Men's hoops ticket sales increase

Thanks to a top-flight freshman class and increased marketing exposure, the Michigan Ticket Office has sold 17 percent more student season basketball tickets for this season.

After selling a dismal 712 student packages for the 1998-99 season, the office sold 119 more 1999-2000 packages, Michigan Ticket Office Manager Marty Bodnar reported.

While the new number translates into a slight increase, it's still far behind the thousands of tickets sold in earlier years.

Since the 1992-93 season, Michigan has dedicated 3,100 seats to students. More than 4,500 students applied for tickets that year, but the numbers have declined since - reaching only 712 last season.

One of the problems that can affect ticket sales is the confusion about the deadline for applications. The Michigan ticket office set a Sept. 24 deadline for student ticket packages this season, even bolding the date in its information sheet included with student football tickets.

But the deadline for tickets doesn't mean any more than the ink it's printed with if the office doesn't sell the 3,100 tickets it offers. Since only 831 students purchased tickets this year, plenty of student ticket packages remain available, and even first-time ticket purchasers have an opportunity to receive a good seat.

"We have to set the deadline to get all the applications into the computer, and then sent to the printer," Bodnar said. "Student tickets can still be purchased. It's conceivable that (first-time buyers) can get a decent seat."

Some students didn't know that the supposed deadline is for naught, since the information sheet about the tickets doesn't explain what happens if tickets are undersold. Students and their classmates who might have bought tickets were left in the dark.

"I thought that deadline was written in stone," Engineering freshman Marc Shmerling said. "If I had known, I would have gotten more people in my group."

Michigan Marketing Director Tom Brooks wants to give the students the information.

The marketing department has instituted a plan to create more awareness about tickets through the use of the mgoblue.com Internet site. Students can now find information about ticket packages and even purchase them online with a credit card. Michigan also sent out a mass e-mail reminding students about the deadlines.

But Bodnar said the deadlines will have to stay for now, to give the ticket office a chance to process tickets in a timely fashion.

Brooks said that those students who buy a student ticket package, whether it be before the deadline or after, will receive a free gift - a Maize Rage T-shirt.

The Rage, which Brooks helped develop last season, brought student fans together by giving them a free yellow shirt and encouraging them to get wild during home games.

"We want to give students an identity," Brooks said. "We want them to know there's pride in being a season ticket holder."

The office will hand out the free shirts when students pick up their ticket packages starting Nov. 1.

Single game tickets can also be purchased at a new special $6 price. However, the home game against Duke is excluded from the promotion.

10-13-99