Football ticket price reduced

The price of football season tickets for the general public will decrease from $35 to $31 per game, the University Athletic Department announced yesterday.

This price decrease will not affect student ticket prices.

The Athletic Department announced Jan. 31 that it planned to increase the price of public tickets for the upcoming season by 30 percent, making $27 tickets $35.

Athletic Director Tom Goss said University alumni and other ticket holders sent the University a slew of complaints. The price reduction was the department's response.

"We listened to them and made a change," Goss said, adding that many ticket holders told the department the increase was too much, too soon.

"Michigan football has been around for 100 years and we have very loyal fans ... their message was that the percentage increase was heavy" for the time period, Goss said. People are more receptive to increases in "smaller bites," he said.

Goss and the athletic department have come under fire in recent months in relation to the 30 percent ticket price increase and the amount of funding devoted to the two scoreboards in Michigan Stadium and the athletic department's M Go-Blue Website.

"Tom (Goss) wanted to let the fans know that they are an important aspect," said Bruce Madej, director of media relations, adding that the ticket holders "told us to back off, and we listened."

The price decrease resonated with many people.

"Sounds good to me," Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr said.

Madej said the department plans to funnel revenue from the price increase into several areas, one of them being improvements and renovations to athletic facilities. "There are a number of things on the docket," Madej said.

Revenue also will be used for athletic scholarships and to help fund mens' soccer and women's water polo - the two sports the Board of Intercollegiate Athletics gave varsity status last week.

The initial start up costs of the two sports is projected to be $215,000, increasing in five years to $1.25 million each year.

Athletic officials are currently making adjustments to the department's budget to accommodate ticket price decrease.

But Madej said with budget cuts the department will have to make some funding changes.

"There will have to be some restructuring," Madej said. "We'll probably have to hold off on spending."

Madej said athletic officials have not begun discussions on any future ticket price increases.

"Costs are always increasing," Goss said.

Madej said season ticket renewal forms should be mailed out by next week and will have a message informing ticket holders of the decrease.

04-02-99