Price increase coming!!

[Clad in Big Orange]

We’re already there. I consider myself fortunate. I think many on this forum are much more fortunate than they realize. If you have the ability to say yes or no to a UT game in person, you are not the average person.

The truly average person in the East TN economy can’t afford to take a 4 person family to a game on Saturday. That’s 1K in tickets for a good game. Not to mention travel, food, etc.

As long as there are folks willing to be in debt for a $70k truck that doesn't haul things, there will be a market for high-price entertainment. Just charge it now and worry about paying for it later - or not!

 

[EastTNVol6240]

As long as there are folks willing to be in debt for a $70k truck that doesn't haul things, there will be a market for high-price entertainment. Just charge it now and worry about paying for it later - or not!

Better them than me. But you are no doubt correct. That’s the American dream.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

It won't take that long. I doubt I will ever be in Neyland again.

That truly makes me sad.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

So these portal guys and high schoolers are going to their chosen schools just because they love the curriculum offered?

Check our portal rankings and you tell me if any of these increases are worth it. Ohio State was practically giving away tickets to the playoff game where they dominated us

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

But Fulmer said we couldn’t sell out the stadium at 100,000+ so he eliminated 5,000 seats.. Now we’re raising the prices after throwing away all of that money on seating reduction (because we have a waitlist?). Make it make sense?

It's called yield management. The airlines perfected the concept. And now they will add in AI pricing to really squeeze the fans. I can't imagine how much Ticketmaster is going to start raping people for tickets to events. I saw the upcoming Clapton show have tickets on the floor over $1000. I saw Clapton back in the 70s for $20.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Check our portal rankings and you tell me if any of these increases are worth it. Ohio State was practically giving away tickets to the playoff game where they dominated us

I'll bet they ain't giving away tickets this year

 

[Orangeslide]

In 2023 I paid $2543.76
2024 $3143.76
2025 $3663.76

At this rate the average person won't be able to go in a couple of years.

This average person doesn’t have to wait two more years. I’m out now, I’m priced out.

 

[VolCalls]

I was going off the chart and basing it on one person. Although $500 is not pen nies it is still a long way from what some of the posters have mentioned they are spending.

Football Archives - Tennessee Fund

A majority of football season tickets in Neyland Stadium require an annual contribution to the Tennessee Fund.

www.tennesseefund.org

Well sure. Prices are proportional to seat location & available amenities at every stadium in the country. We have four tickets in the third row of the upper level that run us $2,800/year, all-in. Everyone commenting here isn’t paying anything above and beyond the minimum it costs them to buy and keep tickets in their respective sections.

 

[Orangeslide]

“Pay these prices or we’ll give them to somebody who will!

You hit the nail on the head! If you have season tickets, you either get them with the price increase, if not they have a waiting list and someone else will buy them. Doesn’t matter how long you’ve had them, loyalty to the University means nothing. There’s never enough cash flow in the NIL and transfer portal world. In 8 years, season tickets will cost a cool $10,000. Just remember, when this first started with the idea of giving players money, don’t think many of us thought this where we would be at now. Unfortunately, some other schools can cover us up in relation to money, so we gotta try to keep up with the filthy rich. I can’t afford to attend, so I will watch on TV and not fight the traffic.

 

[Orangeslide]

I buy mine then sell to my neighbors in our box. So it doesn't effect me. If we gonna be good ill buy then then sell them bad boys. Help me pay for this damn travel ball.

Sucked in to the mighty travel ball machine huh? The older they get, the more money you will spend. It’s a money grab, but if the kid is having fun, it’s worth it.

 

[VolCalls]

The a averrage fan is going to warch home games in front of his television. Season ticket holders will need to take out a second mortgage to finance their tickets ! How much would season tickets cost for a family of four ?

We pay $2,800 a year for our four, which is what it costs for our section - an average of $100 per ticket per game this season. The cheapest block of four in the whole place is just shy of $2,000.

 

[VolCalls]

Check our portal rankings and you tell me if any of these increases are worth it. Ohio State was practically giving away tickets to the playoff game where they dominated us

This. If you’re willing to forego season tickets and wait it out until the last minute for tickets you really want on the secondary market, you’ll pay a fraction of the price 90% of the time.

 

[VolCalls]

Check our portal rankings and you tell me if any of these increases are worth it. Ohio State was practically giving away tickets to the playoff game where they dominated us

This. If you’re willing to forego season tickets and wait it out until the last minute for tickets you really want on the secondary market, you’ll pay a fraction of the price 90% of the time.

 

[VolinMichigan]

This was always going to happen with Athletic depts being more involved with NIL. It’s happening at every single school with large, revenue generating athletic departments. We’ve seen it happen frequently over the last 5 years. More schools upgrading facilities and stadiums. Those increased costs were always going to be put on the ticket holders. Season ticket sales haven’t taken a hit for UT and I doubt they have at Texas, Ohio St, Alabama etc, so it’s business as usual.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

All the supply and demand folks not even talking about the elephant in the room, Live Nation/Ticketmaster. Face value is a concern of the privileged few atp.

A middleman monopoly is absolutely destroying live entertainment in this country tbh. Thank goodness Live Nation doesn't own Neyland Stadium like they do so many venues in the country.

I totally agree Ticketmaster is completely evil.

It doesn't change supply and demand issues related to pre Ticketmaster BS.

Good entertainment is expensive. I've no idea what a ticket to watch Maryville or Carson-Newman is but if UT is not worth the money, spend less and go watch them.

"But I want to watch the Vols not Maryville....."
and you prove my point about supply and demand. Lots of people want to watch the Vols and many less want to watch Maryville so it costs more.

 

[EZE]

It comes down to recruiting and coaching at the end of the day. Are CJH and his staff good? Yes. Are they elite? No.

But we’re being charged for an elite product.

it is a product that way more people are willing to buy…than there are seats to sell. Not really hard to understand.

Now, maybe the price will ultimately get too high for the product…. And then the laws of economics will force UT to reduce the price. But given the waiting list, it appears that we’re quite a ways away from that happening.

 

[EZE]

I totally agree Ticketmaster is completely evil.

It doesn't change supply and demand issues related to pre Ticketmaster BS.

Good entertainment is expensive. I've no idea what a ticket to watch Maryville or Carson-Newman is but if UT is not worth the money, spend less and go watch them.

"But I want to watch the Vols not Maryville....."
and you prove my point about supply and demand. Lots of people want to watch the Vols and many less want to watch Maryville so it costs more.

Even the secondary market is subject to economics. It’s why you see the tickets priced high early…and then when there isn’t enough demand at those prices to sell all of the tickets? The prices come down before kickoff.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Even the secondary market is subject to economics. It’s why you see the tickets priced high early…and then when there isn’t enough demand at those prices to sell all of the tickets? The prices come down before kickoff.

Yep. I believe demand actually drops as people make other plans, don't prepare to come, just say I'll watch from home, etc. As those people drop from the demand pool, the price falls for that single event as kickoff nears. No one wants to "waste a ticket" so a buyer's market develops.

I get that people are being priced out and that's sad for tickets but it's also sad for houses, vehicles, etc also. I get it. There are different pressures and factors for all markets that make prices rise and fall.

I suppose my biggest issue with this is the same with the criticism of the NIL and Spyre changes. It's DEFINITELY not good for traditional college athletics but it is the reality. High demand for tickets leading to high prices DEFINITELY prices out some fans who'd like to attend but it's just the reality of the game now.

And I really don't get the notion that is implied that the Vols "aren't winning enough for the tickets to cost so much." As though if we'd won a Natty last year folks would HAVE more money to spend on tickets???? Nah, they'd still be priced out.

 

[RWB427]

In 2023 I paid $2543.76
2024 $3143.76
2025 $3663.76

At this rate the average person won't be able to go in a couple of years.

The average person already can't go and take their kids!

 

[volfan102455]

The a averrage fan is going to warch home games in front of his television. Season ticket holders will need to take out a second mortgage to finance their tickets ! How much would season tickets cost for a family of four ?

That will depend upon where in the stadium - but easily will be a couple thousand dollars for four. With the payment plan you can pay over 10 months - which for some makes it more tolerable.

I only have 2 - double that would be around $4000.

 

[EZE]

Yep. I believe demand actually drops as people make other plans, don't prepare to come, just say I'll watch from home, etc. As those people drop from the demand pool, the price falls for that single event as kickoff nears. No one wants to "waste a ticket" so a buyer's market develops.

I get that people are being priced out and that's sad for tickets but it's also sad for houses, vehicles, etc also. I get it. There are different pressures and factors for all markets that make prices rise and fall.

I suppose my biggest issue with this is the same with the criticism of the NIL and Spyre changes. It's DEFINITELY not good for traditional college athletics but it is the reality. High demand for tickets leading to high prices DEFINITELY prices out some fans who'd like to attend but it's just the reality of the game now.

And I really don't get the notion that is implied that the Vols "aren't winning enough for the tickets to cost so much." As though if we'd won a Natty last year folks would HAVE more money to spend on tickets???? Nah, they'd still be priced out.

If any school is winning enough to support high ticket prices right now, it’s Tennessee. Winning at a high level in every major sport.

 

[volfan102455]

Yep. I believe demand actually drops as people make other plans, don't prepare to come, just say I'll watch from home, etc. As those people drop from the demand pool, the price falls for that single event as kickoff nears. No one wants to "waste a ticket" so a buyer's market develops.

I get that people are being priced out and that's sad for tickets but it's also sad for houses, vehicles, etc also. I get it. There are different pressures and factors for all markets that make prices rise and fall.

I suppose my biggest issue with this is the same with the criticism of the NIL and Spyre changes. It's DEFINITELY not good for traditional college athletics but it is the reality. High demand for tickets leading to high prices DEFINITELY prices out some fans who'd like to attend but it's just the reality of the game now.

And I really don't get the notion that is implied that the Vols "aren't winning enough for the tickets to cost so much." As though if we'd won a Natty last year folks would HAVE more money to spend on tickets???? Nah, they'd still be priced out.

It is more about "who the opponents" are for me. There are three games at home that are the ones that most are interested in - Georgia, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Vandy is borderline - they are after all, Vandy. Take away those three games and replace it with others that will not be a marquee game, and I don't care how good the team is, other things to do on a Saturday become priority. So in reality when I buy season tickets, I am really buying them for the "top games". Maybe if I lived within 30 minutes of Knoxville, that would not be the case.

But to go to a game involves 4 plus hours of drive time and doing that just to watch a blowout is just not worth it. For those games I do sometimes either sell my ticket or give it to family and friends for the experience as they would not be able to go otherwise due to the price.

It is sad that there are lots of Tennessee Vol fans and most of them are priced out of seeing the team play live.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

I don’t know how many more games we will be attending in person, they’ve made it to the point. It’s almost outrageous just to take a family of four for the day to see a football game. The 75 inch TV at home is looking real good.

It’s pretty sad, but we are getting to that point now as well. It’s not that we can’t afford it, it’s just that it continues to accelerate and increases coming for practically everything. The “fan experience” has become more tiring each year as the carousel of season ticket holders rotates or they get bought up by a corporate group. Stiff shirts or fans of others teams coming to a game when there are so many other Vol fans wanting to get in and experience it somehow doesn’t sit right with me. It’s becoming more of a social event than a ballgame. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the social aspects of it and those who participate, but it’s different now. It sometimes feels like we are at an outdoor social where a football game is played on the side. I don’t remember it being that way in the 90’s and early 00’s when I was a kid, a student, and then a recently graduated adult.

I’m mid 40’s, have a son at UT, and have had orange running through my veins since birth. That won’t change, but we may drop down to two tickets and attend select games after this season. The calculus has become is it worth the money for the experience that we are paying for? - and right now, having friends and family over for a game day tailgate and watching the game outdoors is more value for the money in comparison.

 

[Mid Tenn Vol]

It’s pretty sad, but we are getting to that point now as well. It’s not that we can’t afford it, it’s just that it continues to accelerate and increases coming for practically everything. The “fan experience” has become more tiring each year as the carousel of season ticket holders rotates or they get bought up by a corporate group. Stiff shirts or fans of others teams coming to a game when there are so many other Vol fans wanting to get in and experience it somehow doesn’t sit right with me. It’s becoming more of a social event than a ballgame. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the social aspects of it and those who participate, but it’s different now. It sometimes feels like we are at an outdoor social where a football game is played on the side. I don’t remember it being that way in the 90’s and early 00’s when I was a kid, a student, and then a recently graduated adult.

I’m mid 40’s, have a son at UT, and have had orange running through my veins since birth. That won’t change, but we may drop down to two tickets and attend select games after this season. The calculus has become is it worth the money for the experience that we are paying for? - and right now, having friends and family over for a game day tailgate and watching the game outdoors is more value for the money in comparison.

I agree with you, we can afford to go to the game but just to go for the day. We’re probably looking at 1000 bucks time. You figure in food and gas. It’s just a lot easier to watch it at home.

 

[EZE]

In response to a few posts above, there is no question that the costs are making me look at alternatives.

Case in point. My brother and I both live a considerable distance from Knoxville, but we are wanting to get together this fall for a brothers weekend. For us, it wasn’t so much the airfare and ticket prices, but the hotel prices anywhere close to campus were astronomical. Well over a grand per night. And the Graduate price was so ridiculous it was just plain silly. Multiple thousands per night.

So, we’re meeting in Boston to watch Red Sox-Yankees. Staying at a great hotel in Boston for much, much cheaper.