Student ticket demand down for season

Last year's 14-15 record for the IU men's basketball team didn't just diminish enthusiasm of fans, players and students; it took a toll at the ticket office, as well. \nAfter two years of over-selling student season tickets, which left students with ticket packages at six or seven games out of a possible 11 or 12, the IU Athletic Ticket Office announced Saturday that all students who purchased tickets for the 2004-05 season will receive all 12 home games offered this year. \nTicket Office Manager Mike Roberts said one of the main reasons for the decline in the number of packages sold was last year's season, which was the worst in the last 34 years.\n"The win-loss record plays into the next year," Roberts said.\nHe also said that despite the decline in the number of packages sold, IU was still over capacity in its student section. The Hoosiers have the largest student section in the Big Ten, giving seats to 7,800 students. This year's ticket sales exceeded a little more than 8,000. But Roberts said this was not a problem because faculty and staff season tickets declined as well, opening more seats for the extra couple of hundred students.\nBesides the reduced interest in this year's team, Roberts said the new TicketMaster-managed system also could have been the cause for the decline. Anytime numbers drop, Roberts said it is reason to be concerned.\n"To a degree it is (a concern)," he said. "We always like to be in a position where our demand is among the highest in the country."\nLast season, according to the NCAA 2004 Division I Men's Basketball Attendance Leaders, IU ranked No. 7 in the country and averaged 16,487 fans per home game. \nRoberts said the reason the computer system was implemented was to make it easier on the students and to cut down on cash transactions.\n"We're trying to put in a system to make it more convenient for students to buy tickets and not have to come out to Assembly Hall to buy tickets," he said. \nRoberts said that between 35 and 40 percent of all the ticket packages purchased were done so after the Ticket Office's business hours -- allowing students to purchase tickets from the comfort of their personal computers. \nOne of the main problems with the internet system, Roberts said, was the e-mail that was sent out. Many students deleted the e-mail containing the information required to purchase tickets, he said. On top of the e-mail, students either lost or didn't know how to use their pin and account numbers. \nSome students contacted the Ticket Office in search of help or advice and said they received no answer.\nRoberts said that the office tried to assist all those who needed it.\n"Anybody who had time to call, we have tried to respond and accommodate them," he said. \nBecause of the system and the troubles it caused, some students weren't able to receive tickets.\n"History has been to try to accommodate every student that has wanted to see Indiana basketball," Roberts said. \nThis year's system of deciding how many tickets students received in their packages was the opposite from last year. \nLast season, students were guaranteed the whole season and then had their ticket packages slashed when more students than seats purchased tickets, causing IU to write thousands of refund checks for those games taken away.\nThis season, Roberts said the decision to reverse the procedure had to do with saving the University time, energy and money. Instead, students were guaranteed at minimum six games, according to the original e-mail sent out by the Ticket Office in late September, with the option of the office to add more games depending on how many students requested tickets. \nWith that decision came the additional charge of $66 to students because of the extra six games. \nRoberts said some students have returned their ticket packages because they couldn't afford the additional $66. \n"You would think students would want to see as many games as they can," Roberts said. \nThose students who have returned their packages received a full refund, he said.\nOther students, Roberts said, complained via e-mail and said they either didn't budget for the extra charge or didn't understand the system.\n"We are trying to be as accommodating as we can be," he said. \nRoberts said that by putting the packages at six games, he went on a conservative standpoint to not give students false hopes. \nWith 12 games in the package, Roberts said that the rotation and distribution of the student's seats is better because students have a better chance at receiving the prime seats, which many consider on the lower bowl and courtside. \nRoberts said that even though the number of students buying tickets is down, the University does not lose money because every seat will be filled at every game.\nIn order to raise more money for the struggling athletics department, though, changes have been made to Assembly Hall's courtside seating.\nThe press row, on the east side of the court, will be removed, and a row of donor seats will take its place. For a contribution of $15,000, donors can buy a pair of courtside seats for the 2004-05 season.\nThe press row will be moving to the southeast corner of the courtside seating behind the south basket. Those student seats will then be moved to the northwest corner of the courtside seats. That section was public seating last season and will now be student seating.\n-- Contact senior writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.