Football Season Ticket Process Underway

[Blair Sanderson]

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The 2016 University of Iowa football season ticket process has been launched, allowing fans of the Big Ten West Division champion Hawkeyes to submit season ticket requests to the UI athletics ticket office.

Season ticket renewal forms are available online and are being mailed to individuals who purchased 2015 season tickets. The cost for those renewing season tickets is $405. New or additional season tickets will be available for $415. Season ticket holders earn ticketing priority over the general public for single game, special events, and post season contests, in addition to saving nearly $100 over the total cost of single game prices.

The deadline for renewing season tickets, and to request new or additional tickets, is April 15. Fans can apply for tickets at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.

All renewal and new season ticket holders will be provided an opportunity to upgrade and/or select their seating locations based on availability and will receive selection dates and times in April. This process will be based on priority point totals and I-Club annual gift membership levels.

I-Club contributions, which fulfill regular and postseason seating and parking requirements, can be made at jointheiclub.com. I-Club gifts made by March 30 will be included in priority points for the 2016 season ticket selection/upgrade process. I-Club contributions -- which provide Hawkeye student-athletes the tools they need to succeed at the highest levels -- must be made by June 30 to ensure proper mailing of season tickets and parking passes. I-Club renewal forms will be emailed on Feb. 16.

The Hawkeyes posted a perfect 12-0 regular season in 2015, winning the Big Ten West Division title. That mark included a perfect 7-0 record in Kinnick Stadium and the 12 victories set a program record. Iowa advanced to the Big Ten Championship game and the 2016 Rose Bowl.

“We certainly want to build on the momentum that was established by our football team in 2015,” said Gary Barta, UI director of athletics. “The support of our fans in Kinnick Stadium, in Indianapolis, and in Pasadena, was truly amazing.

“We have an attractive home schedule this fall and anticipate a great game day atmosphere for all seven home contests.”

The Hawkeyes’ schedule in 2016 once again includes seven home games, including four Big Ten Conference games. Iowa’s Big Ten home opponents include Northwestern, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nebraska. The Hawkeyes open the season by hosting Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 3, and also host Iowa State (Cy-Hawk Series) and North Dakota State.

Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Michigan each won at least 10 games a year ago, while North Dakota State has won five straight FCS national titles. Start times and television information are not yet available.

Additional ticket options, including single-game tickets, and group packages, will be available at a later date. Fans may call 1-800-IA-HAWKS or email tickets@hawkeyesports.com for additional ticket information.

 

[SPGroth]

So I don't have a season ticket holder "dog in the fight", as we were one of those few that did not renew before last season.....although our decision had more to deal with the kids' activities and not the Hawkeye product. Just curious to hear what those season ticket holders feel about the proposed increase? Our old tailgating group figured that an increase would be coming after last season.

 

[RockEyeState]

Remember, just One year ago, right now??
There were a lot of Debbie-doubters who said,,'I ain't a gunna git no seeson tiggits until they
get rid of that thar Curt Farrence'.

LOL

 

[ichawk24]

Just curious to hear what those season ticket holders feel about the proposed increase?

I am 100% supportive of a $10 per ticket increase after a 12-0 regular season. I will happily pay my renewal.

 

[thewop]

From Chad Leistekow's article, I guess Barta had to assess where Nebraska was as a program:

Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date, but face values for each game are set: $85 for Wisconsin and Michigan; $80 for Iowa State; $70 for Northwestern and Nebraska; and $65 for Miami and North Dakota State. Youth tickets are priced at $25 for the Miami, North Dakota State and Nebraska games.

 

[Roy-munson]

Does anybody know when they usually announce night games?

 

[ichawk24]

BTN games were announced on April 13th last year:
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041315aaa.html

ABC/ESPN games were announced on April 23rd last year:
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042315aaa.html

 

[ichawk24]

Youth tickets are priced at $25 for the Miami, North Dakota State and Nebraska games.

I'm surprised that Nebraska is included in the youth tickets. I guess they are concerned about selling Black Friday tickets.

 

[thewop]

I'm surprised that Nebraska is included in the youth tickets. I guess they are concerned about selling Black Friday tickets.

Yea, I was surprised by that too, but I guess it's in hopes that people will buy kid tickets rather than allowing those tickets to go to Nebraska fans, who will travel well. I was also surprised that Nebraska was grouped with Northwestern, and closer in price to Miami of Ohio than Wisconsin/Michigan in terms of value.

 

[ichawk24]

Agreed about Nebraska pricing. Looks like the ticket office is going to do everything they can to get those tickets sold ASAP. I like it. Lets get a sellout early and kick their arse late.

 

[soybean]

I am 100% supportive of a $10 per ticket increase after a 12-0 regular season. I will happily pay my renewal.

They could have just as well hiked it $100 and it would not have affected demand.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

Last season was great and the home schedule is much better this year. They had to raise the prices. I am looking forward to fall Saturdays already.

 

[Suterman]

I'm deep in basketball mode but I am excited for next years football season. It should be another good one.

 

[Urohawk]

Last season was great and the home schedule is much better this year. They had to raise the prices. I am looking forward to fall Saturdays already.

You have to be a bit cautious. I don't know how people will view the 2015-16 season in terms of a long-term emotional response. I think fans' fondness for the 12-0 season will fade because it had a disappointing end with the B10 championship and Rose bowl. I won't look back with the same fondness as the 2009 season. That team came from behind to have some really crazy games like Indiana, UNI, and MSU. I was much more emotionally invested at the time and thought I would have a heart attack with each game. It was truly a wild ride that ended in a great bowl win. This season was more dream like in which you expected it to end any moment but somehow you never woke up. Had the outcomes been different for the end of this season I would agree with a substantial ticket increase but you have to take ticket prices and consider them over the next few years.

1. Season ticket sales and sellout tend to lag behind successful seasons. This year wasn't sold out but I expect next year to do so given hype and schedule.
2. Iowa hasn't done well with back to back successful seasons. I hope for the best but we will see how it plays out.
3. Home schedule is determined by B10. Not much you can do with a lame year if given bad home draws.

A few mediocre seasons at 7-5 and a poor schedule in 2018 will cause fans to bail. I am not sure this season will erase the last four. People spoke with thier wallet. If this season doesn't turn out well, this increase will look and feel like a cheap cash grab. That may not sit well with fans over the long-term. Continue to win and it won't matter, Barta looks like a genious. Drop down to mediocre for a season or two and that one historical season out of 7 or 8 may quickly be forgotten.

 

[TankHawk]

So, I'm thinking no concession vouchers this year?

 

[Vroom_C14]

I am 100% supportive of a $10 per ticket increase after a 12-0 regular season. I will happily pay my renewal.

Will there be a 10.00 decrease for losing seasons or hold even for .500 seasons?

 

[bravehawks1]

So, I'm thinking no concession vouchers this year?

and those fans that stayed the course only have a $10 increase and are given a whopping $10 discount from new orders? That is really how you treat the loyal fans. However, if you take away those wonderful concession vouchers that were worth $70 in delicious vending food, this is really an increase of $80 to renewals. Don't let their fancy math trick you. The real math is found by selling all 70,000 seats for each game and you will have the money needed for the dept.

You can pretty easily calculate $1.5M to $2M lost from empty seats in 2015, but the marketing dept did very little even to promote youth tickets. these youth are people you want to entice to Kinnick as they are the next generation of hawkeye fans. But I swear our sports marketing dept must have a bunch of English or theatre majors that are incapable of connecting these dots.

Oh well, I will still renew and still not eat their overpriced food. I take my own snacks, water and pop.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

and those fans that stayed the course only have a $10 increase and are given a whopping $10 discount from new orders? That is really how you treat the loyal fans. However, if you take away those wonderful concession vouchers that were worth $70 in delicious vending food, this is really an increase of $80 to renewals. Don't let their fancy math trick you. The real math is found by selling all 70,000 seats for each game and you will have the money needed for the dept.

You can pretty easily calculate $1.5M to $2M lost from empty seats in 2015, but the marketing dept did very little even to promote youth tickets. these youth are people you want to entice to Kinnick as they are the next generation of hawkeye fans. But I swear our sports marketing dept must have a bunch of English or theatre majors that are incapable of connecting these dots.

Oh well, I will still renew and still not eat their overpriced food. I take my own snacks, water and pop.

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2015/11/06/1106-osu-ticket-prices-set.html

$10 extra is for new tickets, not to renew. Have they even said there will be no vouchers?
Either way.... not bad compared to OSU . $195 for 1 game!

 

[ichawk24]

However, if you take away those wonderful concession vouchers that were worth $70 in delicious vending food, this is really an increase of $80 to renewals. Don't let their fancy math trick you.

By your math, last year's prices were a $70 drop.

2016 season tickets will cost $10 more than 2014 season tickets.

Some people will complain about anything. and everything.

 

[4409]

We needed to raise prices for tickets, as iowa will now likely have to support baby brother "UNI"'s athletic dept too, if our fine state legislature has their way.

 

[Suterman]

I actually used my concession vouchers. I thought they were great. A $10.00 increase is nothing.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

The way I look at it is, they are going to try and get every penny out of people while they can. I will renew and split them with my brother in law. He wanted them all last year (ended up missing 2-3 games) due to work. I will get them and I am sure there is always someone who wants them.

I just do not get the price increase. Demand I doubt will be that high, there are a lot of local people around me who didn't renew last year and just because the hawks went 12-2 it isn't getting them up off their seats to go back. A lot of people I have talked to said they will pay to go 1-2 games year and watch the rest on TV. Everyone loves the fact you can watch from their living rooms now and not have to fight the tailgating or traffic. Kind of crazy, but I believe to be true at times. When will the NCAA start blacking out games? Can they do that??

 

[trippnschmidt]

The way I look at it is, they are going to try and get every penny out of people while they can. I will renew and split them with my brother in law. He wanted them all last year (ended up missing 2-3 games) due to work. I will get them and I am sure there is always someone who wants them.

I just do not get the price increase. Demand I doubt will be that high, there are a lot of local people around me who didn't renew last year and just because the hawks went 12-2 it isn't getting them up off their seats to go back. A lot of people I have talked to said they will pay to go 1-2 games year and watch the rest on TV. Everyone loves the fact you can watch from their living rooms now and not have to fight the tailgating or traffic. Kind of crazy, but I believe to be true at times. When will the NCAA start blacking out games? Can they do that??

The Big Ten has a television network to show their own games.

 

[cidhawkeye]

Pending the voucher decision the price of loyalty has been established at $1.43 a game. Not complaining, just an observation. The ticket department is in a difficult spot, trying to capitalize on the momentum but that kick in the a** season ticket drop last year is fresh in their minds. In looking at ticket sales revenue from the other thread Minnesota generated more revenue than Iowa from tickets as an athletic department. Was surprised to see that.

 

[hoffmkr]

Everyone who needs to complain about loyalty only being a $10 discount needs to remember that it used to be the same price new tickets versus old. Season ticket holders still get better seats. With last year being a down year on tickets, you still need to attract new fans to fill the empty seats. An increase less than 3% year over year is very minimal when double digit increases seam common.

That being said, I was expecting a higher price spike. Last year's home schedule was terrible compared to this years projected slate. The biggest games last year were Pitt or Minnesota versus this year with ISU, Michigan,Wisconsin and Nebraska all at home.

I gave up my seats last year due to kids events and not being able to resell the games I was missing previous year. This years schedule is going to make it much harder to pickup single games meaning more demand for season tickets.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

The Big Ten has a television network to show their own games.

Aren't majority of the Big Ten games shown on ESPN/ABC?? How many BTN games did Iowa play this year? I count 3 games total on the BTN network.

The rest of the games were on the ESPN network, which could black out if could't they?

 

[ichawk24]

NCAA does not control television rights, has no say in television contracts, and no incentive to even attempt to blackout.

Dumb people are dumb.