McLeod Reseat and Panther Points

[otter]

When I arrived at UNI last year, we spent a considerable amount of time evaluating our program," UNI Director of Athletics David Harris said. "A significant part of that process was listening to the feedback of our student-athletes, staff and supporters. It became clear very quickly that we needed to continue to improve scholarship opportunities for our student-athletes. We are excited about these two new initiatives and believe they will assist us in improving financial support for our student-athletes, while establishing a professional and transparent process for the distribution of some of our most valuable benefits."

The Panther Points system will be used to rank Panther Scholarship Club members for seating and access to tickets. It takes into consideration a variety of factors: PSC annual gifts, lifetime contributions to athletics, consecutive years as a season-ticket holder, consecutive years giving to the PSC and status as an alum or former UNI student-athlete.

In addition to the Panther Points, UNI will be reseating the McLeod Center in 2018-2019 for the first time since the inception of the building in 2006. The reseating process will ensure that seat assignments are in accordance with Panther Points totals, which is based on PSC giving level first and point total second. To qualify to be a part of the reseating process, all men's basketball season ticket holders must have made a payment on their season tickets and made a payment on their 2018 PSC gift by July 1, 2018.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Are they hoping this will decrease the number of empty seats across from the scorers table?

[sivert]

I kinda like my seats. Each year, we ask to move a little closer and we're now pretty close. We'll see...

[UNIdad]

Are they hoping this will decrease the number of empty seats across from the scorers table?

It sure would be nice if they did something. I'm glad for the revenue that gets generated by the sale of those seats to big donor corporations, but it often looks so bad. Maybe they could have a "last minute club" of a few dozen people who get notifications to come take the seats if the donors don't use them.

[UNIAlum95]

I am ok with this as long as it doesn't punish lower giving level PSC donors that actually attend games in favor of business donors that are never there except for the rare "big game"

[sivert]

I am ok with this as long as it doesn't punish lower giving level PSC donors that actually attend games in favor of business donors that are never there except for the rare "big game"

YES. Previous years actual attendance should be a Panther Point factor.

[Waverly_Panther]

I believe the primary object of this is to get people to move up what level they are giving. Points only matter within the group you are in. So, a new person coming in donating at a higher level will have better seats than someone who has been donating at a lower level for years. It really puts an emphasis on your current level.

[r54uni]

So basically if you have given $500 dollars the last 20 years ($10,000), someone comes in and donates $1000 dollars this year and they are ahead of you?? Loyalty means very little - it's all "what have you done for me lately"!!

UNI puts out a lot of teachers who getting season tickets alone is a struggle. Now those long time season ticket holders who have slowly improved their seating through many years of renewing and cheering at games get punished because of financial reasons.

[CyCarp]

I don't know, but I'd be shocked if they punish long time ticket holders who consistently show up to games. It would only make sense that they'd look at just about everything they can, and they have access to plenty of info - how long you've donated, which sports you purchase tickets for, if tickets are actually used, etc.

[sivert]

I got a letter in the mail today explaining Panther Points. Complicated. Which, I of course like. Apparently, I have 179 points. Not sure what seats I'll have with that...

[Waverly_Panther]

I can only tell what I am told as I am affected. Your current giving level is the first thing they look at, then your points based on lifetime giving, years of holding season tickets, alumni or not, former athlete or not, etc.. factoring in to compare everyone in your level. The scenario above where if you have given $500 a year for 20 years and someone comes in at the higher level will choose first is true.

[havok58]

Sounds like some legitimate concerns and good ideas on here. Hopefully this will be a trial run and Harris will be open to suggestions and improvements for the next season, as long as people reach out to him in a constructive manner. Even bringing the idea of the "last minute club." It does look bad at all sporting venues where the big donors buy the best seats but don't fill them. I would think with technology and if they are scanning the bar code on your tickets, there is some database tracking how many games you have attended. It does stink that if you're a long time low-tier donor that has been attending games regularly and over the years have moved up closer to the court, now loses those seats to a higher donor that has no intention or rarely shows up.

Will this affect fan attendance or donors in the future? Will this carryover to football in the future? Again, open communication and constructive ideas to the Harris and the rest of the department can help improve so it's a win-win for all.

[BCPanther]

I do know that they are fully aware of what tickets are being scanned and what seats are or aren't being used.

['70 Grad]

So basically if you have given $500 dollars the last 20 years ($10,000), someone comes in and donates $1000 dollars this year and they are ahead of you?? .

No. You would have 200 points, they would get 30 for the money quoted. You would get an additional 60 points for 20 years of PSC membership. If you were a season ticket holder (only goes back 10 years) you would get 3 points per year for EACH sport. Thus if you bought only MBB you would have another 30 points. So its now up to 290 vs 30. If you always buy MBB and FB season tickets, you would have another 30 points.

And, as mentioned, points only matter in reseating to rank you WITHIN a giving level of the PSC. All Gold level donors will go ahead of all Purple donors.

[r54uni]

No. You would have 200 points, they would get 30 for the money quoted. You would get an additional 60 points for 20 years of PSC membership. If you were a season ticket holder (only goes back 10 years) you would get 3 points per year for EACH sport. Thus if you bought only MBB you would have another 30 points. So its now up to 290 vs 30. If you always buy MBB and FB season tickets, you would have another 30 points.

And, as mentioned, points only matter in reseating to rank you WITHIN a giving level of the PSC. All Gold level donors will go ahead of all Purple donors.

Exactly - you would have 290 points to their 30 points but your $500 dollars puts you in the Coaches level and their $1000 puts them in the Purple level. They would be seated before you. No matter how long you have been giving, no matter how many years you have been attending, no matter how loyal you have been to the Panthers. This is all about $$$$$!!