Negotiations between the Athletic Department and the student group charged with purchasing student tickets for next year’s football and men’s basketball games began last Friday.
The Athletic Department Finance Committee has decided to purchase fewer student tickets to football games next year, which may result in a shift in student seating areas.
The addition of a game to next year’s line-up and the low student turn-out at some games has prompted the group to seek ways to reduce costs.
Student Sen. Kyle McKenzie said the ADFC proposed cutting 1,000 student tickets to games occurring before fall term begins. Another idea is to reduce the number of tickets to games that don’t attract as many students.
McKenzie said for the University of Arizona game, 5,384 student tickets were distributed, but only 3,392 tickets were collected at the gate. That translates to $41,840.
“That’s a big loss of student money,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie said Steve McBride, the Athletic Department representative, “didn’t seem too thrilled” with the idea of reducing student tickets to select games and expressed concern about the department’s ability to sell those seats.
McKenzie said McBride countered with a suggestion that the student section be moved over, closer to the goal post. McKenzie said he didn’t like the idea of students being pushed into the corner.
Sen. Natalie Kenzie agreed.
“We need to cut tickets,” she said. “But those are also worse seats.”
McKenzie expressed concern about student reaction to the loss of seats.
“I’m worried about that,” she said. “But there’s not much we can do. We’re doing the best we can.”
McBride was not available for comment Monday.
The ADFC will have its regular meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the EMU Century Room A.
– Jill Aho