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Tennessee had better be careful.
Many Vols' fans are up in arms over the school's
decision to hike the prices of individual game tickets.
Others are a bit miffed at UT's perceived biting of the
hand that feeds it.
Here is the skinny: Tennessee is going to raise the
price of its single-game tickets from $38 to $45. In
addition, some season ticket holders who are
"grandfathered," meaning all they have to do is pay the
face value for the seats, are being asked to pony up an
additional $1,000 or give up some of their seats.
The drill is, according to UT, that fans make an
up-front donation, usually between $500 and $1,000. Then
you apply for tickets. The $500-1,000 figure will get
you two passes for every home game and an opportunity
for some road games.
Recently, UT Athletics Department sent out letters to
season ticket holders of sideline seats, which are, as
the VASF spokesperson said, are case-by-case. We're
talking serious cash here.
Those who have held those sideline seats since 1985 are
considered "grandfathered" and therefore exempt from
making any further donation to retain their seats. But
this new policy has fans up in arms. Some of them are
being asked to ante up an additional grand, move to the
end zone, or give up the seats.
The Tennessean ran a column a few weeks ago where former
UT fullback Curt Watson said he would never watch a game
in Neyland Stadium again. He is one of the sideline
ticket holders wh has held those seats for many years
and as far as he was concerned, UT could keep the
tickets.
I could see this if Tennessee was good in football, and
let's face it, lately, it hasn't been.
LSU is charging a donation to go with season-ticket
purchases for the first time in its history next season.
Guess what, though? The Tigers just won a national title
and with Nick Saban coaching, stand to win a few more.
They can get away with that.
When you consider that UT's attendance, while bulky and
routinely over 100,000 per game, was down this year and
that the Vols have lost four of their last bowl games -
only one of which was a BCS bowl - Tennessee ought not
be too greedy.
Consider that from 1993 to 1998, Vol coach Phillip
Fulmer's first full-season stretch, Tennessee lost 11
games in six seasons, won back-to-back SEC crowns, went
4-2 in bowl games - two of which were majors - and won a
national title.
Consider that from 1999 to present, the Vols have gone
1-5 in post-season (counting the 2001 SEC championship
debacle), have no conference titles, one major bowl
appearance and have lost 17 games.
Fans are finding the Titans somewhat more appealing.
They have been to a Super Bowl since then and only
missed the playoffs once. Two years ago, they played for
the AFC crown at Oakland and were eliminated this year
by eventual Super Bowl champion New England.
Looking ahead, Tennessee knew it would have to shore up
its quarterback problem, yet did nothing. So the Vols
will have QB by committee this year with unproven
commodities. They don't have a strong running game.
Their line is suspect; they have good receivers, but
problematic protection and no proven arm to deliver the
ball to them. And who knows what's going to happen
defensively.
The Vols want to renovate Neyland Stadium with the extra
revenue generated by the ticket gouging. If they aren't
careful, they won't have people to put in those
renovated parts of Neyland Stadium. |
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