Student Section

[counterdevotee]

What are everyone’s thoughts about our student section? I’m a student, so I definitely have many opinions, and I understand our section is the way it is because UT is money hungry for donations (although we students each pay over 100k to go here…). I’m just curious what the atmosphere looks like on TV. I feel like my freshman year TBA was insane. Especially against Memphis, Kentucky, etc. Now they’ve split the student section in two and last Saturday it felt…. Quiet.

 

[cardvolfan]

What are everyone’s thoughts about our student section? I’m a student, so I definitely have many opinions, and I understand our section is the way it is because UT is money hungry for donations (although we students each pay over 100k to go here…). I’m just curious what the atmosphere looks like on TV. I feel like my freshman year TBA was insane. Especially against Memphis, Kentucky, etc. Now they’ve split the student section in two and last Saturday it felt…. Quiet.

First point would be that the 100k doesn’t go towards UT Athletics, and the 2nd point would be that the big games are easy to show out. I truly can’t compare the UT student section to other schools, but I think the 123-125 sections have been somewhat sedate overall. You have your moments, but certainly not an advantage as far as the home court goes. I’m older, but most games back in the dinosaur era we stood. Very vocal and luniacal. The sections behind the goals are pretty good, but not great. Bring the energy and feed the floor.

 

[snapcracklepop]

In my opinion, game atmosphere has been terrible this year. The team deserves more from everyone who attends. Generally speaking, people are way too reserved in TBA.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

It isn’t that TN is hungry for donations. $50 million was NEEDED to build the Thompson-Boling Arena. Some of that came from the state. Some came from the municipalities and a hotel/motel tax of almost 20% was levied on events to pay for the bond obligations of Knoxville/Knox County.

Then the rest was raised by selling lifetime seat licenses to donors. There wouldn’t be an arena without the money raised by the sale of the seat licenses. Be thankful that the arena was built with enough seats so that students are able to obtain tickets. Stokely had 12,700 seats and there’d be far fewer tickets available for students if that was still the venue.

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

Part of the problem is UT selling tickets for SEC home games at 90$ to 200$ a pop face value on ticketmaster. Certain type fans can't afford to go. Georgia game face value on lower bowl is 90 plus fees. So for 2 lowers it's well over 200$ and i've been saying it all season, shame on UT for laying in bed with ticketmaster and pricing the rabid and common fans out.

 

[jeff1vol]

The students are the reason there IS an AD. If it wasnt for the students, TBA would be a morgue 90% of the time. They should have premium seats on one side with big $ on the other. Put visitors in the raftors. Most other venues put students closer to the court and not stick em behind the goal. I never understood why UT made it a point to **** on the students.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

The STUDENTS are the reason there IS an AD. They should have premium seats on one side with big $ on the other. Put visitors in the raftors. Most other venues put students closer to the court and not stick em behind the goal.

If the AD was only funded by students then games would still be in Alumni Gym.

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

Part of the problem is UT selling tickets for SEC home games at 90$ to 200$ a pop face value on ticketmaster. Certain type fans can't afford to go. Georgia game face value on lower bowl is 90 plus fees. So for 2 lowers it's well over 200$ and i've been saying it all season, shame on UT for laying in bed with ticketmaster and pricing the rabid and common fans out.

And I know this is a thread about students, but I'm talking atmosphere in general.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Part of the problem is UT selling tickets for SEC home games at 90$ to 200$ a pop face value on ticketmaster. Certain type fans can't afford to go. Georgia game face value on lower bowl is 90 plus fees. So for 2 lowers it's well over 200$ and i've been saying it all season, shame on UT for laying in bed with ticketmaster and pricing the rabid and common fans out.

I think that TicketMaster makes it more obvious that there’s gouging going on on the secondary market. UT (and TM) now gets the premium instead of scalpers. As long as TicketMaster isn’t creating an artificial supply/demand imbalance then games were always going to be $90-$200. Season ticket holders do pay more.

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

I think that TicketMaster makes it more obvious that there’s gouging going on on the secondary market. UT (and TM) now gets the premium instead of scalpers. As long as TicketMaster isn’t creating an artificial supply/demand imbalance then games were always going to be $90-$200. Season ticket holders do pay more.

Yeah you're right but a lot of people just aren't paying 90$ for a basketball game unless against UK or Alabama. And even then, it's still outrageous. Idk if I've ever paid over 100 for football maybe a handful of times in my life.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Yeah you're right but a lot of people just aren't paying 90$ for a basketball game unless against UK or Alabama. And even then, it's still outrageous. Idk if I've ever paid over 100 for football maybe a handful of times in my life.

As long as the bad games are available for $5/seat then it’s a reasonable system. If they demand face value for those poorly attended games then the system is corrupt.

 

[OrngeJuiceJones]

As long as the bad games are available for $5/seat then it’s a reasonable system. If they demand face value for those poorly attended games then the system is corrupt.

All lowers are outrageous. Every game. Uppers face value is 40, 200 level seats 70 plus fees. Still high.

 

[TrumpedUpVol]

Part of the problem is UT selling tickets for SEC home games at 90$ to 200$ a pop face value on ticketmaster. Certain type fans can't afford to go. Georgia game face value on lower bowl is 90 plus fees. So for 2 lowers it's well over 200$ and i've been saying it all season, shame on UT for laying in bed with ticketmaster and pricing the rabid and common fans out.

I would normally agree, but tickets (all prices sourced via StubHub) to Kentucky were selling for $18 (plus fees) on Friday evening. Vanderbilt tickets, while at a terrible time, were two dollars plus fees the days leading up to and including last Tuesday. UGA tickets start at $4, Florida starts at $11 and Texas is currently around $50 though I expect that to drop.

This isn't the baseball problem where secondary market pricing is affecting who can and cannot go. I think UT probably charges a little too much for season and single-game basketball tickets, but that's a different story.