Ticket sales seem to be way down...

[DienerTime34]

Completely forgot that single-game tix went on sale to season ticket holders on Saturday. Logged in late Saturday night and got four for Iowa in the lower bowl, row W. I usually get extras to 1 or 2 big games every year and am usually four rows deep upstairs. I'm seriously frightened about what the Bradley Center is going to look like on a Tuesday night in December against Chicago State.

[mu03eng]

As long as the team wins this year, it will be a one time blip.  If this team doesn't win this year.....next year MU could really be hurting.

[PBRme]

I'm not so sure.  I bought 50 for Villanova and they are about the same location as last year and I was more on the ball and was in at 12:05

[mu_hilltopper]

Yeah .. I checked a few single games, and I don't see a huge difference.  Yes, there are a handful of lower bowl tickets, most are in the end-zone, and the last 2-3 rows. 

But upstairs .. I usually buy a bunch of tickets for friends, and the areas we look for are about the same.

[Tugg Speedman]

Completely forgot that single-game tix went on sale to season ticket holders on Saturday. Logged in late Saturday night and got four for Iowa in the lower bowl, row W. I usually get extras to 1 or 2 big games every year and am usually four rows deep upstairs. I'm seriously frightened about what the Bradley Center is going to look like on a Tuesday night in December against Chicago State.

Tickets sales are a lagging indicator.  They are based on how a team did the year before.

When we win the NC with a senior laden team, the next year the place will be sold out.

Like said before, win this year and next year sales will be stronger.

[The Lens]

My section (219) had a dozen seats available for the Iowa game.  That usually never happens.  Biggest question to me is why didn't more upper bowl ppl move down.  I understand some upper bowl STH have better seats than me, but not all.

[warriorchick]

My section (219) had a dozen seats available for the Iowa game.  That usually never happens.  Biggest question to me is why didn't more upper bowl ppl move down.  I understand some upper bowl STH have better seats than me, but not all.

I think our upper bowl seats (center court, Row C) are much better than many lower bowl seats.

To move to lower bowl seats that we think are better isn't worth what they are asking (IMO).

[The Lens]

I think our upper bowl seats (center court, Row C) are much better than many lower bowl seats.

To move to lower bowl seats that we think are better isn't worth what they are asking (IMO).

Of course, I would take yours any day.  Aren't there STH is the upper corners, uppers row L, etc, etc?  Not every Upper STH has it as good as you.

[🏀]

I think our upper bowl seats (center court, Row C) are much better than many lower bowl seats.

To move to lower bowl seats that we think are better isn't worth what they are asking (IMO).

You got stairs to deal with.

[warriorchick]

You got stairs to deal with.

Seeing as I am neither lazy nor infirm, it's not an issue.

[bradley center bat]

My section (219) had a dozen seats available for the Iowa game.  That usually never happens.  Biggest question to me is why didn't more upper bowl ppl move down. 

The cost?

[ChicosBailBonds]

My section (219) had a dozen seats available for the Iowa game.  That usually never happens.  Biggest question to me is why didn't more upper bowl ppl move down.  I understand some upper bowl STH have better seats than me, but not all.

Price?

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Price?

I've had the opportunity to purchase lower bowl seats since probably the '11-12 season, but remained upstairs because of the cost. I'm holding off until I'm independently wealthy, (give me 4 or 5 years).

[Warrior of Law]

The whole upper vs. lower bowl debate will be moot when the new arena is built.  It will have 3 levels, and they'll tarp off/close/darken the 3rd deck for most MU games.  Likely 10K in the lowest level, 4K in the 2nd, and another 2-3K in the top.  For the MU game that draws 12-14K, it will be ideal.

The projected seating capacity is 16,500.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Besides a crappy game product the last few years, I think there are changing demographics going on.  Baby Boomers are becoming snow birds and are simply not around as much in the winter.  The Millenials are burdened with debt with still weak high paying job opportunities.  And there aren't a lot of Gen X and Ys in between.

But mainly, the product has sucked.  There will be a lot of pressure on Wojo to turn it around.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The whole upper vs. lower bowl debate will be moot when the new arena is built.  It will have 3 levels, and they'll tarp off/close/darken the 3rd deck for most MU games.  Likely 10K in the lowest level, 4K in the 2nd, and another 2-3K in the top.  For the MU game that draws 12-14K, it will be ideal.

The projected seating capacity is 16,500.

I like that. 16,500 is a size that we could sell out pretty regularly. And if we can't, just darken the third deck and it will look like we are full!

[Warrior of Law]

Here are some comparable attendance numbers:

Nova-9,639
G'town-9,630
St. John's-7,463
Seton Hall-7,587

MU may see a reduction in tickets sold, and fannies in seats, over the next few year, as we move closer to these peer institutions.  However, the new venue will make it look and feel more like a MU in the 70s/80s MECCA experience and less like a All-State Arena-De Paul experience.

[vacinator]

The annual reseating process is a pain for many people.  It wakes up the sleeping dogs and is more complicated than simply writing a check or automatically debiting an account.   It takes some sort of active participation every year and there is a decent chance your seats will be different from the year prior.  I bet this process is contributing to cancellations.

[warriorchick]

The annual reseating process is a pain for many people.  It wakes up the sleeping dogs and is more complicated than simply writing a check or automatically debiting an account.   It takes some sort of active participation every year and there is a decent chance your seats will be different from the year prior.  I bet this process is contributing to cancellations.

Are you saying that people are choosing to forgo the entire season simply because of the extra few minutes reseating takes?  I doubt that number reaches double digits.

[Skatastrophy]

Are you saying that people are choosing to forgo the entire season simply because of the extra few minutes reseating takes?  I doubt that number reaches double digits.

People have to actively choose to re-up every year instead of just having the automatic payments take care of it.

I would expect to see more volatility in the season ticket purchasing because of that active choice having to be made every year instead of every two.

[Litehouse]

If a couple sweater vests drop out because of the minimal hassle of logging onto your computer once a year to renew tickets, thereby allowing me to leapfrog them in priority points and get better seats, I'm OK with that.

[Golden Avalanche]

The annual reseating process is a pain for many people.  It wakes up the sleeping dogs and is more complicated than simply writing a check or automatically debiting an account.   It takes some sort of active participation every year and there is a decent chance your seats will be different from the year prior.  I bet this process is contributing to cancellations.

Is it a pain for many people?

From my chair, it couldn't be an easier process that has resulted in the same seats five years running.

[Brewtown Andy]

Here are some comparable attendance numbers:

Nova-9,639
G'town-9,630
St. John's-7,463
Seton Hall-7,587

MU may see a reduction in tickets sold, and fannies in seats, over the next few year, as we move closer to these peer institutions.  However, the new venue will make it look and feel more like a MU in the 70s/80s MECCA experience and less like a All-State Arena-De Paul experience.

Nova and St. John's attendance numbers don't tell the full story on their attendance.  Given their games in the Pavilion and Carnesecca Arena respectively, their average is much lower than it would be if they played every game at Wells Fargo or MSG.

[Brewtown Andy]

The whole upper vs. lower bowl debate will be moot when the new arena is built.  It will have 3 levels, and they'll tarp off/close/darken the 3rd deck for most MU games.  Likely 10K in the lowest level, 4K in the 2nd, and another 2-3K in the top.  For the MU game that draws 12-14K, it will be ideal.

The projected seating capacity is 16,500.

Marquette averaged 14,318 paid in the Bradley Center last season.

I don't think anything is getting tarped off.

[bradley center bat]

The whole upper vs. lower bowl debate will be moot when the new arena is built.  It will have 3 levels, and they'll tarp off/close/darken the 3rd deck for most MU games.  Likely 10K in the lowest level, 4K in the 2nd, and another 2-3K in the top.  For the MU game that draws 12-14K, it will be ideal.

The projected seating capacity is 16,500.

How do we know the new arena will be three decks? There has not been a design out.

[Warrior of Law]

We don't know if it will have 3 decks, but every full-size arena built in last 20 years (including the Kohl Center) has more than 2 levels. I would envision the arena to look a lot like Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.  Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland technically has only 2 levels, but the 1st level has depressed courtside seats, so it looks like 3 tiers.  The Sprint Center in Kansas City may be the most likely model, however.  That venue has a large lower bowl, with balcony-type mezzanine seating, and a small upper deck.  Of course, Sprint sits 18,000+ and accommodates hockey.

The Bucks undoubtedly have the best minds and designers working on it and I'm sure they seen every new arena in North America.  Keeping hockey out is the real interesting dynamic.

[vacinator]

Is it a pain for many people?

From my chair, it couldn't be an easier process that has resulted in the same seats five years running.

Not everyone views the world from your chair.  The process forces the customer to spend more time revisiting the renewal decision.  From a pure business perspective the less attention that decision gets the better.

[avid1010]

Not everyone views the world from your chair.  The process forces the customer to spend more time revisiting the renewal decision.  From a pure business perspective the less attention that decision gets the better.

Exactly...

[MU82]

I'm very troubled by all the calm and reasoned explanations.

I was counting on Hiroshima XII (or whatever number we're up to).

[GGGG]

We don't know if it will have 3 decks, but every full-size arena built in last 20 years (including the Kohl Center) has more than 2 levels. I would envision the arena to look a lot like Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.  Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland technically has only 2 levels, but the 1st level has depressed courtside seats, so it looks like 3 tiers.  The Sprint Center in Kansas City may be the most likely model, however.  That venue has a large lower bowl, with balcony-type mezzanine seating, and a small upper deck.  Of course, Sprint sits 18,000+ and accommodates hockey.

The Bucks undoubtedly have the best minds and designers working on it and I'm sure they seen every new arena in North America.  Keeping hockey out is the real interesting dynamic.

While the new arena will undoubtedly have seating that primarily benefits basketball, it has to be built big enough to accommodate hockey right?  Even if that means movable seating.  And not because it will necessarily be hosting hockey games, but because it just makes sense to be as accommodating as possible.

From a seating perspective, I expect this new arena to be awesome.  I have said this before, but the Kohl Center seating for basketball is 100 times better than the BC.  I imagine 15 years later than an NBA arena can do much better than the Kohl.

[warriorchick]

Not everyone views the world from your chair.  The process forces the customer to spend more time revisiting the renewal decision.  From a pure business perspective the less attention that decision gets the better.

This is true, but you still won't be able to convince me that the number of season ticketholders who  didn't buy them this year because of reseating is statistically significant. In the past, you still had to confirm in some official way that you intend to buy tickets again and give them your billing information, even if it wasn't a reseating year.  It's not a gym membership.

You are talking about folks that have spent hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars per year on tickets, have a closet full of gold sweater vests, and have stuck with Marquette through some pretty crappy seasons.  The folks in the cheaper seats are typically younger, wouldn't be intimidated by the process, and don't have enough points for reseating to make a significant difference in where they end up sitting.

Besides, anyone who doesn't want to go through the hassle of doing the reseating online can have the ticket office do it for them.  It's one phone call.

[bradley center bat]

While the new arena will undoubtedly have seating that primarily benefits basketball, it has to be built big enough to accommodate hockey right?  Even if that means movable seating.  And not because it will necessarily be hosting hockey games, but because it just makes sense to be as accommodating as possible.

The new downtown arena will not have hockey.
Admirals will be moving to UWM Panther Arena.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/2015/07/admirals-hockey-teampreparing-for-move-to-uw.html

[Golden Avalanche]

Not everyone views the world from your chair.  The process forces the customer to spend more time revisiting the renewal decision.  From a pure business perspective the less attention that decision gets the better.

The process has always forced the customer to revisit a renewal. However, in 2015, it's done in the manner of a mindless opinion survey on a website rather then a dust collecting paper letter sitting under 14 other letters on my desk.

The ticket office holds your hand throughout whether it's online, in person, or on the phone. The process spent on deciding to renew your tickets in 2015 takes less time than waiting at the hostess stand for a Saturday night dinner at Chez Douche.

[GGGG]

The new downtown arena will not have hockey.
Admirals will be moving to UWM Panther Arena.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/2015/07/admirals-hockey-teampreparing-for-move-to-uw.html

Thank you.  I didn't state this well.  I know that the new arena won't have a hockey tenant, but I think they are still going to build something big enough that can accommodate hockey.  I would think that the bigger arena would be important for special events that need a larger space.  (Circus, concerts, ice shows, etc.) 

I'll give you an example.  Arco arena in Sacramento for years was considered to have some of the best basketball seating in the NBA.  Very loud and close to the floor.  It can still accommodate a hockey ice sheet when it is needed.

[jsglow]

Thank you.  I didn't state this well.  I know that the new arena won't have a hockey tenant, but I think they are still going to build something big enough that can accommodate hockey.  I would think that the bigger arena would be important for special events that need a larger space.  (Circus, concerts, ice shows, etc.) 

I'll give you an example.  Arco arena in Sacramento for years was considered to have some of the best basketball seating in the NBA.  Very loud and close to the floor.  It can still accommodate a hockey ice sheet when it is needed.

I have read that they do plan to purchase ice making equipment.  While it certainly seems true that the Admirals are going back to the Arena AND that the new facility will be built with basketball exclusively in mind, the ability to put in ice for ice shows, maybe an NCAA hockey event, etc. makes sense.  Still, with the Admirals moving I think we can all be convinced that it'll be a basketball palace, not the NHL facility envisioned by the Pettits. 

[bradley center bat]

Thank you.  I didn't state this well.  I know that the new arena won't have a hockey tenant, but I think they are still going to build something big enough that can accommodate hockey.  I would think that the bigger arena would be important for special events that need a larger space.  (Circus, concerts, ice shows, etc.) 

I'll give you an example.  Arco arena in Sacramento for years was considered to have some of the best basketball seating in the NBA.  Very loud and close to the floor.  It can still accommodate a hockey ice sheet when it is needed.

I'm with you. I know Disney on Ice can bring it's own ice and the size is not needed for a whole hockey rink for ice shows.

[GGGG]

I'm with you. I know Disney on Ice can bring it's own ice and the size is not needed for a whole hockey rink for ice shows.

Hold on...they bring their own ice?

[rocky_warrior]

Hold on...they bring their own ice?

Of course. And in typical Disney fashion they haul it by horse over a magical ice road.