When Do We See Attendance Change

[NewZipsFan]

Prediction: 12,375

Hope you're wrong.... I'll say 13,888

[BirdZip]

Getting back to when attendance will change, my family had Family Plan season tickets for the past three years. This year, after 2 years of 1-11, a significant increase in ticket price, an hour drive each way, and two kids in fall sports, we decided to pass on season tickets. I've been watching every game online, though, and decided to come down for the BG game with my son.

We got free tickets from a generous fan (thanks) for the lower section, but decided to sit up top. My son wanted to sit in the very top row, so we did. There was no-one within at least 20 rows of us and several sections to the left and right. Within 1 minute of sitting down, though, the usher (Mohawk Man) was on us asking if we had tickets for that section. I told him we actually had tickets for the lower bowl but wanted to sit up there. He said we couldn't if we didn't have a ticket for that specific seat. I pointed out the absence of any warm bodies within a mile-and-a-half of me and he said they were told to be very strict about seating. I eventually talked him into allowing us to stay in the top row, agreeing to move if anyone came near the seat, but he watched us like a hawk throughout the first half. Why treat a fan like that? For those seats?

I think I liked watching at home better...

[LZIp]

Getting back to when attendance will change, my family had Family Plan season tickets for the past three years. This year, after 2 years of 1-11, a significant increase in ticket price, an hour drive each way, and two kids in fall sports, we decided to pass on season tickets. I've been watching every game online, though, and decided to come down for the BG game with my son.

We got free tickets from a generous fan (thanks) for the lower section, but decided to sit up top. My son wanted to sit in the very top row, so we did. There was no-one within at least 20 rows of us and several sections to the left and right. Within 1 minute of sitting down, though, the usher (Mohawk Man) was on us asking if we had tickets for that section. I told him we actually had tickets for the lower bowl but wanted to sit up there. He said we couldn't if we didn't have a ticket for that specific seat. I pointed out the absence of any warm bodies within a mile-and-a-half of me and he said they were told to be very strict about seating. I eventually talked him into allowing us to stay in the top row, agreeing to move if anyone came near the seat, but he watched us like a hawk throughout the first half. Why treat a fan like that? For those seats?

I think I liked watching at home better...

I understand the usher is just doing their job, but the people in charge should be a lot more lax on the whole being anal about seating until we actually start to fill the stadium up somewhat.

[Sergeant Zip]

Hope you're wrong.... I'll say 13,888

10,102

[Zipmeister]

Getting back to when attendance will change, my family had Family Plan season tickets for the past three years. This year, after 2 years of 1-11, a significant increase in ticket price, an hour drive each way, and two kids in fall sports, we decided to pass on season tickets. I've been watching every game online, though, and decided to come down for the BG game with my son.

We got free tickets from a generous fan (thanks) for the lower section, but decided to sit up top. My son wanted to sit in the very top row, so we did. There was no-one within at least 20 rows of us and several sections to the left and right. Within 1 minute of sitting down, though, the usher (Mohawk Man) was on us asking if we had tickets for that section. I told him we actually had tickets for the lower bowl but wanted to sit up there. He said we couldn't if we didn't have a ticket for that specific seat. I pointed out the absence of any warm bodies within a mile-and-a-half of me and he said they were told to be very strict about seating. I eventually talked him into allowing us to stay in the top row, agreeing to move if anyone came near the seat, but he watched us like a hawk throughout the first half. Why treat a fan like that? For those seats?

I think I liked watching at home better...

I hope that it doesn't happen because retaining vigilant personnel is critical, but technically that usher should be fired for letting you sit in those choice last row seats without a proper ticket. You must be a pretty smooth talker.

PS - great story - can anyone beat it?

[akzipper]

I understand the usher is just doing their job, but the people in charge should be a lot more lax on the whole being anal about seating until we actually start to fill the stadium up somewhat.

I've had the same problem at the JAR. But there have been a few times, that I have had reserved tickets and the ushers actually came up to me and asked if I belonged there. Just because I look like a student, doesn't mean I'm not allowed to sit there. I paid for my seat and they really have no business bothering me about it.

[Lee Adams]

First couple of home games in the reserved section we sit in I noticed a significant number of people,including students who sat down and then started moving around during the game. Meaning that they were not supposed to be sitting in the section and were probably moving to avoid getting busted. Some of the students were pretty obvious. They showed up in a group and moved during the game as a group.

Obviuosly somebody complained because last week the ushers were actually checking tickets before we sat down. Couple of times they actually walked into the seats to check and chase people away.

Other side of this has nothing to do with the fact that attendance stinks with lots of empty seats. If you are actually paying for a season ticket but someone who pays for a general ad or a student sits in 'your' section why pay for a season ticket?

I buy season tix to support the program and still have decent seats. But I could show up on game day and pay less for a GA tick. and sit in a similar seat on the east side.

IF these guys ever start winning this issue will go away to some extent. Won't be as many empty seats.

[Zipmeister]

I've had the same problem at the JAR. But there have been a few times, that I have had reserved tickets and the ushers actually came up to me and asked if I belonged there. Just because I look like a student, doesn't mean I'm not allowed to sit there. I paid for my seat and they really have no business bothering me about it.

The primary reason for ushers is to help people find a seat if they are having difficulty. The services of an usher shouldn't be required to assure that reserved seat holders who show up to the game get to sit in their reserved seats. Years ago I had great seats for Nebraska football games. On more than one occasion when I showed up people were in our seats. Normally, all you do is get to your seats and tell the trespassers that they are in your seats and they move. One time a guy responded,"But I have tickets!" I replied, "Great, that means you have seats to sit in, but these are mine." They moved. If anyone had been stupid enough to not move, the services of an usher might again be required, but if I hadn't showed up I would have had no problem with an interloper using the seats.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I can't remember the last time I attended a BB game at the JAR and there wasn't an interloper (word of the day) in my seat. Maybe the Wisconsin GB CBI game, since there weren't any fans at that game.

[johnnyzip84]

I can't remember the last time I attended a BB game at the JAR and there wasn't an interloper (word of the day) in my seat. Maybe the Wisconsin GB CBI game, since there weren't any fans at that game.

IIRC, they allowed us to "hyperlope" down to the lower bowl at some point during that "classic"