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On the Prowl: How Much Is Too Much?
Let me tell you about a dream I had last night. It was the year 2009, and the UNI Panthers were back in a completely renovated Kinnick Stadium, filled to the brink with hostile Hawkeye fans. I was wearing my Eric Sanders jersey (apparently I couldn't let go, even in 2009) and jarring back and forth with Hawk fans with sarcastic but friendly banter.
One thing that was never addressed in my dream was this, however: did the University of Iowa athletic department charge UNI fans 90 dollars to see their team play in Kinnick? I would assume no, since if that were the case there'd be no way I could attend such a matchup. This brings me to my point, and something you are all likely familiar with: Iowa State University is not going to allow single game tickets to be sold for it's biannual meet with the Hawkeyes in Jack Trice next season. Tickets alloted to the U of I will go for 90 dollars.
So the reign of Jamie Pollard continues. Nobody said it was Jamie Pollard's job to make friends and be buddy-buddy with the other members of The Big Four, but this seems to me like a step too far. First of all, I understand that the idea behind this move is to encourage sales of season tickets. Fair enough, as that's money in the bank every time. Iowa State features one of the most attractive home schedules it has ever had for the 2007 season, including games against Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, and of course UNI, whose presence last season shattered a home attendance record for the Cyclones. If ISU sold a record amount of season tickets last season for a far less appealing home schedule, why wouldn't it go up again this season? Iowa State has a new hot-name coach and a lot of promise for upcoming seasons. I would think that there would be no real reason why Iowa State couldn't maintain its season ticket success once again this season.
Also, charging Iowa 90 dollars for its ticket allotment has the propensity to set a dangerous precedent. Although I'm sure that Iowa will have no problem selling these tickets to eager Iowa fans, it makes me wonder how much Iowa State is charging other schools for their allotment? Is Texas going to have to pay 90 dollars for a ticket? Colorado? UNI? Besides stating the obvious rivalry, what reason does Iowa State have to slight Iowa so much in what many have perceived as an insult?
Iowa State has raised its prices on season tickets to 350 dollars, or 50 dollars per game, more than the Iowa Hawkeyes charged for tickets (47 per game, 282 for season tickets). Why? The 2006 campaign seems like somewhat of a dud in retrospect, and I don't believe that the hype will be enough to carry a successful sales campaign for season tickets.
What does this have to do with UNI, you ask? Simple: if Iowa fans are forced to pay outrageous fees, why wouldn't it stop with UNI? Why would it be limited to football? If UNI's visit to Hilton Coliseum next season generates a level of hype, what kind of prices will Iowa State ask for? The precedent set here by the Iowa State athletic department doesn't seem like the answer to me, and could possibly alienate many fans trying to see these games, no matter what school's colors they wear. I have gone down a bit of a slippery slope here, but again I say: this is not the answer for Iowa State. After years of struggling to put fans in the seats, they have finally turned a corner and generated interest in their football program. One move like this could cut down interest with one fell swoop.
Most importantly: could UNI demand more money from Iowa State for their appearance in 2007? One can always hope...
Let me tell you about a dream I had last night. It was the year 2009, and the UNI Panthers were back in a completely renovated Kinnick Stadium, filled to the brink with hostile Hawkeye fans. I was wearing my Eric Sanders jersey (apparently I couldn't let go, even in 2009) and jarring back and forth with Hawk fans with sarcastic but friendly banter.
One thing that was never addressed in my dream was this, however: did the University of Iowa athletic department charge UNI fans 90 dollars to see their team play in Kinnick? I would assume no, since if that were the case there'd be no way I could attend such a matchup. This brings me to my point, and something you are all likely familiar with: Iowa State University is not going to allow single game tickets to be sold for it's biannual meet with the Hawkeyes in Jack Trice next season. Tickets alloted to the U of I will go for 90 dollars.
So the reign of Jamie Pollard continues. Nobody said it was Jamie Pollard's job to make friends and be buddy-buddy with the other members of The Big Four, but this seems to me like a step too far. First of all, I understand that the idea behind this move is to encourage sales of season tickets. Fair enough, as that's money in the bank every time. Iowa State features one of the most attractive home schedules it has ever had for the 2007 season, including games against Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, and of course UNI, whose presence last season shattered a home attendance record for the Cyclones. If ISU sold a record amount of season tickets last season for a far less appealing home schedule, why wouldn't it go up again this season? Iowa State has a new hot-name coach and a lot of promise for upcoming seasons. I would think that there would be no real reason why Iowa State couldn't maintain its season ticket success once again this season.
Also, charging Iowa 90 dollars for its ticket allotment has the propensity to set a dangerous precedent. Although I'm sure that Iowa will have no problem selling these tickets to eager Iowa fans, it makes me wonder how much Iowa State is charging other schools for their allotment? Is Texas going to have to pay 90 dollars for a ticket? Colorado? UNI? Besides stating the obvious rivalry, what reason does Iowa State have to slight Iowa so much in what many have perceived as an insult?
Iowa State has raised its prices on season tickets to 350 dollars, or 50 dollars per game, more than the Iowa Hawkeyes charged for tickets (47 per game, 282 for season tickets). Why? The 2006 campaign seems like somewhat of a dud in retrospect, and I don't believe that the hype will be enough to carry a successful sales campaign for season tickets.
What does this have to do with UNI, you ask? Simple: if Iowa fans are forced to pay outrageous fees, why wouldn't it stop with UNI? Why would it be limited to football? If UNI's visit to Hilton Coliseum next season generates a level of hype, what kind of prices will Iowa State ask for? The precedent set here by the Iowa State athletic department doesn't seem like the answer to me, and could possibly alienate many fans trying to see these games, no matter what school's colors they wear. I have gone down a bit of a slippery slope here, but again I say: this is not the answer for Iowa State. After years of struggling to put fans in the seats, they have finally turned a corner and generated interest in their football program. One move like this could cut down interest with one fell swoop.
Most importantly: could UNI demand more money from Iowa State for their appearance in 2007? One can always hope...
