While everyone is coming up with ideas to increase attendance, people have brought up ticket prices and fees. I went ahead and check out all the conference programs and compared their cheapest ticket available.
BASE PRICE
1) App State - $45
2) Georgia Southern - $35
3) Coastal Carolina - $33
4) James Madison - $32.50
5) Old Dominion - $30
6) Southern Miss - $27
7) Marshall - $25
T8) Arkansas State - $20
T8) Georgia State - $20
T8) Louisiana - $20
T8) Texas State - $20
12) South Alabama - $17
T13) ULM - $15
T13) Troy - $15
TOTAL AFTER FEES
1) App State - $60
2) Georgia Southern - $40
3) Old Dominion - $38.75
4) Louisiana - $36.55
5) Coastal Carolina - $36
6) James Madison - $35.50
7) Southern Miss - $28.50
8) Marshall - $27
T9) Texas State - $25
T9) South Alabama - $25
11) Georgia State - $23
T12) Arkansas State - $20
T12) Troy - $20
14) ULM - $15
FEES CHARGED
1) Louisiana - $16.55 (TicketMaster)
2) App State - $15
3) Old Dominion - $8.75
4) South Alabama - $8
T5) Georgia Southern - $5
T5) Texas State - $5
T5) Troy - $5
T8) Coastal Carolina - $3
T8) James Madison - $3
T8) Georgia State - $3 (TicketMaster)
11) Marshall - $2
12) Southern Miss - $1.50
T13) Arkansas State - $0 (TicketMaster)
T13) ULM - $0
So, what does this tell us? Our TicketMaster contract is a scam. Whoever negotiated this got taken to the bank.
We all know the "Facility Charge" goes to the stadiums but why is it a separate charge? This is $5 per ticket. If this fee would just be included in the base ticket price, UL wouldn't appear money hungry. This would also keep us middle of the pack ticket price wise.
Most of the other schools fees are "Processing Fees", which ours is $3.55. The other two TicketMaster schools come in at $3 and $0!
Now this is the good one, the "Service Fee", which is $8 per ticket. Where does this money go? This is the one that sends up to the top of the fees added list. Without this magical fee, tickets would still be middle of the pack.
Bottom line, we are screwing ourselves with the TicketMaster contract. Fans like to buy their tickets in advance or online because many can't get to Lafayette in the middle of the week to buy tickets. Main questions are these,
When does this contract end?
Will the University & Cajundome look at other options?