Arena Club Donor

[cncchris33]

Oh, okay. I didn’t remember that. That’s interesting. Sounds like it could get pretty complicated. The 3 other couples I know are all originals and didn’t mention that detail. I asked them about the grandfathering and they didn’t remember that. They all still go to games. Heck, we all do. I guess 35-40 years takes a toll on the brain cells.

That is how I've always understood the situation and I've never been corrected. I'm open to being wrong, but I'm not sure how my dad's buddy still had his dad's original tickets 20 some odd years later if it weren't for that reason. I do know that his dad obtained those tickets (center court, 19th row) via his original donation to the arena construction.

 

[cardvolfan]

That is how I've always understood the situation and I've never been corrected. I'm open to being wrong, but I'm not sure how my dad's buddy still had his dad's original tickets 20 some odd years later if it weren't for that reason. I do know that his dad obtained those tickets (center court, 19th row) via his original donation to the arena construction.

The point remains that you can’t promise people something and then go back on your word. I know it sounds too good to be true to those unaware, but a promise is a promise. White has been great for UT but he operates in uncharted territory. Regardless, I plan on being there for every game this year, God willing.

 

[tnvolfan16]

goes back to what i have always said about UT. when the team sucks and they need you, its "lets all pull together like the UT family we are". when the team is good and there is demand for tickets it is "sorry its just business" until they suck again and they come begging for you to buy tickets. i remember when pruitt was there, they were sending emails all the time offering to sell you extra tickets

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Not really. That consideration continues to ignore the promise made to donors. It isn't a ticket price issue, necessarily. It's a donation issue and the threat of having to now reclaim the seats you or your parent/grandparents were promised.

Well it’s not a donation, it’s a required contribution to have access to the tickets for basketball…now you can say that’s splitting hairs or the same thing, but my guess is that wording if a big part of the loophole.

Also, what if there was no “contribution” required and it was all just called ticket pricing and then the AD split it up how they wanted, how would you feel? For example, lower level side courts are $1,975 ($325 right + $1,650 contribution), what if they just said the tickets are $1,975 no contribution? Everyone still mad, or now we’re not mad because it’s no longer a contribution required, at least by wording?

With that said I’m sure there’s a reason for fee/tax purposes they do it that way, so I doubt that ever happens, but I don’t really see the difference.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

goes back to what i have always said about UT. when the team sucks and they need you, its "lets all pull together like the UT family we are". when the team is good and there is demand for tickets it is "sorry its just business" until they suck again and they come begging for you to buy tickets. i remember when pruitt was there, they were sending emails all the time offering to sell you extra tickets

Supply/demand, a business model that goes back thousands of years, doubt it changes any time soon.

 

[AllMidSouth65]

Apparently many don’t remember the horrible years of basketball Vols had under some prior coaches and that those original arena donors paid a pretty price for season tickets at the time and since to see mediocre teams and a lot of very mediocre opponents.

In those days you literally could not give tickets away in a lot of the games. I know. I tried. Even to SEc opponents.

There is a strong legal argument to be made against what has occurred. But who wants to be the A H to file such a complaint. That’s the way it would be viewed by many younger posters here and younger Vol fans.

My hats off to the original arena donors. I am one. They stepped up when UT needed the arena to be competitive.

This same exact process of retaking the declining donors seats andvrrmarketing to highest bidders or at very steep prices and ignoring past agreements has happened at many other schools. UK did the same thing to Rupp original donors years ago. FWIW

 

[cncchris33]

Well it’s not a donation, it’s a required contribution to have access to the tickets for basketball…now you can say that’s splitting hairs or the same thing, but my guess is that wording if a big part of the loophole.

Also, what if there was no “contribution” required and it was all just called ticket pricing and then the AD split it up how they wanted, how would you feel? For example, lower level side courts are $1,975 ($325 right + $1,650 contribution), what if they just said the tickets are $1,975 no contribution? Everyone still mad, or now we’re not mad because it’s no longer a contribution required, at least by wording?

With that said I’m sure there’s a reason for fee/tax purposes they do it that way, so I doubt that ever happens, but I don’t really see the difference.

That difference is so indiscernible that it's more like splitting atoms than splitting hairs.

I guess in the end, the AD can do whatever they're allowed to get away with. I just hope that the next generation that is seemingly benefiting now is paying close attention to how the university has treated those fans that supported them in the program's time of need.

 

[EZE]

What was the original agreement? Just curious. Does anyone have that in writing?

This is the pertinent question. What did the contract say?

 

[EZE]

That difference is so indiscernible that it's more like splitting atoms than splitting hairs.

I guess in the end, the AD can do whatever they're allowed to get away with. I just hope that the next generation that is seemingly benefiting now is paying close attention to how the university has treated those fans that supported them in the program's time of need.

The AD can set pricing as the market allows. As long as the demand is greater than the supply? The price is going up.

 

[cncchris33]

The AD can set pricing as the market allows. As long as the demand is greater than the supply? The price is going up.

Not really in line with the conversation topic, but yes, you are correct.

 

[Huff0117]

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

It seems like the prudent thing to have done was to give people refunds on those original donations that didn’t want to move forward on the riverside club stuff.

With interest.

 

[omghulkhands]

 

[AllMidSouth65]

The original agreement says seats for lifetime with one time immediate family transfer allowed. The agreement does not say what the ticket price will be in that span.

By isolating the courtside lower seats for the crazy ticket prices they have selectively pushed out the owners of the original seats and made way for the highest bidders etc.

Selective price discrimination

 

[Bob50]

Thanks for posting the original contract. I can’t find any of my documents. As I remember, they gave us free parking to begin with but later took that away.

 

[LeannaVol]

View attachment 758198

This offer tells me the athletic department never imagined UT basketball would some day be a hot ticket. I find it hard to believe no one in 1982 didn't look at that and think, Do we really want to say forever?

 

[TrumpedUpVol]

This offer tells me the athletic department never imagined UT basketball would some day be a hot ticket. I find it hard to believe no one in 1982 didn't look at that and think, Do we really want to say forever?

It reminds me a lot of the original American Airlines AAirpass program. Probably innumerable similar examples out there, but entities are really quick to pass around the hat during tough times and claw back promises when business is booming. If Tennessee basketball had the 300 level curtains and couldn’t break .350 I assure you that the AD would be counting on those tickets to make ends meet.

It sucks, don’t get me wrong, but it’s life.

 

[buriat]

I found the same agreement that was posted. I had 8 seats . I got two free parking passes for a pretty long time .At some point as I recall you got one free and paid for one and in recent years you paid for both .
Because the document said “ priority duration - forever “ with a footnote that forever was “in perpetuity”, I assumed the buyer could keep the same seats “forever “because there had already been a priority based on donations to get the seats I selected. The next group to get tickets they wanted per the document who did not give at least $2500 were the then current season ticket holders .

I didn’t have an expectation that there would no price increases over the years . I did have expectation to keep same seats as long as I wanted to go to games. It was foolish to assume. That is on me . Hopefully everyone dealing with UT and probably all big schools know to assume nothing . They will probably get Thompson Boling completely off the building at some point .

 

[YankeeVol]

I found the same agreement that was posted. I had 8 seats . I got two free parking passes for a pretty long time .At some point as I recall you got one free and paid for one and in recent years you paid for both .
Because the document said “ priority duration - forever “ with a footnote that forever was “in perpetuity”, I assumed the buyer could keep the same seats “forever “because there had already been a priority based on donations to get the seats I selected. The next group to get tickets they wanted per the document who did not give at least $2500 were the then current season ticket holders .

I didn’t have an expectation that there would no price increases over the years . I did have expectation to keep same seats as long as I wanted to go to games. It was foolish to assume. That is on me . Hopefully everyone dealing with UT and probably all big schools know to assume nothing . They will probably get Thompson Boling completely off the building at some point .

Well you know what they say about "ASSuMEng"....