Spring Break
Department hopes to weather tough times
Football season ticket prices to remain the same
Sean Star
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Sports
Earlier this week the Athletics Department announced next fall's football season-ticket prices.
Other than the exclusion of the CU game, which is not included because the game will be in Boulder, nothing changed.
No surprise there. After all, prior to CSU's win over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl, the Rams hadn't had a winning season since 2003. That span of losing seasons equated to a steady and very apparent decline in attendance over the last couple years. Therefore raising prices was out of the question.
So even though the recently-released ticket packages reveal nothing new, they are certainly worth keeping an eye on.
Whether sales increase, decrease or remain the same will largely determine how the financially frail department is affected by the nation's ever-struggling economy, said Jeff Collier, the Athletics Department's business manager.
Under normal circumstances, a new coaching staff that orchestrates a four-win improvement and the first bowl victory in seven years would easily create a much-needed boost in sales for one of the department's biggest moneymakers.
But as even the most well-off of us know, we're living in anything but normal circumstances. The economy, or lack thereof, is affecting sports at even the most elite level - though Manny Ramirez may not realize it.
It appears that locally, one of the biggest measuring sticks will be calculated in the coming months.
"(Season ticket sales) will be the first real clue to us, because going from a 3-9 season to a 7-6 season, including a bowl win, one would think our season ticket numbers would actually go up," Collier said. "Over the next few months, even if we hold steady for season ticket numbers, that would probably show a negative effect because of the economy."
What could also play a factor in season-ticket sales is the product the department is selling. As noted, next season's package does not include the CU game, a major selling point in the past. Also, CSU is slated to play a rather lackluster non-conference home schedule with games against Weber State and Nevada -- not exactly marquee match-ups.
Other than the exclusion of the CU game, which is not included because the game will be in Boulder, nothing changed.
No surprise there. After all, prior to CSU's win over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl, the Rams hadn't had a winning season since 2003. That span of losing seasons equated to a steady and very apparent decline in attendance over the last couple years. Therefore raising prices was out of the question.
So even though the recently-released ticket packages reveal nothing new, they are certainly worth keeping an eye on.
Whether sales increase, decrease or remain the same will largely determine how the financially frail department is affected by the nation's ever-struggling economy, said Jeff Collier, the Athletics Department's business manager.
Under normal circumstances, a new coaching staff that orchestrates a four-win improvement and the first bowl victory in seven years would easily create a much-needed boost in sales for one of the department's biggest moneymakers.
But as even the most well-off of us know, we're living in anything but normal circumstances. The economy, or lack thereof, is affecting sports at even the most elite level - though Manny Ramirez may not realize it.
It appears that locally, one of the biggest measuring sticks will be calculated in the coming months.
"(Season ticket sales) will be the first real clue to us, because going from a 3-9 season to a 7-6 season, including a bowl win, one would think our season ticket numbers would actually go up," Collier said. "Over the next few months, even if we hold steady for season ticket numbers, that would probably show a negative effect because of the economy."
What could also play a factor in season-ticket sales is the product the department is selling. As noted, next season's package does not include the CU game, a major selling point in the past. Also, CSU is slated to play a rather lackluster non-conference home schedule with games against Weber State and Nevada -- not exactly marquee match-ups.
Be the first to comment on this story