Football season tickets selling strong

With big-draw opponents such as West Virginia and Louisville on the upcoming home football schedule, USF has already sold 17,800 season tickets for the 2007 season, about 650 higher than the Bulls finished with last season.

Assistant athletic director Jim Louk said Monday that August is traditionally USF's best month for selling season tickets, and by Louk's recollection, the Bulls are already at their highest season-ticket total since their inaugural season in 1997.

Ticket packages are selling well -- a recent promotion that included a USF helmet autographed by Jim Leavitt sold out, simply because the Bulls ran out of their allotment of helmets. The latest offering is a family plan with two adult and two child season tickets in the lower bowl of Raymond James Stadium for $300.

With this in mind, I'll ask two questions: what home game do you think will have the largest crowd for USF this season, and what do you think the announced attendance will be? To guard against sweltering levels of summer optimism, We'll play this by "The Price is Right" rules, so if you're wrong on the high side, you're out of contention for the invaluable bragging rights that go with the closest guess. "ONE DOLLAR!" ...

Comments

[Kyle F.]

I'm going with Louisville, with an attendance of 49,750.

[Alan]

Louisville for at least a share of the Big East Title, 56,300 announced and 54,700 actual attendance.

[Mack]

West Virginia, 48,000

[Dav]

UCF. With the gas money they will save from not having to schlep to downtown Orlando, they will happily drive over to be slaughtered once again.

We shouldn't get a noon kickoff, and it really depends if we beat WV or not so...

51,500

[Brian R]

Louisville 58,000. However, if WVU was played on Saturday night we would have had over 60,000 for WVU. WVU travel very well.

[E.T. Thomas]

We'll definately break the Day One Record of 49,212.

I'll go with L'ville and USF getting the Big East Title and the expected BCS Bowl Game.

59,212

Go BULLS !!!

[Jim R.]

UCF 55,000 I don't think WVA will out sell UCF or Louisville. Louisville will only out sell UCF if we are ranked in the top 25 and so is Louisville.

[Al]

"Selling Well" doesn't tell much.

Packages "Sold Out" doesn't tell much either.

IMO an increase in 650 from last year is rather disappointing. Of course some consider it "Selling Well".

[Dave]

I go with Elon and 1 (me)

[Mark]

Hey Al,

You must of skipped over this part, "Assistant athletic director Jim Louk said Monday that August is traditionally USF's best month for selling season tickets", or you dont realize its still July.

[Miles]

Is that number "17,800" for the 2007 or 2008 season?

[G.A.]

Miles, good catch. What year is it, anyway?

Am I shocked that after 11 posts, only one guess is lower than 48,000 fans? Not really. Not in July.

[Kyle]

West Virginia game with 53,000.

[Stephen]

Well I would say UCF, but there is no way the USF athletic department will let UCF have the highest attendance, so they will announce a higher one for WVU. I don't think UL because by time UL gets here we will have lost a few games. I say WVU announced 45,000, acutal 39,000.

[Stephen - "hello, I'm a knight"]

Go take your obsession and shove it!

[Brian]

What's the difference between an adult season ticket and a child season ticket referenced in the promotional package? And how would that be enfored?

[Jason]

how sad stephen. you're an great example of knight nations jealousy over usf

[MamaBull]

I would say WVU if it were on Saturday, but that game is on a Friday night, and generally that bodes ill for attendance.

My second choice (not a choice either) is UCF because of proximity.

Lastly Louisville.

My total for UCF 47,866

[RAA]

65,700 against Jacksonville on 10/28.

(oh.... sorry.... wrong day of the week)

[Jack Black]

So UCF is selling 4 season tickets for $350 total or a little over $14 per game, per person? After paying TSA $2, they will make $ 12 per ticket in those sections?

Granted butts in the seats are great, but the program has to make some money as well.

UCF announced their endzone ticket program that gives them a couple of perks with the purchase of either 2 or 4 tickets, including an autographed jersey, but they did not lower the ticket price. They are still charging $210 per ticket per person, or $35 per ticket. Why can USF not do that as well? Add perks, but keep ticket prices higher.

[Jack Black]

Sorry, I meant USF in the first sentence...

[Bill]

I think UCF will bring a lot more fans than any other team on our schedule this year. I also think the USF student body will make a big showing for this game. Attendance - 50,353

[BA]

Greg,
I would encourage all USF alumni to join the alumni association and purchase season tickets. Both are great deals and way to give back to a great university. With >80K USF Alumni in the Tampa area we should sell out RayJay every weeek.

O.K., now my guess. WVU and I'll say 47,200.

Go Bulls!

[Him]

Jack, why would USF raise prices when they have had attendance problems in the past? That makes no sense. Secondly, UCF has a new stadium that they built with their own money, which is why they have higher prices.

[Michael Harding]

UCF with 42,000.

[Brett]

Although I would like to see sell outs to every game and I would like to be optimistic, the fact remains: USF does not draw a huge crowd for any team on our current schedule.

But...Louisville will have the largest attendance this season of 43,205.

[Mike]

UCF-announced 49,871 actual 42,000

[Al]

"The latest offering is a family plan with two adult and two child season tickets in the lower bowl of Raymond James Stadium for $350."

Where is this "latest offering" being offered? It's not yet on GoUSFBulls.com.

[G.A.]

Al, I don't think they've even started the promotional push on the latest ticket offering. It's definitely in place now, and I'd think you could get more info by calling 1-800-GoBulls.

To answer an earlier question, I'm not sure how they enforce the kids' ticket aspect of the package. Would you fake having two kids to save a little?

When will USF start charging for student? UF charges and they still have to have a lottery because of the demand for student tickets.

[AL]

"Hey Al,

You must of skipped over this part, "Assistant athletic director Jim Louk said Monday that August is traditionally USF's best month for selling season tickets", or you dont realize its still July." Mark

How many tickets did they actually sell August of 2006? How about August 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002?

How many students graduated from USF during the period from 2002 - 2007? What percentage of those graduates have purchased season tickets?

No matter how sales managers try to spin it, the best of lackluster sales is still lackluster sales.

Greg, How about asking Jim Louk to answer those questions with the actual numbers.

[Brian]

Without a doubt, UCF on Oct 13th will be USF's highest attended game.

[CR]

It could not be a USF football attendance story without UCF fans trying to destroy it. Its hilarious how insecure they are that they must try to find a negative in every USF story.
Hey Al, here is one for you to go ask GOL, "when are you going to beat a good team?".

[Al]

"Al, I don't think they've even started the promotional push on the latest ticket offering. It's definitely in place now, and I'd think you could get more info by calling 1-800-GoBulls."

It's the 21st Century, The Information Age, they (AD) have an official internet site, It's time they used it to inform the public of the latest sales promotions.

It seems like they are more interested in promoting the sale of commemorative bowl tickets than they are in the sale of season tickets

I've haven't seen the current promotion (Code V- Mercial) for the free Rocky doll and $10 gift certificate with a season ticket purchase advertised on the site either.

[Al]

CR,

I realize it's hard for you to face the facts, but there are some of us (USF fans)who expect better from our athletic department.

Sales and Marketing appears to be better at selling their lackluster performance to people like yourself, than they are in selling tickets.

Al - USF Fan and Season Ticket Holder.

[Terry]

Face the fact guys, most of our grads would rather sit home and watch the Gators on TV than drive out to watch the Bulls. Until we beat them on the field, this will not change.

[Eric S]

Greg - "Would you fake having two kids to save a little?"

Well they way some of the clowns act when they get drunk at the home games, it would not be hard to fake child-like behavior. Does that count for a child ticket?

As for a guess - UCF with 45,000.

[Claudel]

It will be Louisville. Both teams at that point should be in the Top 25. I will go wiith an announced attendance of 44,532 (actual around 39,000). It should be more, but until I see it I won't believe it. The future wife and I have our seats and that is all that matters to me.

[G.A.]

Wow. Impressed to see 37 posts here, even if half of them are back-and-forth with the UCF posts. Al has a good point about promotions not being on the official site -- I'm sure it will be, but would be good to have it coordinated so it's out there. I do know that the staffer who handled the site for the athletic department has left in the past month, so I imagine that has something to do with it. ...

[TS]

Why do we waste our time with UCF and their fans? Shouldn't our real rivals be the Gators if that's who we aspire to someday overtake and rule the state.
GO BULLS!!! 2007 BCS Champs baby!!!

[Blade]

I believe we'll be at around 45,000 for UCF and slightly less for Louisville and WVU, as they have a decent following in this area.

[Sandro]

I think that the biggest crowd this coming year depends on what kind of record we will have going into the Louisville game. If we are still in the running for a Big East title, then the game against Louisville should have the biggest crowd, and I predict it to be 54,000. However, if we are not in the Big East title game in mid November then it will be the UCF game and around 48,000.

[Greg]

Well, historically speaking UCF has been our highest attended home game. You have to admit it was slightly busch leagure for our officials to change the WVU attendance numbers 2 weeks after the game in order for it to be our highest attendance. So I'm thinking UCF.

The average USF fan/student still doesn't care about Louisville, but they have an interest in UCF because they know many kids who go there, which makes it a natural rivalry. Plus don't forget the extra 5-7 thousand that UCF will bring won't hurt.

[Sami]

There WILL NOT be any 50K+ games this year. I say WV at about 43,657. I would have said UCF but after beating them 2 out of 2 I think the interest will be waning for that game.

[Bill]

65,657 against UL with a BCS game and the BE Championship on the line.

[Steve]

There won't be that many UCF students coming over for the game. They will have had a tough season to date and won't want to see another beating. If I were them, I would stay in Orlando and drink away my sorrows.

[Ninja]

And that is why, Steve, USF fans suck. You said it yourself, if your team had a tough season you would stay home and drink. While UCF fans come out in droves to support our team, no matter what. Have fun firing those cannons, Go Pirates...err I mean Bulls!

[Sandro]

This is a USF blog not UCF for some of you that can't read.
I'm wondering if Ninja will have anything to say after we destroy UCF by HALFTIME. I predict at least a 4-touchdown lead going into the 3rd quarter.
Go Bulls!!!

[Josh]

If USF pulls off the Auburn upset, the WVa game will pull 44,000.

[cee]

just remember, these ticket sales dont mean a damn thing when the Glazers are getting all the money that isn't made with tickets...

.. if there is one thing UCF is doing better than us, it's the fact that they own their own home and can bank on its revenue.. we took a boneheaded approach to improve the facilities of sports that will never make us money (i.e.- baseball, softball). for that, we have taken a step back for decades to come and have open the door for UCF to surpass us. They have already trumped us in that department, let's just hope the Pres. Judy does the right thing and get in a good coach who can recruit a class full of 4-stars that can win against lowly programs like Kansas and Cincinnati and avoid squeaking past programs like FIU

[Sandro]

Cee,
The only thing that UCF will surpase USF might be in Men's golf, but that's about it. As far as the football programs we shut that door a couple of years ago, and this year it will become even more clear.

[Claudel]

Don't forget that most of UCF's proceeds they will not see for over 20 years because they did not have the money in place before they built it. It is a bad plan that was not properly thought out. Go look at the funding they have for this "agreement"

[Mark]

Cee is not a USF fan or Alum. He is a WVU fan than enjoys stirring up trouble for the kick of it, how do I know this you may ask? I post on many "smack" forums and have seen "cee's" post's, do not take him seriously.

[cee]

Mark, that is a very classless post. I do not appreciate it at all. I am very much a USF fan and alum and proud of it. I am NOT proud of the direction that the head coach and the AD are taking this program. we are not maximizing our potential by any means. Have you seen our recruiting rankings on rivals and scout? a bunch of 2 and 3 star athletes in a BCS program in florida is pretty mediocre. I expect more effort. Then again, i truly believe this coach plays favorites-- for those ranting and raving over matt grothe, remember that this was the coach that was hesitant to put him in because he believed so much in PAT JULMISTE. on the field, i don't think i've seen a QB in 1-A play worse than julmiste did. putting in grothe over julmiste is a no-brainer decision, yet leavitt was very hesitant.. to me, that is poor evaluation of talent on the practice field.

[BadA$$Bull]

Cee,

The Outhouse boring you, not enough going on at BGN, BigEastSmack a little slow....where's your buddy TBONE61, WVUHERO, and TheMadMute....oh wait there all you.

[Al]

Greg,

It's now July 26th and still not a word on GoUSFBulls.com about "The latest offering is a family plan with two adult and two child season tickets in the lower bowl of Raymond James Stadium for $350."

Greg, don't you think it's time to ask Jim Louk why they don't promote these season ticket specials on the site.

BTW, they have another "latest special" advertised on page 5C of todays SPT sport section.

"The Bulls Family Plan"
* Four season tickets for just $300!
* Two Adults and two youth
* Additional seats $75

The ad mentions www.GoUSFBulls.com yet if you go to the site it doesn't have any information about the special.

It appears the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

[Claudel]

Cee,

The Julmiste situation is the age old question, "Do you go with youth and potential or the stedy hand of experience." The thing with Julmiste is that he will not win games for you, he just does not have enough talent. With that said with a solid running game (Andre Hall) and a good defense (as always) you can win with him. Last year the defense did not become good until the second half of the season and the running game was nonexistant. A game changer was needed so the great QB from Lake Gibson was thrown into the fire. For the most part Grothe played well. We need to see less interceptions and less runs up the middle from Matt to really make an impact in the 2007 -2008 season.

[G.A.]

Al, that package in the paper today is the one I'd referenced a few days back, and the total should be $300 for four tickets (I've changed it on the blog now). I'll check to see when they'll have a link on the website, but I'd think that will ultimately direct you to the same 1-800 number the ad did.

[Chas]

i can't believe no one mentioned Cincinatti, I know it's not going to be a huge Big East game...but c'mon it will be our HOMECOMING!!! I'll guess Cincinnati, then UCF then WV in attendance and i'll put Cincinnati at 49,583

[Al]

Well the family special finally made it to the website and as Greg predicted it really doesn't tell a potential buy much beyond... call 1- 800 GO-BULLS.

I'd like to know exactly what the restrictions on the "youth tickets" are and how they will be enforced.

[Al]

Chas, When did homecoming out draw UCF, WVA or UL?

[Chas]

Al, Homecoming has been the biggest attended game every year; you guys are expecting these great attendances based on how many people we can get from another team. At homecoming every frat, sorrority and student organization on campus has some kind of tailgate and gets more people to that game than any other, but i do think that it will be close to UCF but will be more.