 30's that would have allowed me to move down or more towards the 50.

 

[secondasky]

Just picked and kept same seats. Nothing available between the 30's that would have allowed me to move down or more towards the 50.

What rows are you interested in?

 

[Shuski]

What rows are you interested in?

I am okay overall with my seats in section 6 row 40. I just always look to see if there are other options. I needed three so I had my eye on 3 that were available same row in section 7 but someone picked two about an hour before my time. In another couple of years I will only need two and there will be more options.

Thanks for the inquiry.

 

[secondasky]

Just curious when/how you were you able to see the preview of available seats. I pick Friday also and it's either operator error or they don't allow you to preview until closer to your selection time.

Just curious when/how you were you able to see the preview of available seats. I pick Friday also and it's either operator error or they don't allow you to preview until closer to your selection time.

try this log in and go to manage my account then click on my account then go to right side of page where it says upgrade seat selection and click on that

 

[cryano]

Im not thrilled withe the FB selection process...I kept same seats...as the next best available were 6 rows higher up, and further away from the 50.

I cant wrap my head around that I have lower level basketball tix, but cant do better than row 39 on the 35 yard line...When my bb seats are closer to center court and in the same row!

I dont know the fix...any ideas or rationale at least?
Ive had FB tix one year longer than bball even.

 

[knothole gang]

My selection time was ~ noon on Friday the 11th. My seats last year were section 8 row 50. 6 together.

This year, I moved to section 5 which is the mirror opposite of 8 and chose to move down 8 rows for 4 seats and then took two tickets in very close proximity but are just 2 rows outside of the section 5 entrance ramp.

My father will use those seats with his friend and it will be more manageable to climb fewer rows.

I saw several options to choose from when my selection time came up. I think it’s a good process for football and I do believe the football program is rising.

By the way, I have close to 900 accumulated points (I think around 50% average for all who accumulate points). I’ve held seats for about 10 years and give to the Varsity Club annually - anywhere from $1,800 to $6,000 every year - in addition to buying the tickets.

My basketball tickets are not good and I only take 2 seats for basketball. I’m about 34 rows up and one section away from a wall. I inch my way down 1 or 2 rows a years at most for basketball. I like my football tickets.

Overall, I think the process is fair.

I’ll also comment that I drive 6 hours each way to attend games and the price of the seats for IU athletics is VERY affordable compared to the pro sporting events in Cleveland where I now live. Cavs Tickets are 3 to 4 times as expensive for average seats. I have two sets of tickets I share with a group / we purchase as an expense and run it through our business for entertainment. For the better seat location, it’s $1,000 a ticket per game for the NBA finals this year. Insane.

College sports are a better value and Indiana sports are a very good value in my opinion. Including the fees paid for annual contributions for scholarship funds to the Varsity Club.

 

[secondasky]

Im not thrilled withe the FB selection process...I kept same seats...as the next best available were 6 rows higher up, and further away from the 50.

I cant wrap my head around that I have lower level basketball tix, but cant do better than row 39 on the 35 yard line...When my bb seats are closer to center court and in the same row!

I dont know the fix...any ideas or rationale at least?
Ive had FB tix one year longer than bball even.

If I understand correctly your BB tix are also in row 39 near center court. That's under the balcony which I don't consider a very good seat. Your football tix are also row 39 near 50 yd line that is a very good seat.

 

[cryano]

If I understand correctly your BB tix are also in row 39 near center court. That's under the balcony which I don't consider a very good seat. Your football tix are also row 39 near 50 yd line that is a very good seat.

Fair enough..I guess I over-value my bb seats, and underappreciate my fb seats.

 

[secondasky]

Fair enough..I guess I over-value my bb seats, and underappreciate my fb seats.

it will be interesting to see how many people's BB seats are moved back by big money donations this year.

 

[eddy4iu]

it will be interesting to see how many people's BB seats are moved back by big money donations this year.

I agree - it will be interesting to see how folks fare in the on-line seat selection process. The premium seating emails went out a couple weeks ago with a deadline of June 1 to confirm intent to keep seats and maintain VC donation level (Hoosier Athlete & above) necessary to keep seats. Premium seating will only be made available to current waiting list donors and new large donors if current seat holders opt out. I suppose the new tax treatment of VC donations could result in some opting out but the current excitement around the program will in all likelihood mitigate that.
So, if new large donors come into play they will presumably be added to hefty waiting list for premium seats that come available if current holders opt out. Those seats will then be assigned to folks on the waiting list based on priority point standing. If not awarded premium seating, new large donors will be placed into the on-line selection process, again based on priority point standing. I think that is where the impact on current public season ticket holders will be felt as new large donors can move ahead of long-time season ticket holders with relatively fewer priority points.
A few years ago I found myself curious as to how much a new donor would have to contribute to essentially "buy in" to become a top 10% priority point holder and the number was $56,200 to achieve 3,082 priority points. Seems that was around 2013 and was based on distribution of priority point standings for basketball at that time. It currently takes 3,860 priority points to reach top 10% status.
Just food for thought.

 

[LeConte]

I believe the VC is going to update the football seat selection process next year. Currently there is no incentive to "give" more for football because current ticket holders can opt to keep their seats, no matter if someone has more points than they do. I believe they will basically start from scratch again next year.

 

[oldcougar77]

a

I believe the VC is going to update the football seat selection process next year. Currently there is no incentive to "give" more for football because current ticket holders can opt to keep their seats, no matter if someone has more points than they do. I believe they will basically start from scratch again next year.

I think that will depend a great deal on IU making a quality bowl game. I don't think the demand will be there otherwise, and I don't think the administration wants to risk pissing off current season ticket holders.

When that was being considered a few years ago I sent an email to Fred Glass expressing my dissatisfaction. At the time I had a daughter at IU and another in college elsewhere and was in no position to increase my VC donation. As a guy who has sat through a lot of losing seasons in some pretty shitty weather, I was not happy to say the least. I told him that if I got bumped from my football seats by someone who just wanted better basketball seats ( and was probably going to sell the football tickets each week), I would cancel my season tickets and end my VC donation and resort to scalping for the games I wanted, when the time and weather suited me.

I got a very nice response from his office ( I don't know if it came from him personally or not) that longtime season ticket holders would be protected. I still feel the same way and will make good on my threat if I get bumped.

 

[LeConte]

a
I think that will depend a great deal on IU making a quality bowl game. I don't think the demand will be there otherwise, and I don't think the administration wants to risk pissing off current season ticket holders.

When that was being considered a few years ago I sent an email to Fred Glass expressing my dissatisfaction. At the time I had a daughter at IU and another in college elsewhere and was in no position to increase my VC donation. As a guy who has sat through a lot of losing seasons in some pretty shitty weather, I was not happy to say the least. I told him that if I got bumped from my football seats by someone who just wanted better basketball seats ( and was probably going to sell the football tickets each week), I would cancel my season tickets and end my VC donation and resort to scalping for the games I wanted, when the time and weather suited me.

I got a very nice response from his office ( I don't know if it came from him personally or not) that longtime season ticket holders would be protected. I still feel the same way and will make good on my threat if I get bumped.

I hear you, but on the other side of the coin I've also been a long time season ticket holder and VC donor. My seats - while not bad - have basically stagnated the past 10 years. And I've sent 4 kids through college...3 at IU. If something doesn't change soon, I'll write Fred and tell him I'm canceling my tickets and ending my VC donations.

You can't please everyone, and at some point the VC needs to reset the points to even things out. And if you've been a long-time ticket holder and VC donor, you shouldn't be impacted much. There are ways they can address people who have been long time football ticket holders so they don't get screwed by rich basketball fans only wanting to upgrade seats.

 

[JohnsyRick]

I hear you, but on the other side of the coin I've also been a long time season ticket holder and VC donor. My seats - while not bad - have basically stagnated the past 10 years. And I've sent 4 kids through college...3 at IU. If something doesn't change soon, I'll write Fred and tell him I'm canceling my tickets and ending my VC donations.

You can't please everyone, and at some point the VC needs to reset the points to even things out. And if you've been a long-time ticket holder and VC donor, you shouldn't be impacted much. There are ways they can address people who have been long time football ticket holders so they don't get screwed by rich basketball fans only wanting to upgrade seats.

Agreed, I see both sides, donations definitely pull the wagon, but there needs to be a greater amount of points awarded for years of loyalty also.
I don’t think the 10 points per continuous years of season tickets is enough. Currently a person could join the Hoosier Hundred for $3500 and get 300 points , which equals 30 years of being a football season ticket holder. I’ve been a VC member for 36 years, season FB 36 years and season BB 28 years, that earns me 1,000 points. Someone can plunk down a $12000 donation and earn 1200 points , more than all my years of giving and supporting. While I don’t mind donating, (and have given plenty!) and appreciate others who donate, I think the loyalty of years of bad football and a lot of mediocre basketball is being undervalued by the current system. When I started the Hoosier Hundred was the highest donation level, now there are 3 levels above that, those points valuations have been adjusted over the years , while years of continuous tickets and VC membership has not.

 

[UncleMark]

Agreed, I see both sides, donations definitely pull the wagon, but there needs to be a greater amount of points awarded for years of loyalty also.
I don’t think the 10 points per continuous years of season tickets is enough. Currently a person could join the Hoosier Hundred for $3500 and get 300 points , which equals 30 years of being a football season ticket holder. I’ve been a VC member for 36 years, season FB 36 years and season BB 28 years, that earns me 1,000 points. Someone can plunk down a $12000 donation and earn 1200 points , more than all my years of giving and supporting. While I don’t mind donating, (and have given plenty!) and appreciate others who donate, I think the loyalty of years of bad football and a lot of mediocre basketball is being undervalued by the current system. When I started the Hoosier Hundred was the highest donation level, now there are 3 levels above that, those points valuations have been adjusted over the years , while years of continuous tickets and VC membership has not.

I'm just poor white trailer trash who can't afford to go to the games at all, not to mention donate, so I don't have a dog in this hunt... but, when it became all about the money, it became all about the money. Loyalty, attendance, alumni status, all that went out the door, crumbs and lip service notwithstanding. My dad gave a small but not insignificant (to him) donation to the VC and bought football tickets for 30 years, and saw his seats get worse and worse as the years went on once the point system was implemented. He had a talk with the VC president at the time (Dolson maybe?) and was told that that was the way of the world and nothing was going to change. He gave up his tickets and stopped his donations soon after.

 

[secondasky]

I agree - it will be interesting to see how folks fare in the on-line seat selection process. The premium seating emails went out a couple weeks ago with a deadline of June 1 to confirm intent to keep seats and maintain VC donation level (Hoosier Athlete & above) necessary to keep seats. Premium seating will only be made available to current waiting list donors and new large donors if current seat holders opt out. I suppose the new tax treatment of VC donations could result in some opting out but the current excitement around the program will in all likelihood mitigate that.
So, if new large donors come into play they will presumably be added to hefty waiting list for premium seats that come available if current holders opt out. Those seats will then be assigned to folks on the waiting list based on priority point standing. If not awarded premium seating, new large donors will be placed into the on-line selection process, again based on priority point standing. I think that is where the impact on current public season ticket holders will be felt as new large donors can move ahead of long-time season ticket holders with relatively fewer priority points.
A few years ago I found myself curious as to how much a new donor would have to contribute to essentially "buy in" to become a top 10% priority point holder and the number was $56,200 to achieve 3,082 priority points. Seems that was around 2013 and was based on distribution of priority point standings for basketball at that time. It currently takes 3,860 priority points to reach top 10% status.
Just food for thought.

Good info eddy. I know when Zeller was a freshman there must have been quite a few one time donors to get prime seats. Several people I heard from had their seat locations moved back at that time. Then these donors seemed to fade away slowly as the years went by due to BB teams not performing as expected.
It would be really interesting to know what people plunk down just because of a new recruit coming in. Can't imagine why someone would dish out $40K or whatever just to jump to the head of the line. Also running the tickets through your company so the company pays and not the individual is a pisser. But the reality is money talks and profits need to be made.
One side note I think Butler started their new donation system a few years ago and many old timers lost their seats but it has not affected demand at all and won't at IU either.

 

[eddy4iu]

Good info eddy. I know when Zeller was a freshman there must have been quite a few one time donors to get prime seats. Several people I heard from had their seat locations moved back at that time. Then these donors seemed to fade away slowly as the years went by due to BB teams not performing as expected.
It would be really interesting to know what people plunk down just because of a new recruit coming in. Can't imagine why someone would dish out $40K or whatever just to jump to the head of the line. Also running the tickets through your company so the company pays and not the individual is a pisser. But the reality is money talks and profits need to be made.
One side note I think Butler started their new donation system a few years ago and many old timers lost their seats but it has not affected demand at all and won't at IU either.

Needless to say Romeo's commitment is every bit as big, if not bigger, than Cody coming to IU as it relates to demand spike for season tickets. I am sure there will be individuals who can pay the downstroke to jump ahead in line but my guess is that businesses will lead that charge as IU Basketball instantly becomes a better entertainment vehicle for them. Then there will always be the season ticket holders who buy only to re-sell like the guy (gal? Business?) with 4 seats next to me. Different folks in those seats EVERY game and often opposing fans. Those seats are a staple on Stub-Hub at VERY high prices. No way that season ticket holder opts out now.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

There are going to be some hurt feelings when BB seat selection is finished. Wouldn't want to be the CX rep on the other end of the phone.

 

[eddy4iu]

There are going to be some hurt feelings when BB seat selection is finished. Wouldn't want to be the CX rep on the other end of the phone.

So true!
Not sure when on-line seat selection starts - anyone receive info yet?