Athletic Department's Decision Means Fewer Front-Row Seats for Students at Memorial Stadium
Andy Boyle
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: News
Fewer students will have front-row seats in the south section of Memorial Stadium starting on the date of Nebraska's first home game against Western Michigan. In addition, block seating will be eliminated.
Athletic Director Tom Osborne confirmed the changes Tuesday.
Some of the changes include making all student tickets general admission, with priority for upperclassmen to sit in the east stadium. Students wishing to sit in a block now will have to show up early enough to claim their seats before others.
And about 2,000 students in several sections of the front portion of south stadium will be displaced to cheaper seating in the top portion of Memorial Stadium's southeast corner. Season ticket holders who previously sat there will fill the vacated front seats.
If the Athletic Department decides to charge ticket holders the same price as nearby front seating, it could bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars more annually than it did with students sitting there.
However, "(the change) was not done for financial reasons," Osborne said. "We have no idea whether there will be an increase in revenue or not. We're sure the seats will be sold."
Osborne said one reason for the change was because students have a tendency to stand on their seats throughout the game, and it wasn't fair for the season ticket holders who sat behind them.
"We're doing what we can to be fair," Osborne said. "But I just have to tell you, people who buy a ticket are entitled to see a game, so it wasn't happening. That's why this move has been made."
The meeting over changing student seating didn't happen overnight. Discussion between members of the Athletic Department and the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska have been going on for more than a year.
Former ASUN President Matt Schaefer said he was in related talks with the Athletic Department as far back as the spring of 2006.
"Then when we came back in the fall, (the Athletic Department) unilaterally ditched those (discussions)," he said. "They just backed away from them without informing us they were going to do that. We were kind of surprised when football season started up that a couple of things weren't happening."
Athletic Director Tom Osborne confirmed the changes Tuesday.
Some of the changes include making all student tickets general admission, with priority for upperclassmen to sit in the east stadium. Students wishing to sit in a block now will have to show up early enough to claim their seats before others.
And about 2,000 students in several sections of the front portion of south stadium will be displaced to cheaper seating in the top portion of Memorial Stadium's southeast corner. Season ticket holders who previously sat there will fill the vacated front seats.
If the Athletic Department decides to charge ticket holders the same price as nearby front seating, it could bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars more annually than it did with students sitting there.
However, "(the change) was not done for financial reasons," Osborne said. "We have no idea whether there will be an increase in revenue or not. We're sure the seats will be sold."
Osborne said one reason for the change was because students have a tendency to stand on their seats throughout the game, and it wasn't fair for the season ticket holders who sat behind them.
"We're doing what we can to be fair," Osborne said. "But I just have to tell you, people who buy a ticket are entitled to see a game, so it wasn't happening. That's why this move has been made."
The meeting over changing student seating didn't happen overnight. Discussion between members of the Athletic Department and the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska have been going on for more than a year.
Former ASUN President Matt Schaefer said he was in related talks with the Athletic Department as far back as the spring of 2006.
"Then when we came back in the fall, (the Athletic Department) unilaterally ditched those (discussions)," he said. "They just backed away from them without informing us they were going to do that. We were kind of surprised when football season started up that a couple of things weren't happening."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Sad day
posted 3/05/08 @ 5:39 PM CST
Am I the only one who thinks Dr. Tom is lying about not knowing whether there will be a revenue increase or not? This is a disgrace, he should be moving students back to the 50 yard line, not putting them in the nosebleed seats. (Continued…)
Lana
posted 3/05/08 @ 8:07 PM CST
I am very disappointed in this decision. Football stadiums around the Big 12 and other high level teams give students MUCH better seating. Nebraska gives their Best seats to the visitor first (West Stadium) and then donors and others and LAST students. (Continued…)
Leslie
posted 3/05/08 @ 11:04 PM CST
This is ridiculous...students are the most enthusiastic during the games. Why are we getting moved back?
Post a Comment