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UT raises season ticket prices in basketball
University of Tennessee senior Bryce Basler sits at the ticket window at Thompson-Boling Arena on Wednesday. Although the office is currently open, primarily for season ticket renewal, Basler has only had one ticket patron in the last three days. He says he is mostly there to provide an outlet for those who prefer to stop by and ask questions in person.
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The Tennessee men's basketball program expects to sell out its 16,000 season-ticket allotment despite an increase in prices, according to UT executive associate athletic director John Currie.
Season ticket renewal forms were sent out earlier this month via the Internet and hard copy mail, and must be returned by Aug. 11. Any season tickets that remain will be put on sale Sept. 3. Currie said Wednesday the Vols expect to release their complete schedule by the end of this week.
Season tickets for the lower level side court cost $535 ($31.47 per game, up from $25.44), lower level end zone seats are $385 ($22.65, up from $18.33) while upper arena seats are $160 ($8.88, up from $8.55).
Currie said he anticipates the only season tickets that will be made available to the public will be in the upper deck. Individual game tickets go on sale Oct. 1.
“As in the past, season ticket orders are filled by donor priority, and the second priority is for season ticket holders who are not annual contributors but were season ticket holders last season,'' Currie said. “We tried to keep the upper arena prices low so that Tennessee basketball is accessible to all of our families and fans.''
Currie said the increase in ticket prices is to offset the costs associated with keeping the Vols' athletic programs and facilities among the best in the nation. The UT athletic program recently sank approximately $38 million into basketball for a new practice facility and renovations to Thompson-Boling Arena.
"We continue to make investments in our programs and the arena improvements for the stability and long-term success of all of our programs,'' Currie said. “The donors and season ticket holders are helping do that.''
It is also costing more to pay coaches. Earlier this month, UT coach Bruce Pearl received a $300,000 raise to $1.6 million for the 2008-09 season.
Pearl's contract escalates to $2.5 million by 2014. Pearl also received a $250,000 bonus and a retention bonus of $1.5 million.
His salary will average $2.3 million a year over the life of his seven-year deal.
Pearl's assistants will also get raises. The salaries have yet to be finalized.
The Vols, who ranked fourth in the nation in average home attendance last season (20,267), are coming off a year that saw them win a school-record 31 games while winning their first outright SEC title in 41 years and attain their first No. 1-ranking.
“Everywhere I go now, people ask me, 'What happened at Tennessee?' '' said Pearl, who is 45-2 at Thompson-Boling Arena in his three years with the Vols. “I tell them that from the time we (Pearl's staff) got there, the fans have responded and just filled the building''
UT played the toughest schedule in the nation last year, and this year's home slate includes games with Gonzaga (Jan. 7), Memphis (Jan. 24) and Florida. The Vols are riding the third-longest active home win streak in the nation at 32 games.
The Vols are in the top 10 of many preseason rankings and are the obvious choice to repeat as SEC champions despite losing their starting backcourt.
“We've got five freshmen and a junior college point guard, so half the team is brand new,'' Pearl said. “I'm excited about the talent we have, but without that experience in the backcourt, we'll have to work very hard on our consistency.''
The Vols return junior forward Tyler Smith, a preseason favorite for SEC Player of the Year, and have added McDonald's All-American Scotty Hopson and juco All-American point guard Bobby Maze.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by banman360 on July 23, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
who wasnt expecting this. 1st maybe?
Posted by BigMix on July 23, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is Coach Fulmers fault, right?
Posted by Volchaz on July 23, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did they factor in the price of gas when they did this? Hope we pack it out, with such a great product on the court. Can you really put a pricetag on watching B.Maze "Put on for Tennessee" ;)
Posted by smitbo7 on July 23, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
not surprised. first of future increases.
Posted by marc_ash on July 23, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Guess the increased cost of recruiting and other expenses needs to be picked up somehow.
Posted by JCVol85 on July 23, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So there is a 16000 seat limit that they put on selling season tickets. I'm not sure how many visiting schools receive, but that leaves about 8000 left over. My question is how you get tickets to those big games. I've seen how games like ohio state and florida sell out before they ever go on sale through the university. Maybe there's some way to get these tickets that I don't know about because I don't live in Knoxville, but I don't know how you can have so many seats left over and never sell individual tickets to the bigger games. It seems to work the same way in football. Anyone know how to get these big game tickets without scalping or buying a season ticket?
Posted by marc_ash on July 23, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://ugaphoto.alumni.uga.edu/multim...
A little something "interesting" my buddy from GA sent me.
Posted by GreerVol22 on July 23, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the price of success ladies and germs.
Posted by alfrizzle097 on July 23, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't mind. Look how much better the product is. Football keeps jumping in price when the product is at the same level it has been.
I don't mind paying more as long as I'm getting more.
Posted by marc_ash on July 23, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JCVol85,
Quite simple. The University rewards its doners. I'm looking at my season ticket renewal and there are many "Additional items" for sale. I have an opportunity to renew my season tickets and also purchase additional season tickets(subject to availability of course) as well as tickets to the Old Spice Classic and SEC tourney.
In years past, I'm sure you could get tickets to pretty much any game you wanted. However, now that the product is much better, those "big game tix" aren't available because doners are scooping them up before they go on sale to the gen. public.
With football, any "extras" are automatically offered to doners...not the general public, but doners. The higher the rank you are, the more tickets you have the opportunity to buy. So...doners will always have first shot at extras and also all away games. Thats why the general public can't get their hands on the tickets everyone wants.
I'm guessing similar circumstances apply to basketball in the sense that Joe average can't get a ticket to the "big games" because the doners have purchased them.
Time to open up the wallet I'd say.
Posted by JCVol85 on July 23, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thanks for the info marcash,
I guess I'll have to wait 'till I graduate college to be able to afford a season ticket.
Makes sense that it works that way because I know donors always get the first opportunity to buy, as they should. Although I know what you were saying, season ticket holders are just as much average joes as non season ticket holders lol.
Posted by brownsvillevol on July 23, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oh mcbrim are you still stinging from 5-1 against pearl. it sure looks it.
Posted by volboy81 on July 23, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
33c/game increase for the "regular" fan is better than we could have hoped for! Thanks UT!!
This will be another great season at TBA!!!!!!!!
Posted by BADGES0413 on July 23, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually McBrim some of the money is being used to fund an Epilaser for Eddie Munster to make him look Un-werewolf Like. Also, some will be set aside for bail money for any player of fan that takes out that talentless thug Dan Werner.
Nary a regard,
Badges
Posted by threehundredbowler on July 23, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sock it to me,sock it to me,sock it to me.
Posted by chrisw2967 on July 23, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
blame it on hurricane dolly
Posted by supersmo18 on July 23, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Forget Hurricane Dolly... I blame John Adams. :)
Posted by 55Vol on July 23, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mcbrim .... you heard incorrectly. The clock in TBA is fine. Competition from the Fla basketball teams is sorely lacking however as we have been running the Fla. basketball teams off the court in Knoxville and Gainesville recently.
more kind regards
Posted by overatedvols on July 23, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They raise the price and then the Tigers come in and ruin the season. You ended up paying more to be an eyewitness. Wonder when they'll give you some good news over there?
Posted by AlpharettaVol on July 23, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't see anything about student tickets. I wonder how many of those 8,000 are set aside for students? Maybe a huge chunk of those 8,000 are snapped up by the students and that's why there aren't any "big game" tickets for sale.
Posted by DennisVols on July 23, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Last week GA Tech anounced a cut in ticket prices for football games to off-set the cost of fuel and tough economic times, the Braves are even reducing prices and I have heard of other college and professional teams doing the same thing to help their fans out during these tough times.
Maybe better management of the budget is needed here.
Posted by BillVol on July 23, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice link on UGA.
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on July 23, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
1 word......
BBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEE
thats all
Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on July 23, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally support the price increase. You want great basketball and overachieving and you get it with Pearl. Unlike other sports that raise the prices for less entertaining results.
Posted by Madkels on July 23, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And Mike Hamilton was complaining about a shortfall? He's beginning to sound like our Democratic Congress.
Posted by b_neas on July 23, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Attendance will still be sold out for most games. Still hard to find anything more exciting to do in Ktown for $20. I would watch a Pearl team even if they lost. The style his guys play and the level of enthusiasm and intensity they show makes them enjoyable to watch. Winning is just a bonus.
Posted by RichRollin on July 23, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey slim, A55es like you should have to pay more, you fake vol fan you!!
Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on July 23, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
DaddyVol
And idiots like you who support the football staff should also pay more because you are the reason the big guy is still around. And while you are at the game, please buy a Touchdown Frank and sit on it.
Posted by ButchIsBack on July 23, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay doorknobs, TBA after the renovations hold just over 21,000. So there are actually 5K tickets left after season tickets. The students get arounf 1500. The rest are sold as individual games.
Posted by RichRollin on July 23, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey slim, thanks but no thanks, I don't roll like that. I support the football program and U.T. He(), they could make you the coach and as much as it would pain me, I would still cheer for the Vols!! So take it for what it is and deal with it.
Posted by VOLS85 on July 23, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ohh yes pleasegetrid,
less entertaining results definitely came out of paying for season tickets this year...
As we won every game at home, including a monster blowout of Georgia and Arkansas, I sure wish we could have done better at home!
Posted by General_Watermelon on July 23, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We Vol fans do not know how good we have it. Pearl whose put the basketball team on the map. Pat whose had it on the map since the 1970's. And the Greatest Coach of em all, Mr. Philip Fulmer who won a National Championship in 1998.
Posted by bricker865 on July 23, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey overrated...how about an all or nothing deal? We whip you next year like everyone knows will happen and you get lost for good. Your team wins and you'll be a permanent fixture. Deal? Thought not.
Posted by bobbarbilly on July 23, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just tip it off and lets play ball.
Posted by overatedvols on July 23, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bricker, I just couldn't do that to you. Of course the Tigers will win and then i'll be a legal resident over here. When everyone complains i'll constantly point out that it was brickers fault. They'll treat you bad and probably kick you out. As bad as I am, my conscious still won't let me do that to you.
After that game the initials TBA will have a new meaning. (T)igers (B)eat Vols (A)..
Wish I could give you better news. Inflation, season ticket price hikes, and a blowout loss come Jan. (and a new meaning for TBA) Things are looking pretty grim over that way.
Posted by RichRollin on July 23, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Things are looking pretty grim over this way?? Overrated that is the most REDICULOUS thang I've heard from you. And that's pretty badr. Just remember, B-ball is the only subject other than crime rates that you can compete in. It's F-ball season if you aint heard. I'm sorry, with it being F-ball season, you don't have anything to talk about, so carry on!!
Posted by BSweet on July 23, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Greer- The price of success or the price that success brings? Either way it's worth it.
Over- I don't want to be an eyewitness to what the tigers do. That sounds dangerous! I swear officer, I didn't see a thing!
Dang! Seems like the troll has crawled back out from under his bridge. Lock away your children folks, McBrim is on the prowl.
Posted by RichRollin on July 23, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BSWEET, Sweet. O.Rated knows the deal.
Posted by Bigger_Al on July 23, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Badges - You are right. Werner is a hack out of the Bill Laimbeer mold. I don't know if Eddie Munster is coaching him up that way or if it just comes naturally to that thug.
Speaking of thugs, and news on Teddy Dupay today?
Posted by dvols on July 23, 2008 at 11:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gas prices went up too! i'm still buyin!
Posted by General_Watermelon on July 24, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Raise the prices and keep out all the riff raf like overrated.
Posted by DandyVol on July 24, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's worth paying more, just to see the beating the Vols are going to lay on the Tigers.
Posted by pdhuff on July 26, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They shouldn't annoy UT senior Basler while he's trying to beat Spider Solitaire 10 times in a row.
Good use of staff, one sale in three days! Dupree could handle that job.
Maybe not.....
Posted by itsme53792 on July 27, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another interesting note in the comparative views on bball programs in TN: utenn's per game ticket costs (from $8 to $35)...are still really cheap. A ticket costing $35....would get someone a seat in the ozone of FDX forum for a University of Memphis game...and--yes orange fans--that includes the CUSA games. With $8, you can leave the FDX and walk one block onto historic Beale Street and buy one drink. In fact, when the Tiger ticket cost is adjusted for the donation required to be eligible to buy the ticket, the Tiger ticket costs more than the NBA Grizzlies' ticket. A comparative article done last year reflected that the Memphis ticket is one of the 3 most expensive in the country. So, utenn still has lots of upside potential...once it becomes an Elite program.
Posted by TopTenn on July 27, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bitesme over spend to see UTEP, SMU USM, and UAB and the other sorry teams of CDOA. But still no on campus arena or stadium.
Posted by itsme53792 on July 28, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rckydx: Love the thougth on "overspending"; $100 MM budget that gets the uthugs ZERO BCS games since 1998. SEC basketball? Maybe you should check last year when CUSA had a winning record against the sec..which included such powerhouses as Auburn, Ole Miss, S CAR, etc. Those creampuffs couldn't win the MAC. We'll take FDX forum on hisoric Beale which had GAME DAY. Why charge for seats at noxville? $8? Please; hot dogs cost more in Memphis. rocky top high in noxious noxville: Pitiful and Pitable.
Posted by LadyVolsEighTimes on July 28, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It must SUCK to be a Tiger High fan.
Itsme is bragging on the cost of Hot Dogs being over 8 bucks?????
FDX Forum had sections of seats collapse in games last year.
Do Tiger Tech fans actually think they get to use FDX for Free????????
Posted by itsme53792 on July 29, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All right now!!! Great to see some real macho from noxious noxville!! And as usual, it's from the GIRLS...THE ONLY CHAMPS IN NOXVILLE!! Because, the girls have more championships than the little volboys have NCAA wins. Lady moron: Hot dogs cost more...say on Broadway...than in rural, economically deprived settings such as noxville. Fried baloney sandwiches right there in Boling. Wow. No shortage of baloney in noxville, is there? As to "sucking"...undoubtedly a subject about which it will be stipulated that you are expert, here's a novel American concept for you: More success is BETTER than less success. Memphis has MORE. uthugs have LESS...except, we stipulate, at sucking.
Posted by GMoney_volz on August 2, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You Tiger High fans ready for another BB beat-down in Knoxville next season? I wish they played in football this year, it always feels good to stomp Tiger High.
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