Did I attend my last TN football game last season?

[ReBellVol]

I just got an email about away game tickets for the upcoming season and those prices......WOW! They want $243 for a ticket against Georgia Tech!?!?!? I'm pretty sure I paid that for two tickets in the same stadium last year when we played Syracuse. And $178 for Vanderbilt? VANDY!?!?! Sure, I can afford to go to these games, but it's ridiculous to do so at those prices. I honestly feel bad because my son is getting to the age that taking him to a game would be enjoyable, but I guess he'll only see TN live during the spring game at this point.

 

[VolDad1999]

Gone are the days of taking the family to a game for $300.00. The current structure of NIL has done more to destroy college athletics while lining the pockets of agents and attorneys. Loyalty and school pride have been replaced by personal gain and lack of integrity. While it would be nice to return to the prices of yesteryear, we are all living in a new age of bought championships.

 

[ReBellVol]

Gone are the days of taking the family to a game for $300.00. The current structure of NIL has done more to destroy college athletics while lining the pockets of agents and attorneys. Loyalty and school pride have been replaced by personal gain and lack of integrity. While it would be nice to return to the prices of yesteryear, we are all living in a new age of bought championships.

Maybe I'm crazy, I expected higher prices, but those are astronomical IMO. Looks like a new and much larger TV is going to be needed since I'm not paying those prices for tickets.

 

[dobre_shunka]

I just got an email about away game tickets for the upcoming season and those prices......WOW! They want $243 for a ticket against Georgia Tech!?!?!? I'm pretty sure I paid that for two tickets in the same stadium last year when we played Syracuse. And $178 for Vanderbilt? VANDY!?!?! Sure, I can afford to go to these games, but it's ridiculous to do so at those prices. I honestly feel bad because my son is getting to the age that taking him to a game would be enjoyable, but I guess he'll only see TN live during the spring game at this point.

GA Tech is going to be played at Dodd Stadium on campus, not Mercedes-Benz like the Syracuse game.

 

[volanatic]

Maybe I'm crazy, I expected higher prices, but those are astronomical IMO. Looks like a new and much larger TV is going to be needed since I'm not paying those prices for tickets.

Two things:

First, I 100% agree with you. This is hard on many loyal fans on a tight budget. Fans who help make this program what it is. I, like you, am fortunate to be able to afford these prices. But I’m still disappointed at what the college football engine has produced. This is an unfortunate side effect. I hate everything about it for those who will never be able to financially justify taking their little boy/girl to a game a keep the passion growing with the next generation. College football as it was is ruined.

Second, be prepared to be blasted by the unsympathetic “get over it this is how it is now grandpa” crowd. They lurk on this board, waiting to pounce on topics like this. Not that I care about their inflated opinions of themselves but just reminding you. Heck you’re probably very aware yourself.

Appreciate your opinion and take.

 

[adam.vol]

Maybe I'm crazy, I expected higher prices, but those are astronomical IMO. Looks like a new and much larger TV is going to be needed since I'm not paying those prices for tickets.

If I don’t feel like a ticket to the game is worthwhile, then watching ads on TV are certainly a waste of time. I’m with you though.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

I attended my last one many years ago, for multiple reasons, but mainly because I can enjoy the game even more from the comfort of my own home. I don't have drunk fans around me being escorted out or rude comments and so on and I can have whatever I want to drink at less cost and I'm not dealing with the crowd after the game trying to get out of there.

 

[ReBellVol]

GA Tech is going to be played at Dodd Stadium on campus, not Mercedes-Benz like the Syracuse game.

Good catch on that, I had it in my head that we were back in Mercedez-Benz, but that almost makes it worse that we aren't and the price is that high.

 

[utvolpj]

Two things:

First, I 100% agree with you. This is hard on many loyal fans on a tight budget. Fans who help make this program what it is. I, like you, am fortunate to be able to afford these prices. But I’m still disappointed at what the college football engine has produced. This is an unfortunate side effect. I hate everything about it for those who will never be able to financially justify taking their little boy/girl to a game a keep the passion growing with the next generation. College football as it was is ruined.

Second, be prepared to be blasted by the unsympathetic “get over it this is how it is now grandpa” crowd. They lurk on this board, waiting to pounce on topics like this. Not that I care about their inflated opinions of themselves but just reminding you. Heck you’re probably very aware yourself.

Appreciate your opinion and take.

Tickets have always been unaffordable for someone. Nothing has really changed

 

[utvolpj]

Good catch on that, I had it in my head that we were back in Mercedez-Benz, but that almost makes it worse that we aren't and the price is that high.

It's a great game in a small capacity stadium. Of course it will be more expensive since tickets are limited

 

[Voltopia]

I just got an email about away game tickets for the upcoming season and those prices......WOW! They want $243 for a ticket against Georgia Tech!?!?!? I'm pretty sure I paid that for two tickets in the same stadium last year when we played Syracuse. And $178 for Vanderbilt? VANDY!?!?! Sure, I can afford to go to these games, but it's ridiculous to do so at those prices. I honestly feel bad because my son is getting to the age that taking him to a game would be enjoyable, but I guess he'll only see TN live during the spring game at this point.

Yes, they will squeeze currently paying fans until they cannot afford it ... all the while, working to replace those fans with wealthier customers. And they'll replace those customers too. They'll churn the whole base, up until they cannot find any larger whales to land. Then they'll be back, hat in hand, with discount coupons and discount apologies, swearing they'll make changes and be more appreciative of the community. And maybe they will be. For a while. Until they get the itch. That's just what it is now. As long as demand is steady, anything and everything is replaceable.

I rented from a company that owned most of the property in a city for a few years, and they were much the same. 100-200 dollar increases every year, even when they did nothing to improve the units, in a high demand tech market with a lot of turnover. I had rented a place for 1500 from them some fifteen years ago, and within six or seven years it was up to 2700. Last I checked, it had hit 3175 before they had any trouble replacing occupancy. The nature of a corporate product. As long as demand is steady.

 

[ReBellVol]

Two things:

First, I 100% agree with you. This is hard on many loyal fans on a tight budget. Fans who help make this program what it is. I, like you, am fortunate to be able to afford these prices. But I’m still disappointed at what the college football engine has produced. This is an unfortunate side effect. I hate everything about it for those who will never be able to financially justify taking their little boy/girl to a game a keep the passion growing with the next generation. College football as it was is ruined.

Second, be prepared to be blasted by the unsympathetic “get over it this is how it is now grandpa” crowd. They lurk on this board, waiting to pounce on topics like this. Not that I care about their inflated opinions of themselves but just reminding you. Heck you’re probably very aware yourself.

Appreciate your opinion and take.

Yeah, I don't worry about that crowd of people. My kids are 4 & 6; they want to go but free Spring games (I'm sure Danny will find a way to charge $100 to get into that in the future) and watching with dad on TV are in their future.

 

[JacketVol]

I just got an email about away game tickets for the upcoming season and those prices......WOW! They want $243 for a ticket against Georgia Tech!?!?!? I'm pretty sure I paid that for two tickets in the same stadium last year when we played Syracuse. And $178 for Vanderbilt? VANDY!?!?! Sure, I can afford to go to these games, but it's ridiculous to do so at those prices. I honestly feel bad because my son is getting to the age that taking him to a game would be enjoyable, but I guess he'll only see TN live during the spring game at this point.

You can buy two decent lower level season tickets for about 7 GT tickets. Buy on secondary and not UT. I saw it and said nope. I have 8 season tickets but I can use the money on 4 of those and airline points and contact a couple of baseball games in Wrigley. That’s the plan.

 

[Sugaray13]

Maybe I'm crazy, I expected higher prices, but those are astronomical IMO. Looks like a new and much larger TV is going to be needed since I'm not paying those prices for tickets.

Take the money you would have spent on tickets for a couple of years and fix you up a man cave with multiple tvs.

 

[PACKERVOL]

Gone are the days of taking the family to a game for $300.00. The current structure of NIL has done more to destroy college athletics while lining the pockets of agents and attorneys. Loyalty and school pride have been replaced by personal gain and lack of integrity. While it would be nice to return to the prices of yesteryear, we are all living in a new age of bought championships.

Well said, VolDad1999! Very sad, but very true!

 

[sami]

If I don’t feel like a ticket to the game is worthwhile, then watching ads on TV are certainly a waste of time. I’m with you though.

I can't help you with tickets, but the DVR (one of mankind's greatest inventions) solves all the problems of game broadcasts (halftime, endless reviews, commercials, announcer blather), except for the game announcers themselves unless you just watch it on mute.

I haven't watched a live sporting event in 25+ years since first getting a Tivo. Just record the game and start it an hour or so later, and enjoy the game (and only the game) at your own pace. YouTube TV is perfect for doing this. You'll thank me later.

 

[CAPTAIN--VOL CAVALRY]

Season Ticket Price Now-a-daze in the ballpark of $1000 dollars and up. That's pricy

Neyland going off at 105-120 decibels with cigar smoke hanging in the air and the goal posts headed toward the river.

Priceless

Really

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

I attended my last one many years ago, for multiple reasons, but mainly because I can enjoy the game even more from the comfort of my own home. I don't have drunk fans around me being escorted out or rude comments and so on and I can have whatever I want to drink at less cost and I'm not dealing with the crowd after the game trying to get out of there.

Bingo! For me, it is a much better experience at home with friends and family together. The money and time saved make it an easy decision.

 

[ksgovols]

Season Ticket Price Now-a-daze in the ballpark of $1000 dollars and up. That's pricy

Neyland going off at 105-120 decibels with cigar smoke hanging in the air and the goal posts headed toward the river.

Priceless

Really

It was priceless on tv to be fair!

 

[sami]

Two things:

First, I 100% agree with you. This is hard on many loyal fans on a tight budget. Fans who help make this program what it is. I, like you, am fortunate to be able to afford these prices. But I’m still disappointed at what the college football engine has produced. This is an unfortunate side effect. I hate everything about it for those who will never be able to financially justify taking their little boy/girl to a game a keep the passion growing with the next generation. College football as it was is ruined.

Second, be prepared to be blasted by the unsympathetic “get over it this is how it is now grandpa” crowd. They lurk on this board, waiting to pounce on topics like this. Not that I care about their inflated opinions of themselves but just reminding you. Heck you’re probably very aware yourself.

Appreciate your opinion and take.

Not to mention being lectured about the oppressed student-athletes of old and the breaking of the chains of slavery that is NIL. Oh, and can't forget being asked if you're okay being mediocre, because the cost of a successful program demands these kinds of price hikes and a 20-story hotel / entertainment district.

 

[JohnnyJava]

Tickets have always been unaffordable for someone. Nothing has really changed

The price increases of football tickets and music concerts have outpaced inflation by 2-3x for football, and 3-4x for music in the past 30 years. That doesn’t even include seating licenses and secondary markets. So while it’s true that ticket prices have always been outside of someone’s budget, the number of someones has increased dramatically. The OP’s perception of ever increasing expense is spot on.

 

[vol94]

Agree.

Good catch on that, I had it in my head that we were back in Mercedez-Benz, but that almost makes it worse that we aren't and the price is that high.

Price is higher imo as less seats. GA tech controls pricing for this game. Iirc, that want the case last year.

 

[utvolpj]

The price increases of football tickets and music concerts have outpaced inflation by 2-3x for football, and 3-4x for music in the past 30 years. That doesn’t even include seating licenses and secondary markets. So while it’s true that ticket prices have always been outside of someone’s budget, the number of someones has increased dramatically. The OP’s perception of ever increasing expense is spot on.

Yet games are still selling out and there's a list for season tickets. Again, there's always been an unaffordability factor for someone

 

[dobre_shunka]

Yet games are still selling out and there's a list for season tickets. Again, there's always been an unaffordability factor for someone

The prices for GA Tech and Vandy are essentially a compliment to the Tennessee fanbase. Those schools recognize that UT fans will travel to those games and likely pay those prices.

Hopefully Tennessee returns the favor next year to GA Tech and charges an equivalent amount for their visitor seats in Neyland.

 

[dobre_shunka]

Good catch on that, I had it in my head that we were back in Mercedez-Benz, but that almost makes it worse that we aren't and the price is that high.

Dodd only holds 50k while Mercedes-Benz is over 70k. Supply and demand.

GA Tech polled their season ticket holders where they wanted to play and the fans opted for on campus.