Got my first paycheck in about four weeks. Not much after student loans, rent and bills, but still had some:
New pair of pants: NO
A much needed new pair of shoes: NO
A bottle of Scotch: NO (stick with Kessler)
Groceries: PB&J for another Week
Downpayment on First Time non-student Season Tickets: OF COURSE!!!
Well at least you have your priorities straight ;D
Sensible budget :)
Pants are overrated anyway.
Props to Marquette for getting out the Points/Rank data, and updating it. I checked on Thursday, and they'd updated it just a day before.
Made it a lot easier to figure out how to get the most bang for your B&G donation. Instead of "how much do you want to donate" it was "how many accounts do you want to jump?"
Boy, for people with under 20 points, it makes a LOT of sense to donate a few hundred bucks. You jump ahead of a TON of people at those lower levels with every point you go up. The point per accounts jumped is very favorable.
Up the scale, not so much, your points/jump goes down rapidly. But generally speaking, you jump 25-50 accounts (50-100 seats) for each $100 you donate.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 02, 2009, 09:18:45 AM
Props to Marquette for getting out the Points/Rank data, and updating it. I checked on Thursday, and they'd updated it just a day before.
Made it a lot easier to figure out how to get the most bang for your B&G donation. Instead of "how much do you want to donate" it was "how many accounts do you want to jump?"
Boy, for people with under 20 points, it makes a LOT of sense to donate a few hundred bucks. You jump ahead of a TON of people at those lower levels with every point you go up. The point per accounts jumped is very favorable.
Up the scale, not so much, your points/jump goes down rapidly. But generally speaking, you jump 25-50 accounts (50-100 seats) for each $100 you donate.
I pulled out my letter from the last time we reseated, and I discovered that I managed to lose 2 points, just based on "current year donations," I imagine.
Yup .. your reseating year donations depreciate. In the year you give them, they are worth $100/1pt. The following years that same dollar of donation is valued at $250/1 pt.
After looking at the charts .. keeping up with the Joneses means $100-200 every reseating year, as about 25-50 people will reach your level or pass you, while some above you die off. So $100-200 keeps you about constant.
Is the info just on the regular MU site, or is there a special link to look at this reseating data?
http://www.gomarquette.com/tickets/reseating.html
http://www.gomarquette.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/marq/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/DeadlinePointsRank
.. But the deadline for donating was April 30th. so the ship has sailed.
AH - thanks MU_hilltopper. Appreciate the info. I missed the ship!
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 02, 2009, 12:40:15 PM
Yup .. your reseating year donations depreciate. In the year you give them, they are worth $100/1pt. The following years that same dollar of donation is valued at $250/1 pt.
After looking at the charts .. keeping up with the Joneses means $100-200 every reseating year, as about 25-50 people will reach your level or pass you, while some above you die off. So $100-200 keeps you about constant.
unfortunately, when you get higher in the points, it takes ten times that to stay even.
Yeah, I'm sure it's rough being up at those higher point levels. I sure don't envy that kind of pressure.
Hope you can handle it, it'd be a shame if you didn't get tickets and everyone below you moved up. ;)
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 02, 2009, 12:40:15 PM
Yup .. your reseating year donations depreciate. In the year you give them, they are worth $100/1pt. The following years that same dollar of donation is valued at $250/1 pt.
After looking at the charts .. keeping up with the Joneses means $100-200 every reseating year, as about 25-50 people will reach your level or pass you, while some above you die off. So $100-200 keeps you about constant.
I also believe for each $250 to your school--Arts, Business, etc--you get one point (same season) plus all the previous donations before that year you get 1 point per 500.00 I believe.
I could be mistaken but I think that is how it works.
But stated before, the time to donate has passed for the reseating this year (April 30, 2009)
Here are all the rules:
http://www.gomarquette.com/bluegold-fund/priority-point-system.html
Season ticket holder
* 4 points for each consecutive year through the 1995-96 season.
* 2 points for each consecutive year after the 1995-96 season.
* Maximum of 20 immediately preceding seasons worth of consecutive season ticket holding points are available to corporations, partnerships and other business entities. This change is effective as of July 1, 2006.
Blue & Gold Fund donations
* 1 point for each consecutive year of donating to the Blue & Gold Fund, effective July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005.
* 2 points for each consecutive year of donating to the Blue & Gold Fund, effective July 1, 2005.
* Minimum donation requirement: $100 per fiscal year.
Annual donations
* For gifts to the Blue & Gold Fund in the current reseating period of two fiscal years, 1 point for every $100 donated. Effective July 1, 2005.
* For gifts to other Marquette University funds in the current reseating period of two fiscal years, 1 point for every $250 donated. Effecive July 1, 2005.
* Matching funds from the donor's employer, if permitted by the matching employer, are counted toward point totals.
Previous donations
* All donations made to Marquette after July 1, 1995 will count towards your point total, at the appropriate rates depending on the funds for which they are designated.
* For donations made to the Blue & Gold Fund after July 1, 1995 but not within the current reseating period, gifts earn 1 point for every $250 donated.
* For donations made to other Marquette University funds after July 1, 1995 but not within the current reseating period, gifts earn 1 point for every $500 donated.
Hank Raymonds raffle
* For purchases of raffle tickets in prior fiscal years, 1 point for every $250 purchased.
* Effective July 1, 2001.
Alumni
* 10 points for first degree
* 5 points for second degree
* 2 points per degree thereafter
Letter winner
* 10 points for Marquette letter winners for participation and contributions to Marquette
Women's basketball season ticket holders
* 1 point for each consecutive year of purchasing two or more women's basketball season tickets
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 03, 2009, 07:02:29 AM
Yeah, I'm sure it's rough being up at those higher point levels. I sure don't envy that kind of pressure.
Hope you can handle it, it'd be a shame if you didn't get tickets and everyone below you moved up. ;)
sooo, Topper, I guess my whinning is based on having enjoyed the Al years, and endured all the subsequent years, held on w/o hesitation through the Dukiet years, and then had to start reseating... after all that. Now, along comes a 'neebie' with deep pockets and he (she) can knock you off with a check. Worse; you carry 4 tickets all those years, at no small expense, and finally work them up to the point of being good seats. Then they change the rules- and anybody that has had 1 or 2 seats all these years, can now get up to 4! Suddenly all the people ahead of you double their seating! When I added my second pair of seats, I wanted to put them with my first pair- Marge (God love her) Fularczek said "sure, we can combine them, but we'll have to put them with the newest pair, not the ones you've had all these years." I know you said it in jest, but it does make one pause every 2 years and ponder the reseating process.
You're right on all points. Especially the adding seats up to 4.
I'd add another complaint. No transferring of seats from one generation to another. I know it's officially prohibited, where parents hand down their prime seats (points) to their kids .. but one individual told me he got his account transferred from his dad, and indeed, has prime seats.
They need a way to give out extra credit B&G points for effort. Naming your first born after the coach .. volunteering at the Buzz BBQ to dish out wet naps .. attending the Coppin State game .. lots of possibilities.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 04, 2009, 08:04:37 AM
They need a way to give out extra credit B&G points for effort. Naming your first born after the coach ..
You named your kid "Tommy Hilltopper"??
Had I gotten B&G points for it, I would have strongly considered it.
Thomas Ousmane Oluoma Travis Hilltopper. ;)
I'm really considering starting to get 2 women's season tickets. At $50 a seat on the low end, it's worth it to be spending $100 a year for a point, when you consider you get 1 point/$250 to the B&G for donations before the current reseating period.
Looks like the cheapest ticket is $40/seat. $80/pt, non-depreciating. Not a bad idea!
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 04, 2009, 08:04:37 AM
I'd add another complaint. No transferring of seats from one generation to another. I know it's officially prohibited, where parents hand down their prime seats (points) to their kids .. but one individual told me he got his account transferred from his dad, and indeed, has prime seats.
I know a guy who's tickets are still in his father's name, although now deceased. I should have done the same..., my dad started taking me to games when I was in grade school (Eddie Hickey era), with his season tickets as a faculty member. How good would they be now?
When they went to the point system, you could transfer at that time within the family. My father had ten season tickets. He got 6 seats in 1955 and added four more in 1961 or 1962 and that is when he started taking me to games. Two were transferred to my name in the 1970's. When the point system went into effect, we swapped tickets so I have my father's points going back to 1955. My father passed away in 2003. The last reseating I was 301. As of today I am ranked 253. Last week I was ranked 311, before I made my donation. I might fall a little bit yet, since I do not believe all of the donations have been recorded yet.
See, that's just wrong. It installs a royal class of people who have their tickets by birthright. Eventually, there's no hope for anyone else, as more and more accounts are passed down forever.
I can't find the rule online, but I'm pretty sure they have a rule (now) that prohibits passing them down. I believe the rule is broken by request, which I think is unfair.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 05, 2009, 08:19:24 AM
See, that's just wrong. It installs a royal class of people who have their tickets by birthright. Eventually, there's no hope for anyone else, as more and more accounts are passed down forever.
I can't find the rule online, but I'm pretty sure they have a rule (now) that prohibits passing them down. I believe the rule is broken by request, which I think is unfair.
Well, by your argument wouldn't the whole point system be a royal class onto itself? I love Marquette, worked hard when I was there, but because of my job in the non-profit sector (which I chose, and yes, I could try to find my more lucrative work), I can not afford to these kinds of donations.
But Marquette, and every other D-1 institution values the dollar above all when it comes to tickets, and I am not saying they shouldn't. MU puts out a fantastic product, and if that means, keeping this system as is, go right ahead. I will never make the kind of money that will allow me access to these kinds of tickets anyway :P.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 05, 2009, 08:19:24 AM
See, that's just wrong. It installs a royal class of people who have their tickets by birthright. Eventually, there's no hope for anyone else, as more and more accounts are passed down forever.
I can't find the rule online, but I'm pretty sure they have a rule (now) that prohibits passing them down. I believe the rule is broken by request, which I think is unfair.
sounds like sitting in line for Packer tickets... when the people with tickets can still pass down their season tickets... its a terrible system, but rewards loyalty for watching the 'lost years'.
Forget right and wrong.
In order to maximize profits, shouldn't Marquette eliminate any hereditary point system?
Just thinking out loud here, but allowing people to transfer tickets to children/etc decreases the incentive for those children to donate because the emphasis is placed on longevity. Of course, the better seats require a donation per seat anyways, so MU is getting their money once people already possess the seats. But Marquette would probably get more money if folks had to start fresh and make their own donations to get to the good seats.
Quote from: reinko on May 05, 2009, 08:30:26 AM
Well, by your argument wouldn't the whole point system be a royal class onto itself? I love Marquette, worked hard when I was there, but because of my job in the non-profit sector (which I chose, and yes, I could try to find my more lucrative work), I can not afford to these kinds of donations.
But Marquette, and every other D-1 institution values the dollar above all when it comes to tickets, and I am not saying they shouldn't. MU puts out a fantastic product, and if that means, keeping this system as is, go right ahead. I will never make the kind of money that will allow me access to these kinds of tickets anyway :P.
True, donations allow you to jump the line. But the "seniority" system should be considered fair. You get points for .. simply buying seats every year. -- Now, I do not know what the mix is for the high-level people, if most of them are there because they are 30+ year ticket holders, or they gave a lot, or a mixture of the two.
So sure, money makes a difference. But money makes a difference with EVERYTHING. Your choice of a lower paying career has ramifications far beyond where you sit at MU games .. your home, your car, etc.
Quote from: Henry Sugar on May 05, 2009, 08:49:03 AM
Forget right and wrong.
In order to maximize profits, shouldn't Marquette eliminate any hereditary point system?
Just thinking out loud here, but allowing people to transfer tickets to children/etc decreases the incentive for those children to donate because the emphasis is placed on longevity. Of course, the better seats require a donation per seat anyways, so MU is getting their money once people already possess the seats. But Marquette would probably get more money if folks had to start fresh and make their own donations to get to the good seats.
+1 It would make more money for MU (the real goal here), and it would require everybody to sink or swim on his/her own.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 04, 2009, 10:35:10 AM
Looks like the cheapest ticket is $40/seat. $80/pt, non-depreciating. Not a bad idea!
Plus it'll make up for the fact that as a university employee, I don't have to pay the personal seat license/mandatory donation.
If my wife and I each have 2 degrees from MU do we start out with 30 points before any donations or am I stuck with just my degrees?
You add in your spouse's degrees, yep. 10+10+5+5 = 30. That jumps you up over 800 people (of 2800), maybe enough to get you in the lower bowl.
Marquette tickets was a birthright until they decided to base it on donations. The point system was a compromise to recognize past loyalty. My points can only be passed on to my wife. The point system is also important to keep season tickets holders from dropping their tickets when it looks like the team is not going to be any good. Once you have several years in, you do not want to drop your tickets and lose your points. Throw away the points given each year and some ticket holders will dropped their tickets and save their money for a good team and then make a big donation. It bothers me when I see empty seats around me for the lesser games on the schedule. I go to all of the games and I live in Sheboygan. I will be in the stands irregardless of how good we are or how good our opponent is. That loyalty or obsession is not shared by a lot of people who get good seats because they have money.
Amen brother bilsu...I agree.
Quote from: bilsu on May 05, 2009, 06:46:20 PM
Marquette tickets was a birthright until they decided to base it on donations. The point system was a compromise to recognize past loyalty. My points can only be passed on to my wife. The point system is also important to keep season tickets holders from dropping their tickets when it looks like the team is not going to be any good. Once you have several years in, you do not want to drop your tickets and lose your points. Throw away the points given each year and some ticket holders will dropped their tickets and save their money for a good team and then make a big donation. It bothers me when I see empty seats around me for the lesser games on the schedule. I go to all of the games and I live in Sheboygan. I will be in the stands irregardless of how good we are or how good our opponent is. That loyalty or obsession is not shared by a lot of people who get good seats because they have money.
The two seats next to mine (218 row X) were empty for EVERY game on the 07-08 schedule, and every game on the 08-09 schedule up until the Syracuse game. Then there were people in them. After the first couple of media timeouts, I asked how they got their tickets, since there hadn't been anyone there for the last 35+ games. The answer I got was that these are their season tickets and they don't make the 2 hour trip for every game.
?-(
I am sorry if the answer is in the trail above, but i didnt see it.
This will be my second season as a season ticket holder and my first experience with reseating. We have 4 seats in our group of ticket holders- all alumni. do we get alumni points per each seat or is it just based on the person whose name the tickets are under?
It's based on you and your spouse only. If you share the other 2 tickets with two other Alums, that makes no difference. (Although that would be cool if you could somehow pool points.)
I don't disagree with Bilsu's notion that people need to be rewarded for their loyalty to the program. What bugs me is when some get rewarded for their parents' (or perhaps even grandparents') loyalty. Not only does that perpetuate the notion that MU basketball is some closed club that you'll never get in if your parents weren't members, but it creates a disincentive for people who have so many points that they don't need to donate.
We need a balance -- where long-time fans are rewarded for their loyalty, but the system still creates proper incentives for raising the much-needed funds to continue to compete in the Big East. I think the current system does a pretty good job of striking that balance -- as long as it no longer allows transfers of points from parents to children via some unwritten exception to the rules.
As for the comments about empty seats for the "lesser" games -- I share that concern, but we need to recognize that not everybody is lucky enough to be able to make it to every game. I live 4 1/2 hours from Milwaukee (each way), and can not possibly make it to every game. I typically get to most of the weekend games (unless winter weather would make the drive unsafe), but am fortunate if I can make it to more than one or two weeknight games. On average, that gets me to about 10 or so out of 18 home games. If you didn't know the story, you might consider me a "bad" fan who simply bought my way into the system. In reality, I am a die-hard, long-time ticket holder (15 years) who owes his seat location partially to longevity and partially to donations. And my streak would be far longer than 15 years, except that I couldn't justify keeping the tickets during the few years when I lived in Tennessee and then Virginia in the early 90s. Not everybody who fails to make all the games, or makes donations to get better seats, is a bad fan....
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 06, 2009, 09:15:58 AM
It's based on you and your spouse only. If you share the other 2 tickets with two other Alums, that makes no difference. (Although that would be cool if you could somehow pool points.)
Well you can't pool the points, but there are ways to make efficient use of donations. For example, I "manage" three different sets of season tickets. With one set my business partner, who is ten years younger than I am, gives me money to donate to the Blue & Gold Fund, thereby maximizing the point total when added to my donations. He then uses those seats. I then turn around and use his points, (he and his spouse are both alums), for upper bowl seats that together we use as "reserve" seats for the premium games, or as give aways to younger kids, etc. Obviously you have to trust your friends, and eventually I'll start giving him my donations to use in his name, as I approach senility.....
For all the talk about they heirarchy of season tickets, MU does allow for the newcomer to get seats, albeit not great seats. But like in the workplace, the point system does allow for long-term upward mobility.
As a recent graduate with only 10 points, I am looking forward to just getting tickets, probably in the upper bowl somewhere. That isn't going to bother me one bit, what else is there to look forward to on an early December Tuesday than seeing the new team play Coppin State (or some other team)?!
In time, the point system does allow you to get into the bottom bowl and pretty solid seats; however, the elite seats, the way that I see it with the points system right now being some have over 1,049, is damn near impossible to reach for the everday die-hard fan without money, and that's ok with me. I forget who said it early, "forget right and wrong" but I agree. Season tickets, while not only providing exciting entertainment to us, is primarily an effort to raise money for MU, or as I see it, an opportunity to give back to the University that helped in my own growing whether directly or indirectly with the people I have learned to know.
I would like to see some changes to the point system, however. One for instance would be receiving points for going to other less popular MU events. I noticed that Women's BBall season tickets gives you points, but what about MU Soccer, Women's VBALL or track? I do not know if you receive points for those events. A way to help the average fan and attendance at those Big East games would be to have point incentives on ATTENDANCE to those events...say 1 point for every 10 attended. Maybe they have that and I just missed it, but working Concessions at the AL and at Valley Fields my last 2 1/2 years at MU I did not see many people at those games except for students and family.
The idea may not be a popular one for the old-guard but it could incite more attendance to those events and also allow for those Milwaukee area without legacies to rise up while also seeing what MU offers besides Men's Basketball.
Cosign on attendance points. There's even some verbage on the Ticketmaster site about "Attendance points" or whatever .. MU doesn't use it that function on TM, but obviously other organizations do.
Since all tickets are bar-coded, the possibility does exist to determine exactly who goes to what game.
Rewarding folks for attending games .. I'd say reward them at .1 point per game for all non-conference games .. so you could earn about 1 point per year. I understand if you live out of town .. but it IS a choice to buy tickets, and it IS a choice to go to games. Giving out .1ppg for cupcakes is a reward for a different kind of loyalty. -- Clearly, when comparing two ticket holders, holding everything else constant, but one goes to 22 games, the other goes to 10, who "should" have (marginally) better seats?
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 06, 2009, 11:15:43 AM
Rewarding folks for attending games .. I'd say reward them at .1 point per game for all non-conference games .. so you could earn about 1 point per year. I understand if you live out of town .. but it IS a choice to buy tickets, and it IS a choice to go to games. Giving out .1ppg for cupcakes is a reward for a different kind of loyalty. -- Clearly, when comparing two ticket holders, holding everything else constant, but one goes to 22 games, the other goes to 10, who "should" have (marginally) better seats?
Attending a game isn't always going to make the university any money. Now if I were rewarded points for how many beers and brats I purchase at the games they would know my true commitment to the team. That stuff isn't cheap!
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 06, 2009, 11:15:43 AM
Cosign on attendance points. There's even some verbage on the Ticketmaster site about "Attendance points" or whatever .. MU doesn't use it that function on TM, but obviously other organizations do.
Since all tickets are bar-coded, the possibility does exist to determine exactly who goes to what game.
Rewarding folks for attending games .. I'd say reward them at .1 point per game for all non-conference games .. so you could earn about 1 point per year. I understand if you live out of town .. but it IS a choice to buy tickets, and it IS a choice to go to games. Giving out .1ppg for cupcakes is a reward for a different kind of loyalty. -- Clearly, when comparing two ticket holders, holding everything else constant, but one goes to 22 games, the other goes to 10, who "should" have (marginally) better seats?
We should then institute a scale for distance traveled to attend the game. Surely my travel from Jersey for 5 games a year is more impressive then someone traveling from Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, or even Naperville, Illinois for 10 games a year. Who will start the petition? ;)
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 06, 2009, 11:15:43 AMRewarding folks for attending games .. I'd say reward them at .1 point per game for all non-conference games .. so you could earn about 1 point per year. I understand if you live out of town .. but it IS a choice to buy tickets, and it IS a choice to go to games.
Yes, and it IS a choice as to whether or not you donate. As between attending games (when you've already bought tix) and donating money, the university is actually better off if you do the latter....
If we're talking about giving out "loyalty" points, why not award points based on distance driven to attend games? I would argue that it takes just as much (or more) loyalty for me to drive 9 hours round trip to see MU play UConn than it takes for someone in Wauwatosa to drive 30 minutes round trip to watch them play Texas Southern.
Quote from: bilsu on May 05, 2009, 06:46:20 PM
Marquette tickets was a birthright until they decided to base it on donations. The point system was a compromise to recognize past loyalty. My points can only be passed on to my wife. The point system is also important to keep season tickets holders from dropping their tickets when it looks like the team is not going to be any good. Once you have several years in, you do not want to drop your tickets and lose your points. Throw away the points given each year and some ticket holders will dropped their tickets and save their money for a good team and then make a big donation. It bothers me when I see empty seats around me for the lesser games on the schedule. I go to all of the games and I live in Sheboygan. I will be in the stands irregardless of how good we are or how good our opponent is. That loyalty or obsession is not shared by a lot of people who get good seats because they have money.
Bilsu, I'm with you. I try to attend every game. What burns me is that I did not have season tickets for a few years due to living out of the area for job reasons. So I have 18 years of being a season ticket holder that do not count along with my current number of consecutive years. I tried to get the B&G people to acquiesce, but they said the system could not accomodate that. Guess they never heard of file maintenance.
Bah. You guys and your "I drive/fly far to attend games, so I'm a big fan and should get rewarded too."
Two can play at that game.
I have two kids, and my wife and I have to arrange a babysitter weeks in advance, get them ready for said baby sitter, put up with the bawling and tantrums when we leave, pay about $30 each game for the sitter, on top of dropping $60 to see Coppin State. THAT MEANS WE ARE HUGE FANS! Jesus, our ordeal is far more difficult than someone lounging on a plane for a few hours!!! :P
Everyone makes choices. To buy tickets, to attend, to have kids, to live far away from the holy land (Mecca, err, the Bradley Center). (At least I didn't make the mistake of marrying a non-MU grad. :D)
The end of the equation is .. how valuable are you to MU? Money is one measurement. The other is longevity in buying tickets. This third one is whether or not you show up and actually support the team. It doesn't matter to the team (or concession stands*) whether you arrived at the BC after a 20 hour mule ride, or a 5 minute drive. Are you in your seat, nor not?
* IIRC, MU doesn't get a cut of the concessions. No one can minimize actually supporting the team by cheering them on in person, though. In the end, what's the point of having a game unless people are there to watch?
No disagreement Hilltopper. If you'll see from my posts, I have never disputed that MU needs to use $$ as a primary part of its points system. I only used the example of my long drive as a measure of "loyalty" after another poster suggested that season ticket holders who miss non-conference games should miss out on additional "loyalty" points. My response was made to show how absurd that idea is.
Oh, and by the way -- I have two kids too, and for years have had to work out weekend-long babysitters when we go to games. (Far more difficult to arrange, and more expensive than $30.) Fortunately, the older one is just now old enough to stay home alone, and the younger one has started coming to games with us....
As I said, I like the idea of attendance points. It's not absurd in the least.
In the end, sorry, but holding everything else constant, a fan that goes to all the games is more valuable to the program than the same fan who goes to one fourth. And by the same token, a fan that drives 10 hours to put his butt in a seat is no more valuable than the same fan who drives 10 minutes.
I am arguing that that value could be rewarded -- (and at a very low level, 1 freaking point per year. If those of you who only go to some/big games want to keep up, well fine, it'll cost you $100 smackers to keep up with the folks who attend all the games.)
It's a pretty simple argument to make, and consistent with the general rule .. people who buy tickets for more years get better seats .. people who go to more games should have the opportunity to have better seats. Why let (relatively better) seats go unused, when there are others who would gladly move up and use them?
Now, you might argue that traveling farther proves you're more loyal. Well, super. My point was to say that there are tons of mitigating factors that people could claim they are the more loyal fan .. babysitters, 2nd-3rd shift workers, car troubles, poverty, sickness, # of gold shirts in their closet, etc.
.. but in the end, the one goal that can be universally applied and measured is the finish line of everyone's journey: attending the game.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 06, 2009, 02:56:50 PM
# of gold shirts in their closet,
Since you brought it up:
Point deductions for failing to wear gold to a game.
Point deductions if you're under the (completely arbitrary) age of 50 and you're wearing a yellow sweater-vest.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 06, 2009, 02:56:50 PM
As I said, I like the idea of attendance points. It's not absurd in the least.
In the end, sorry, but holding everything else constant, a fan that goes to all the games is more valuable to the program than the same fan who goes to one fourth. And by the same token, a fan that drives 10 hours to put his butt in a seat is no more valuable than the same fan who drives 10 minutes.
I am arguing that that value could be rewarded -- (and at a very low level, 1 freaking point per year. If those of you who only go to some/big games want to keep up, well fine, it'll cost you $100 smackers to keep up with the folks who attend all the games.)
It's a pretty simple argument to make, and consistent with the general rule .. people who buy tickets for more years get better seats .. people who go to more games should have the opportunity to have better seats. Why let (relatively better) seats go unused, when there are others who would gladly move up and use them?
Now, you might argue that traveling farther proves you're more loyal. Well, super. My point was to say that there are tons of mitigating factors that people could claim they are the more loyal fan .. babysitters, 2nd-3rd shift workers, car troubles, poverty, sickness, # of gold shirts in their closet, etc.
.. but in the end, the one goal that can be universally applied and measured is the finish line of everyone's journey: attending the game.
It is absurd...and self-serving. Sorry, but the truth is the truth.
How exactly is having your butt in the seat for the game against Texas Southern "more valuable" to the team than my paid-for but occasionally empty seat? PLEASE tell me you aren't deluded into thinking it makes any difference in the outcome....
Get back to me and tell me how fair your proosal is when you get transferred to Detroit, and you bust your a$$ to keep coming to as many MU games as you possibly can...only to be told by MU that you're being sent to the upper bowl because you missed the Texas Southern game becuase it was on a Tuesday night and you had an 8:00 am meeting back in Detroit the next morning. I'm sure you'll be thrilled when someone at MU tells you "well, you can catch up with the people who passed you up if you'll just cut us a check for another $100."
Points for attendance would never work. I go to a huge majority of games and when I don't I try to unload my tickets. If somebody's sitting in my seats, I get credit? It wouldn't work.
Also, to Skatastrophy's absurd post...I will tell you right now I will NEVER wear a gold t-shirt to a game. Asking people to dress the same is a bizarre trend and when you add to that the fact that "gold" represents the most appalling chapter in the history of our basketball program you can bet I'm not alone. In fact, when I see people wearing gold shirts I lose respect for them.
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on May 06, 2009, 03:29:22 PM
Also, to Skatastrophy's absurd post...I will tell you right now I will NEVER wear a gold t-shirt to a game. Asking people to dress the same is a bizarre trend and when you add to that the fact that "gold" represents the most appalling chapter in the history of our basketball program you can bet I'm not alone. In fact, when I see people wearing gold shirts I lose respect for them.
You usually put more effort into your trolling than that.
I'll give it a 2 out of 10.
I've been a season ticket holder since 1946, so obviously I think that consecutive seasons should be weighted more heavily but what can you do, its all about the mighty dollar. I think the current system does a decent job of balancing the two. Some tinkering may be useful though.
They could use attendance as a tie breaker. I have 256 points and I assume I am not the only one with that amount. I have no idea how they break the tie. Maybe they do it based on donations in the reseating period, that would be fair also.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 06, 2009, 03:08:54 PM
It is absurd...and self-serving. Sorry, but the truth is the truth.
Absurd? Please.
Every "point" rule, whether it's points for degrees, 2nd degrees, money, consecutive years, whatever .. every rule may have its supporters and detractors, depending on whose ox is being gored. Can we rise above that?
The current system is designed to encourage people to do certain things: buy tickets every year, get 2nd, 3rd degrees, (marry MU alums - hah), be involved in athletics, and donate money. Some of that I've achieved, some I have not. I think it's fair to give prioirty to letter winners, and mutli-degree folk, even though I am not one. Looks like I'm not so self-serving after all. I'd also give points to MU employees, even though I am not one. Why? It just seems fair.
Does MU have a vested interest in having more fans actually attend? Absolutely, and Marquette ALREADY DOES THIS with their "fanatics" program whereby the students earn points for attending sporting events (soccer, WBB, volleyball) to encourage attendance.
Adding an attendance factor adds a new encouragement to the system: Show up. Use your tickets and you shall be rewarded. If you choose not to, others who actually come, shall earn better seats, by virtue of their desire to attend, and effort to do so. Sorry, but that makes a hell of a lot of sense. One could argue it makes far more sense than +5 points for a 2nd degree being rewarded with better seats.
Ticketmaster has actually built this function into their system. Clearly, MU/fanatics and other organizations think it makes sense and use it.
And honestly? I'd like to see EVERYONE earn that point. No one likes an empty BC. Not the coaches, not the players, not the BC, not the fans.
I think the vast majority of STHs use (have someone use) their tickets every game, as the lower bowl is usually 75%+ full for every cupcake. It's pretty easy to flip your insult: Those who argue against it are the "self-serving" ones, ensuring others don't get a benefit that they themselves choose not to earn by their non-attendance. "Sorry, the truth is the truth."
Would the small minority of STHs who live hours away lose out on this reward? Yes, admittedly, but by choice. If encouraging attendance is something MU wants to do (and it is) then some folks will go up, others will go down, based on their own choices.
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on May 06, 2009, 03:29:22 PM
Points for attendance would never work. I go to a huge majority of games and when I don't I try to unload my tickets. If somebody's sitting in my seats, I get credit? It wouldn't work.
Why would it would "never work"? To answer one point, yes, if your ticket is scanned in, you get credit, as MU, nor anyone in the crowd cares if Mr. John Q. Ticketholder or his neighbor uses the seat, just as long as someone does. True, that means it's not always rewarding personal loyalty, but that's an understood quasi-limitation. At least someone is using them.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 06, 2009, 08:12:23 PM
Adding an attendance factor adds a new encouragement to the system: Show up. Use your tickets and you shall be rewarded. If you choose not to, others who actually come, shall earn better seats, by virtue of their desire to attend, and effort to do so.
Would the small minority of STHs who live hours away lose out on this reward? Yes, admittedly, but by choice. If encouraging attendance is something MU wants to do (and it is) then some folks will go up, others will go down, based on their own choices.
Why would it would "never work"? To answer one point, yes, if your ticket is scanned in, you get credit, as MU, nor anyone in the crowd cares if Mr. John Q. Ticketholder or his neighbor uses the seat, just as long as someone does. True, that means it's not always rewarding personal loyalty, but that's an understood quasi-limitation. At least someone is using them.
First off, I am happy to see that you agree that points should be based in part on "desire to attend, and effort to do so." Thing is, I have as much desire to attend as anybody, and I'd bet my effort in attending even 10 games as much as that expended by most in attending 18. The problem with your analysis is that it assumes a lack of effort if someone doesn't attend. But you keep ignoring that....
As for the concept of "choice." Yes, in an overly simplistic way, everything is a matter of choice. In the real world, however, choices have consequences. If I had "chosen" to get to every 7 pm weeknight game, it might have led to reprimands (or more - firing eventually?) at work. When the result of a "choice" might be to put one's livelihood in jeopardy, it suddenly doesn't look like so much of a choice. My guess is that even the most die-hard Milwaukee-based fans would get to fewer games if that was a possible result of their "choice." (Of course, the speedometer in my Odyssey says it can hit 140 mph -- so maybe you're right that I could still have made it by halftime if I left right after work.) And what about my "choice" not to come to several games over the years when there were blizzards? Sure, I could have "chosen" to drive 4 or 5 hours at 70 mph through a blizzard when everyone else was driving at 30 mph -- or would my drive have ended pretty quickly? Or instead of getting up and starting my drive at 6 am for that game at around noon, perhaps I could have left at 2 am -- silly of me to have made such an awful and selfish "choice." Yes, it's easy (and naive) to talk about everything as a choice when your choices are easy.
And if I could still scalp my tickets (perhaps even to a fan of the opposing team), or simply send them to someone who is already going to the game and ask them to get them scanned in (they could enter with my tickets, leave, and come back in with theirs), that's more than a "quasi-limitation" on rewarding loyalty. It's a real one.
Fortunately, I'm not too worried about our idea, because I suspect the powers that be at MU have thought through the system quite a bit more than you have....
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 07, 2009, 08:53:42 AM
Thing is, I have as much desire to attend as anybody, and I'd bet my effort in attending even 10 games as much as that expended by most in attending 18. The problem with your analysis is that it assumes a lack of effort if someone doesn't attend. But you keep ignoring that....
Fortunately, I'm not too worried about our idea, because I suspect the powers that be at MU have thought through the system quite a bit more than you have....
I certainly understand your effort is high. But as I wrote before, EVERYONE has mitigating factors. Distance is yours. Mine is two kids and babysitting. Others work 2nd shift. Some take night classes, or volunteer somewhere. The bottom line is, every single human that walks in to a game has a whole panoply of responsibilities and difficulties, AND ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE RELATIVE AND UNMEASURABLE.
The one measurable item is whether the ticket is used, or not. If you want to encourage attendance (they do) then, well, you gotta break some eggs. Most will earn the reward, others will not.
As I wrote before, every element excludes someone. This isn't t-ball, where everyone gets a trophy. Not everyone gets points for extra degrees, athletic participation, marrying a MU spouse. Are you ready to protest that, too? If not, why not? Those policies aren't fair to you, right?
Honestly, your best argument would be to suggest that people like yourself, who live far away, would chose not to buy season tickets because losing a point would push you over the edge, and make it not worth it for you. There's some cost/benefit math to that, at least.
Quote
Fortunately, I'm not too worried about our idea, because I suspect the powers that be at MU have thought through the system quite a bit more than you have....
Hah. Good fallback position, it won't happen because of someone other than yourself can explain all those quality reasons not to do it. Or perhaps they won't do it because of the sliver of fans who would pitch a fit because they live out of state (or wealthy non-attenders) and it's their 1-point ox being gored, preventing MU from encouraging a beneficial behavior. That, we can agree on.
I have a question about loop holes? What if, for instance, I decided to add my father-in-law's name to my tickets? He has a degree from Marquette. Is that something that's done or would it drop me back in line?
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on May 07, 2009, 10:38:35 AM
I have a question about loop holes? What if, for instance, I decided to add my father-in-law's name to my tickets? He has a degree from Marquette. Is that something that's done or would it drop me back in line?
Unfortunately, no. The way I was told that you cannot add someone for the points. My brother has had season tickets for awhile, and I am not splitting them with him. We tried to add my points, and were told it was not possible.
And if Gay Marriage was ever legalized in Wisconsin .. would MU be required to add +10 if the spouse also went to MU, or would they get a religious exception? :o
Oh, wait, no politics.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 07, 2009, 10:30:27 AM
I certainly understand your effort is high. But as I wrote before, EVERYONE has mitigating factors. Distance is yours. Mine is two kids and babysitting. Others work 2nd shift. Some take night classes, or volunteer somewhere. The bottom line is, every single human that walks in to a game has a whole panoply of responsibilities and difficulties, AND ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE RELATIVE AND UNMEASURABLE.
The one measurable item is whether the ticket is used, or not. If you want to encourage attendance (they do) then, well, you gotta break some eggs. Most will earn the reward, others will not.
As I wrote before, every element excludes someone. This isn't t-ball, where everyone gets a trophy. Not everyone gets points for extra degrees, athletic participation, marrying a MU spouse. Are you ready to protest that, too? If not, why not? Those policies aren't fair to you, right?
Honestly, your best argument would be to suggest that people like yourself, who live far away, would chose not to buy season tickets because losing a point would push you over the edge, and make it not worth it for you. There's some cost/benefit math to that, at least.
Hah. Good fallback position, it won't happen because of someone other than yourself can explain all those quality reasons not to do it. Or perhaps they won't do it because of the sliver of fans who would pitch a fit because they live out of state (or wealthy non-attenders) and it's their 1-point ox being gored, preventing MU from encouraging a beneficial behavior. That, we can agree on.
You keep going back and forth. First you say you want to reward things like "loyalty" and "effort." Then, when I show that my loyalty and effort levels are just as high as yours -- that simple attendance is a poor proxy for "loyalty" or "effort" -- you argue that we should still use this system...well, basically because it's measurable.
No, my "best argument" is not that your proposal would push me ovet the edge. It's that MU already has a system that rewards contributions to the program that actually make a ($$$$$) difference. Yours would not contribute to that goal, and is being proposed by you because (surprise, surprise) it would allow you to move up the line without changing anything you're doing.
And no, my comment about it never happening isn't a "fallback position." Go read the dictionary -- a "fallback position" is an alternative or second-choice option. I am not proposing that we switch to a different option -- I am simply saying that your absurd proposal will never happen, and that the current system is already fine.
You want to make an
informed judgment about this issue? Next season, try this: Before
every game, drive from Milwaukee to Mauston (the approximate halfway point of my drive). Then turn around and go to the game. After the game, do it again before going home. Every game. Don't ever go to a game if you haven't done this. After the season, see if you can still tell me with a straight face that number of games attended is a reasonable proxy for "loyalty" or "effort" - and that I should be penalized if I only make it to 10 games. In return, I will happily arrange for babysitting for your two kids (oh, the horror!). Or you could keep making blind statements about issues you really know nothing about....
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 07, 2009, 10:46:26 AM
And if Gay Marriage was ever legalized in Wisconsin .. would MU be required to add +10 if the spouse also went to MU, or would they get a religious exception? :o
Oh, wait, no politics.
In that case, they could share a seat.
Wow. Just wow.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 07, 2009, 11:26:24 AM
You keep going back and forth. First you say you want to reward things like "loyalty" and "effort." Then, when I show that my loyalty and effort levels are just as high as yours -- that simple attendance is a poor proxy for "loyalty" or "effort" -- you argue that we should still use this system...well, basically because it's measurable.
I have conceded that it is impossible to imagine any precise system by which loyalty/effort could be measured.
What can be measured is attendance. Can you move on, please?
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 07, 2009, 11:26:24 AM
No, my "best argument" is not that your proposal would push me ovet the edge. It's that MU already has a system that rewards contributions to the program that actually make a ($$$$$) difference. Yours would not contribute to that goal, and is being proposed by you because (surprise, surprise) it would allow you to move up the line without changing anything you're doing.
Unfortunately, your premise is incomplete. MU's system encourages donations, which is A GOAL, not THE goal: The system also encourages other things, like extra degrees, athletic participation, women's ticket purchases, etc. Those are all legit goals, right? So is encouraging attendance. -- And, drum roll .. it WOULD encourage donations .. as some would choose to donate +$100 to keep up.
And, for the record, my wife and I choose to miss about 3-4 cupcake games/year. Ouch, that must hurt your "self-serving" argument tremendously, seeing as I WOULD NEED TO CHOOSE TO CHANGE MY OWN ATTENDANCE BEHAVIOR to earn the full award.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 07, 2009, 11:26:24 AM
I am simply saying that your absurd proposal will never happen, and that the current system is already fine.
You can call it "absurd" all you like, but it won't change the fact that MU ALREADY DOES IT WITH STUDENTS. Nor will it change the fact that Ticketmaster has a system for exactly that, that other orgs use. Clearly, these guys are wrong, and you're the one who is right!
Indeed, the current system is "fine" .. it just doesn't encourage attendance, which would be beneficial.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 07, 2009, 11:26:24 AM
You want to make an informed judgment about this issue? Next season, try this: Before every game, drive from Milwaukee to Mauston (the approximate halfway point of my drive). Then turn around and go to the game. After the game, do it again before going home. Every game. Don't ever go to a game if you haven't done this. After the season, see if you can still tell me with a straight face that number of games attended is a reasonable proxy for "loyalty" or "effort" - and that I should be penalized if I only make it to 10 games. In return, I will happily arrange for babysitting for your two kids (oh, the horror!). Or you could keep making blind statements about issues you really know nothing about....
No need. I completely know what it's like, I've driven across the state 100 times. I've said about four times now: Everyone has their difficulties. Yours is distance. In the end, your argument boils down to, not what's good for MU, but what discriminates against one class, the long distance ticket holder. Looks like we need to re-tool the whole system: Donation points discriminate against the non-wealthy. Athletic points discriminate against the non-athletic. Those are WAY bigger groups of discrimination, compared to the long distance STH.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 07, 2009, 11:26:24 AM
After the season, see if you can still tell me with a straight face that number of games attended is a reasonable proxy for "loyalty" or "effort" - and that I should be penalized if I only make it to 10 games. In return, I will happily arrange for babysitting for your two kids (oh, the horror!). Or you could keep making blind statements about issues you really know nothing about....
As I see, you're really hanging on this # games/loyalty and effort thing. Please drop it. As I've explained repeatedly, there's no precise measurement for it. I'll make it really official and clear, so you don't need to bring it up again: I hereby disavow the notion that attendance precisely measures loyalty or effort. I am deeply sorry I may have offended your superior sense of effort and loyalty with the thought that it is less than those who attend more games. Happy now?
Truly, this proposal is not singling you out, the sliver of long distance purchasers of season tickets. Its goal is to encourage those who don't use their seats to do so, and for 98% of STHs, that doesn't entail driving for hours. -- Naturally, everyone has their difficulties, as discussed above.
Marquette wins, the program wins, the team wins, fans win, and the BC wins, if attendance goes up. Folks who go to cupcakes win. Folks who don't, over a long long
long time (1 point per year) infinitesimally lose their seats to those who want to use them more. And yes, GoooMarquette gets caught up in the net and loses. Sorry.
For the record, I believe my drive, which is close to 2 hours each way with drop-offs, etc., is beneficial to me. If I didn't have to drive all the way home, I'd likely get be too liquored up to remember the end of some of these games.
I should get points for that.
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on May 07, 2009, 02:46:01 PM
For the record, I believe my drive, which is close to 2 hours each way with drop-offs, etc., is beneficial to me. If I didn't have to drive all the way home, I'd likely get be too liquored up to remember the end of some of these games.
I should get points for that.
Just think, if MU ever renegotiated the lease at the BC so that they get a cut of beer sales, they could give points for the number of beers you drink at games because that would bring $$$ to the program.
As an aside, I'm really enjoying this thread. I wish I had some popcorn. I also wish I was a season ticket holder...imagine how many points I would get for my eight hour drive (each way)...no, wait...
I will give you points for that, if you give me points for wearing gold. hah
Quote from: StillAWarrior on May 07, 2009, 02:51:24 PM
Just think, if MU ever renegotiated the lease at the BC so that they get a cut of beer sales, they could give points for the number of beers you drink at games.
This is absolutely the best idea I have ever read on this site.
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on May 07, 2009, 02:59:25 PM
This is absolutely the best idea I have ever read on this site.
You're only saying that because you'd have the seat next to Buzz.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 07, 2009, 02:37:57 PM
Wow. Just wow.
I have conceded that it is impossible to imagine any precise system by which loyalty/effort could be measured. What can be measured is attendance. Can you move on, please?
Marquette wins, the program wins, the team wins, fans win, and the BC wins, if attendance goes up. Folks who go to cupcakes win. Folks who don't, over a long long long time (1 point per year) infinitesimally lose their seats to those who want to use them more. And yes, GoooMarquette gets caught up in the net and loses. Sorry.
Wow is right....
OK, you've conceded that you can't precisely measure effort/loyalty, so your proposal is to use only "measurable" factors (like attendance), and apply a randomly chosen multiplier (like your randomly chosen 0.1 point per NC game) to it, right?
Well, distance from MU or the BC can easily be measured -- just like whether or not my ticket is used. MU knows my home address -- they've sent my tix there for years, they know it's the same mailing address as my CC, and in fact someone from the B&G Fund visited a few years back. They have this same information from other ticket holders as well, and it would not take much effort to get exact distances from MU or the BC. Therefore, they could take this
easily measurable information, and then apply some randomly chosen multiplier (like you did for the 0.1 ppg) to recognize the varying distances from which people travel. That way, someone who lives right in town could/would be expected to get to all or most games, whereas people who live further out wouldn't. This uses the "measurability" criterion that you keep spouting off about, with a random multiplier pulled out of the air. Even though this meets your own criteria, I'm guessing you'll find a problem with it, because it doesn't benefit you personally....
To others who are reading this -- no, I am not saying we should use this system. I'm just showing that, if someone ever took muhilltopper's scheme seriously, the exact same "measurability" criterion could be used on other factors to create a more complicated (but far more fair) system.
And no need to say sorry to me -- you're the one who doesn't have the absurd system you're advocating. Sorry muhilltopper.
I just can't wait to hear why this wouldn't work, even though it uses your criterion of being "measurable."
Can I just point out that I love it when the seats next to me are vacant.
I will never complain about having too much room.
And I am on the side of both Gooo and hilltopper. Some people just can't make all the games. I don't go to a lot of NC games and I don't think I should be penalized. But I think people who go to every single game should get a point extra (or have their heads examined?) or something. But not a per game reward.
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on May 06, 2009, 03:29:22 PM
Points for attendance would never work. I go to a huge majority of games and when I don't I try to unload my tickets. If somebody's sitting in my seats, I get credit? It wouldn't work.
Also, to Skatastrophy's absurd post...I will tell you right now I will NEVER wear a gold t-shirt to a game. Asking people to dress the same is a bizarre trend and when you add to that the fact that "gold" represents the most appalling chapter in the history of our basketball program you can bet I'm not alone. In fact, when I see people wearing gold shirts I lose respect for them.
Why do you think it's absurd to wear the team colors? I think it's awesome and very intimidating for opponents. It was great at the Ducks - Red Wings game on Tuesday night with the Wings fans in red and white and all of us Ducks fans in Orange or black. Looking forward to tonight's game...colors are cool by the fans.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on May 07, 2009, 03:36:37 PM
Well, distance from MU or the BC can easily be measured -- just like whether or not my ticket is used. MU knows my home address -- they've sent my tix there for years, they know it's the same mailing address as my CC, and in fact someone from the B&G Fund visited a few years back. They have this same information from other ticket holders as well, and it would not take much effort to get exact distances from MU or the BC. Therefore, they could take this easily measurable information, and then apply some randomly chosen multiplier (like you did for the 0.1 ppg) to recognize the varying distances from which people travel. That way, someone who lives right in town could/would be expected to get to all or most games, whereas people who live further out wouldn't.
...
And no need to say sorry to me -- you're the one who doesn't have the absurd system you're advocating. Sorry muhilltopper.
I just can't wait to hear why this wouldn't work, even though it uses your criterion of being "measurable."
You're going to be waiting a long time then, because I love your system. You've indeed made it better.
True, it creates a system that could give you an advantage, as your max point award would be higher if you went to all 10 cupcakes, versus my max .. but you won't, and the class of folks that could have a higher max is a small class. It creates the incentive to attend, and holds harmless those who live far away.
I'm on board.As a systems guy, that wouldn't be all that tough, either. A little zip code, longitude and latitude magic, and presto, everyone has a miles to mecca value. -- Or make it simple. You're either in the 9 (?) county area, or you're not, giving the system just two multipliers to deal with. Miles are more accurate, though, true.
Finally, please. Every time you call this "absurd" you look foolish, as this system has been implemented for MU's students, and inside Ticketmaster. It's clearly a legit system, made better by your "distance" variable.
So I flew from Boston to both the NC State and Syracuse games last year...do I get super awesome travel points??
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on May 07, 2009, 04:43:26 PM
You're going to be waiting a long time then, because I love your system. You've indeed made it better.
True, it creates a system that could give you an advantage, as your max point award would be higher if you went to all 10 cupcakes, versus my max .. but you won't, and the class of folks that could have a higher max is a small class. It creates the incentive to attend, and holds harmless those who live far away. I'm on board.
As a systems guy, that wouldn't be all that tough, either. A little zip code, longitude and latitude magic, and presto, everyone has a miles to mecca value. -- Or make it simple. You're either in the 9 (?) county area, or you're not, giving the system just two multipliers to deal with. Miles are more accurate, though, true.
Finally, please. Every time you call this "absurd" you look foolish, as this system has been implemented for MU's students, and inside Ticketmaster. It's clearly a legit system, made better by your "distance" variable.
Fair enough -- I will stop calling it absurd, and appreciate your thoughts on this latest point.
That said, even though this current iteration would benefit me, I'l be the first to admit I'm surprised if/when MU goes to an attendance-based model, as I'm not sure how well it would translate into real practice. It's one thing to do it with students, who are a pretty captive group and pay little for their tickets. With the much greater variability in season ticket holders, it seems like we could find ourselves on a slippery slope where one party or another could keep coming up with proposals to adjust the formula based on some additional factor that we haven't thought about (and which may be more or less measurable). Next thing you know, we could have something that looks like the tax code, and I hope we can agree that NOBODY wants to go there.... ;)
Anyhow, peace. A good debate is always fun....
Quote from: reinko on May 07, 2009, 05:00:59 PM
So I flew from Boston to both the NC State and Syracuse games last year...do I get super awesome travel points??
Yes. I will keep them in my super-special spreadsheet :)
I think this part was brought up awhile back, but where on gomarquette.com can I find where my point total puts me in terms of everyone else? I know my point total, but would like to see the levels for how much money will move you up a certain amount in the line. (I realize it is done for this reseating period just wanted to take a look).
Quote from: Strokin 3s on May 08, 2009, 09:32:12 AM
I think this part was brought up awhile back, but where on gomarquette.com can I find where my point total puts me in terms of everyone else? I know my point total, but would like to see the levels for how much money will move you up a certain amount in the line. (I realize it is done for this reseating period just wanted to take a look).
Point ranking (http://www.gomarquette.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/marq/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/DeadlinePointsRank)
Points by section of the BC (http://www.gomarquette.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/marq/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/PointBreakdown090429)