Basketball ticket sales plunge 40 percent

By Mark Francescutti

Daily Sports Editor

The Michigan Athletic Department has sold just 598 men's basketball season-ticket packages this season, a decrease of more than 40 percent from last season when the Wolverines sold 1,023. This season is anticipating the worst ticket sales in more than a decade.

Michigan also raised the student package price $4 for three less games.

But price wasn't an issue for hockey tickets. Men's basketball was outsold more than 2-to-1 by hockey, which sold 1,385 despite a hockey package that carried a price tag more than double that of basketball - $195 for hockey, $104 for hoops.

One reason for choosing hockey over basketball is the crowd at Yost Ice Arena, exciting compared to the docile Crisler Arena student section.

"Crisler is the most tame arena to watch a sports event," said Business student Mike Miller, who chose not to purchase season tickets.

"I think that one of the things was that the students really rallied

around last year's freshman class," said Michigan Marketing Director Tom Brooks of the 425-ticket drop-off. "We feel that this year has another good freshman class, and it's just a matter of time before we get people excited about this class."

But Michigan's freshmen continue to face into a variety of problems. The Wolverines lost three of its five freshmen from last season, including fan favorite Jamal Crawford.

"It definitely in play for a lot of people most of the news you hear in the media is negative," Miller said. "I really think it turns a lot of the fans off."

This season, Michigan is picked to finish anywhere from sixth to ninth in the Big Ten, according to most pre-season publications - the Wolverines finished eighth last season (6-10 Big Ten, 15-14 overall). And for many students, team success equals interest.

"If you are going to spend $100 on student tickets you want to see the team do well," Miller said.

At least one other Big Ten school is having trouble selling student tickets. Minnesota's student ticket sales dropped more than half to just under 600.

But, unlike Michigan, the entire Golden Gophers basketball program fell off the mountain after an academic scandal gutted the program, the coach and many of the fans. Minnesota will likely battle Northwestern for the cellar position in the Big Ten standings.

Brooks said Michigan students can still purchase a student-ticket package, which is now $81 for nine games, as Michigan already played its two home exhibitions.

Student ticket holders receive a free Maize Rage T-shirt, which can be picked up at the first three regular-season home games (starting with Western Michigan next Tuesday) by showing a valid M-Card.

But Michigan's freshmen continue to face into a variety of problems. The Wolverines lost three of its five freshmen from last season, including fan favorite Jamal Crawford.

"It definitely in play for a lot of people most of the news you hear in the media is negative," Miller said. "I really think it turns a lot of the fans off."

This season, Michigan is picked to finish anywhere from sixth to ninth in the Big Ten, according to most pre-season publications. The Wolverines finished eighth last season (6-10 Big Ten, 15-14 overall), and for many students, team success equals interest.

At least one other Big Ten school is having trouble selling student tickets. Minnesota's student ticket sales dropped more than half to just under 600.

But, unlike Michigan, the entire Golden Gophers basketball program fell off the mountain after an academic scandal gutted the program. Minnesota will likely battle Northwestern for the cellar position in the Big Ten.

Brooks said Michigan students can still purchase a student-ticket package, which is now $81 for nine games, as the Wolverines already played their two home exhibitions.

Student ticket holders receive a free Maize Rage T-shirt, which can be picked up at the first three regular-season home games (starting Tuesday) by showing a valid M-Card.