Required donation for new UGA football season tickets drops to $1,550
From the stratospheric level of two years ago, the donation required to get new Georgia football season tickets has fallen to earth.
UGA said Friday that the minimum lifetime donation needed to qualify for the right to buy first-time season tickets this year is $1,550 –- down dramatically from $10,651 in 2008 and $4,205 in 2009.
As reported by the AJC last week, Georgia officials attribute the fall to two factors: the Bulldogs’ disappointing ‘09 season and the struggling economy.
The way the process works is that all of the previous year’s season-ticket holders retain the right to renew their seats if they make a prescribed annual donation to the UGA Athletic Association’s “Hartman Fund” -– a minimum of $250 per seat, more for prime locations. But becoming a first-time season-ticket buyer is costlier because new orders are filled from the limited supply of non-renewals on the basis of prospective buyers’ lifetime Hartman Fund donations, starting with the highest and continuing until no tickets remain.
The contribution level of the person getting the last available pair of adjacent season tickets becomes the cutoff — a closely watched figure among some Georgia fans.
In 2008, amid the hype of a preseason No. 1 ranking, there were only 804 non-renewals and so much demand for those seats that the contributions cutoff rose from $1,991 in 2007 to the much-talked-about $10,651. In 2009, the number of non-renewals increased to 1,560. This year, coming off an 8-5 season, there were 2,021 non-renewals.
Still, there weren’t enough vacated seats to fill all of the orders that were received before the March 31 deadline.
Season tickets again are sold out, and orders for first-time tickets from people with lifetime donations of less than $1,550 will be refunded.
Overall, contributions this year totaled $22.8 million, down from $23.3 million last year and a record $26.1 million in 2008.
Georgia athletics director Damon Evans said recently that it’s hard to quantify the relative impacts of the economy and the ‘09 season on this year’s decline in donations.
“Look back a couple of years ago. We were preseason No. 1 [and] had beaten Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl -– a big win and a great season -– and thing spiked up,” Evans said. “The support is still there, but I just think when people are excited and when people have a little bit more expendable income, they’ll put more toward their ticket priority. Right now, with the economy and so forth, people are a little bit more hesitant. But we’ll still be sold out.”
Also today: UGA reports nine secondary violations to NCAA.
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189 comments Add your comment
Delbert D.
June 11th, 2010
1:26 pm
4 Tickets, 4 Hotdogs, 4 Cokes. I wonder if Prez Adams has considered that as a way to save the campus from littering?
Taylor
June 11th, 2010
1:27 pm
This isn’t that hard to understand. It’s not just donating to get tickets. Believe it or not some people actually attend a University, thus they want to give back
High school grad
June 11th, 2010
1:30 pm
You mean like Harvard?
GEORGIA97
June 11th, 2010
1:36 pm
For the first time since I graduated I didn’t buy tickets this year because the Adams gestapo and Chief Jimmy “Barney Fife” Williams have just ruined the game day experience with their draconian rules. It’s all about the money these days and they want to turn the entire into one big tickle pile on Saturdays. I’ll watch the DAWGS on the big screen from now on.
Pi$$onaDAWG
June 11th, 2010
2:05 pm
I can make that in 1 yr. with my Waffle House tips. The kids ain’t gonna go to the dentist, but we get to see the DAWGS LIVE from the nose bleed seats.
1-888-TECH-TIX
June 11th, 2010
2:19 pm
4 hot dogs, 4 cokes, and a barnburner against Gardner Webb!!!!!!!!
Jan Kemp
June 11th, 2010
2:22 pm
Sounds like being owned by Florida, LSU and Bama does have a downside or is it the Wal Mart fans are unemployed. Here we come Shreveport!!
JB
June 11th, 2010
2:42 pm
This is a PR move…unlike Tech, Georgia returned several THOUSAND request last year. I assume to keep THE SEATS YOU HAVE to pony up as always….I don’t see many people backing off to lose their seats. The economy might be taking a toll on a few. It must at Tech, lot’s off empty seats and Ads in the paper with free coke and pizza etc. Sad, that’s a pretty good college football product, location sucks though.
» SEC links: Expansion still up in the air John Clay’s Sidelines
June 11th, 2010
3:00 pm
[...] The price for new Georgia football season tickets has fallen, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC. [...]
Its me Glynn
June 11th, 2010
3:01 pm
The reasons for this year’s continued decline, a rise in ticket cancellations and a decline in donations. Georgia attributes both factors to the economy and the team’s disappointing 2009 season.
Fans wouldn’t give up some of their niceties in life, they had rather dip snuff and spit, than attend a UGA game in a town they have never been to, and cant find on the map! Most think buying a 2 dollar t-shirt or cap at dollar general, or local gas station “contribution enough”.
JB
June 11th, 2010
3:07 pm
It’s me Glynn HAS NEVER been to game in Athens. It’s mostly a middle to upper class crowd. I didn’t say middle eastern, Techie.
Ricky
June 11th, 2010
3:10 pm
I see some red flags here.
1) Non-renewals have INCREASED by 250% in 2 years
2) Donations requirement has dropped from $10,500 to $1500–85% drop
As Evans points out, it’s related to performance of the team.
Evans is also right, that a lot of that blame is on him:
1) Not giving Richt enough $$ to recruit world class staff
2) Scheduling–UGA had #4 toughest schedule last season, Alabama & Florida were out of top 35.
3) Scheduling the Florida game IN FLORIDA every year
4) Scheduling too many hard games in the first 3 games (Compare to Florida last 3 years or this year)
5) Not promoting legitimate heisman candidates to national media (AJ
& Ealey this year should be getting a big push)
***EALEY FOR HEISMAN***
June 11th, 2010
3:26 pm
You heard it here first
Jimmy Williamson, deputy dog
June 11th, 2010
3:27 pm
I’m not staffed to handle night games! I’m not staffed to handle night games!
Instead of getting the necessary staff or dealing with the school for this, I complain to the media!
Jan Kemp
June 11th, 2010
3:40 pm
Not promoting legitimate heisman candidates to national media (AJ
& Ealey this year should be getting a big push)
WTF?? How much crack did u smoke today???
$40K/Year Best Buy-Geek Squad Goober
June 11th, 2010
3:40 pm
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Today, Friday, June 11 6:00p
at Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta Perimeter NW, Atlanta, GA
Sci Fi Summer Con Atlanta, a recreational convention with SciFi / Fantasy / Horror / Comics / Anime themes.
Guestspeakers, games, indoor/outdoor activities, discussion panels, movies, vendors, arcade, costume contests, parties.
Friday 6pm til Sunday 6pm.
Dealers room 10am-7pm Sat, 10am-5pm
Butty Fingers
June 11th, 2010
3:45 pm
I guess i’ll buy GT season tickets since they r going to have a better season for the next few years.Is it me or the UGA the mascot is getting uglier and lazier looking, the dogs head kind of look wop-sided to me.The Mississippi State bulldog looks better.
Old Dawg
June 11th, 2010
3:54 pm
Last One Out: It’s pretty obvious your math is faulty. UGA hasn’t lost tens of millions of dollars. In fact, UGA has one of the most financially solid athletic departments in Div-I. As for Alabama, winning a NC certainly helps, but there aren’t as many alternatives for entertainment dollars as there are in Georgia.
The economy is hitting every one hard. You may not remember this but several Div-I schools saw attendance and contributions drop last year and they’re having similar results this year. Also, CBS lost money on the NCAA basketball tournament with decreases in ad sales and it is trying to partner or dump the tournament to ESPN.
Yes, the numbers dropped a little and 2009 was a disappointing season. But compared to Tech, which won its conference and lost in a larger bowl, UGA still brought in more dollars.
Please get your facts together before posting … or folks on this blog will BBQ your assets!
AltamahaDawg
June 11th, 2010
4:06 pm
So the total folk NOT renewing thier very expensive season tickets hit a whoping 2000, out of how many? I’m sure being smack in the middle of the worse recession in decades had no bearing in that.
Did I actually read somebody suggest that Richt would have to be fired if the non-renewables hit 3000? You do realize that the season tickets are still sold, right? This is about how many request are returned. You did read the article? So 3000 new folks take one step forward in line. Great reason to fire a guy.
Pi$$onaDAWG
June 11th, 2010
4:14 pm
Why would you want an English Bulldog? The are All White unlike your players. They are English and don’t speak RAP. They are English and have Bad teeth unless you get UGA VIII a Platinum GRILL. English Bulldogs are Fat, Lazy, and are no longer a working breed. Well, if I was a UGA fan I could just put any of my realitives up to be the next UGA VIII. They are all fat, lazy, and white too. Don’t forget they have sex with their Mothers and Sisters too.
comments are closed
June 11th, 2010
4:38 pm
Lemay story is closed. AJC runs a comment page then closes it Bwaaaaaaaaaaahh !
MJ
June 11th, 2010
4:54 pm
I think I will keep my $1550, the home schedule this year sucks which I am sure contributed to the drop too.
LA – Lafayette, Arkansas, Tennessee, Vandy, Idaho St. and GT. No thanks.
Bill W.
June 11th, 2010
5:03 pm
@Pi$$onaDAWG,
Not sure if you are aware of your racist commentary. Why the hate? You must be a Techie.
Pi$$onaDAWG
June 11th, 2010
5:07 pm
MJ Tech wants to play in the Dome and then change the GT vs UGA game to the Odd year home at UGA. UGA will not make the UGA Dome game a Hme Game for UGA and that is the sticking point on that game + being the first game of the year. Thanksgiving Weekend without UGA v GT would just be almost a SIN.
Pi$$onaDAWG
June 11th, 2010
5:11 pm
Racist? How about DISCRIMINATING in my TASTE? A Kentucky fan will not drink Jack does that make them Racist? My Kentucky Hillbilly Hooch is better than your Tennessee Hillbilly Hooch. Why doesn’t UGA have more students of the non-Anglo persuasion unless they play a sport? That IS A FACT check the UGA enrollment records for the last 40 yrs.
Alphare
June 11th, 2010
5:14 pm
This is a schemed way to squeeze money out of fans by UGA. Why cannot UGA receive money thru voluntary donation and give fans inexpensive tickets so that every fan has a chance?
That’s what Tech is doing anyway! Tech’s student body is a 3rd of UGA’s, while its voluntary donation (endowment) is twice as big as UGA’s. And Tech tickets is inexpensively available to all students.
Well, some UGA fans may get jumpy: more people want UGA tickets! Well, let me give you a solution: handle out tickets thru lottery: if you win the lottery, you get the right to buy the ticket $100 apiece.
I cannot believe UGA attracts so many fans while the fans are schemed. That’s just plain dumb to me.
Pi$$onaDAWG
June 11th, 2010
5:29 pm
Alphare: UGA is turning out Ga. School Teachers, PE Coaches, and Housing grads(Govt. employees all) and you think they can figure they are getting scammed? Those that can. Do! Those that can’t. Teach! UGA’s sales pitch to the half educated of the State of Georgia on the HOPE Scholarship.
David
June 11th, 2010
6:09 pm
Required donation was:
2008 $10,000
2009 $4000
2010 $1500
Looks like folks are losing interest in the “product” Mark Richt is putting out on the field. Losing to Kentucky, seriously, that was just unbelievable.
People started leaving the stadium in mass in that game before it ended. They were REALLY ticked with Mark Richt for his performance in that game. Said it all for the state of the program.
Richt’s in over his head, plain and simple.
Dawg Meat
June 11th, 2010
6:21 pm
$10,651 down to $1,450!!!!! YES!!!! I’m buying 3 season tickets right away for that price!!!!!!! I’m glad I waited.
Sans Tainment
June 11th, 2010
6:56 pm
HMMMMM. AVERAGE OF $4500 A YEAR DECREASE IN REQUIRED DONATION OVER 2 YEARS. AT THIS RATE, GEORGIA WILL BE PAYING FANS $3500 TO BUY A SEASON TICKET NEXT YEAR.
Clyde
June 11th, 2010
7:20 pm
Heck ..I gonna wait another year.. When the dawgs lose to SC, Vandy and Kentucky this fall you betcha them tickets will come down some more.
Chuck
June 11th, 2010
7:23 pm
ECONOMY EXCUSE? WRONG. DIDN’T HURT THE TIDE.
ADDED 9000 SEATS.
SEASON TICKETS UP.
REVENUES HAVE DOUBLED IN LAST FEW YEARS.
IT’S ABOUT WINNING AND HOW COMPETITIVE YOU ARE.
LeMay I or LeMay I not ?
June 11th, 2010
7:25 pm
I bee’s gettin it on with shawtie in reed alley dis fall and at 2:00 am too.
mr. clean
June 11th, 2010
8:01 pm
With all that money,
Can Damon Evans address the “tailgating trash situation” on campus during game days.
Consumer Reports
June 11th, 2010
8:09 pm
See where Shreveport gets you financially?
MariaS
June 11th, 2010
8:31 pm
They’ll just have to raise the price back up to cover the cost of bailing players out of jail. Or maybe recruit some players whose dads are bail bondsmen.
Cole
June 11th, 2010
8:34 pm
Lemay will never play a single down for UGA. He’ll be arrested before the 2011 season even starts.
Call Zach and beg him to come back.
Dagny
June 11th, 2010
8:36 pm
Ah yes, there’s Shreveport. How did you folks enjoy that bustling metropolis?
Ray Goof days are here again !!
June 11th, 2010
8:36 pm
Just wait and see what another loss to Vandy and getting pummeled by Florida again will do.
AltamahaDawg
June 11th, 2010
10:15 pm
Yea chuck and if UGA added 9000 seat thier season ticket sales would go up too. Sell every one of them. I am stunned at the dumbasses that don’t even understand the article and still try to comment.
UGA WILL SELL OUT OF SEASON TICKETS THIS YEAR AS ALWAYS.
This is about the fact that waiting list (hello!!!! folks that are WANTING to get tickets) is not as long as it was in a year that UGA was ranked #1 and a better home schedule. Everybody knew demand would be high that year and scalp prices up, so obviously if you could order 6 or 12, you did. I guarantee you the majority non-renewels (i’m surprised that arent that or more turned over every year) were just folks who just scalp the extras to pay for thier own not getting thier full qualified amount of tickets. I’m glad too. I know of way too many cases of folks whose families got grandfathered in and now they basically “sublet” the extra seats for profit.
I would also bet that with the increase in ease to score individual tickets on the internet, there will be a more and more folks opting not to renew some part of thier allotment and just buy the seat they actualy lose. But the seat will be sold all the same.
But yes, lets freak out because 2000 ticket went to new and different season ticket holders.
mcdawghna
June 11th, 2010
10:32 pm
Why would any tech fan be worried about the attendance in Athens……Don’t they have their own back yard, or should I say, crime scene to clean up!
The most interesting man in Mcdawghna
June 11th, 2010
10:42 pm
I dont visit half empty stadiums often, but when I do, it’s Ga Tech.
Blind Homers Club
June 11th, 2010
11:00 pm
Chuck…… pay not attention to Mr. Altamaha… he is in the delusional Kool Aid as usual. UGA’s offense ranked 75th last year while providing good protection. UGA ranked # 1 in punting which means its offense bogged down by inept play calling. UGA,s rushing offense just broke under the top 50 in being ranked # 47. Losing to Kentucky and hanging on for dear life in most games means UGA sucks, not to mention getting blown away by Tenn. and the Gators.
Bippity Boppity Boo Boo
June 11th, 2010
11:04 pm
Dont worry dawg fans…. I have plenty of pixie dust for the midget which will work wonders for UGA football !!!
Milton in Milton
June 11th, 2010
11:44 pm
Lemay is just another wannabe t-h-u-g trying to get his street creds. There seems to be a lot of these at UGA. Actually, most of the players that Richt recruits.
jesse james
June 11th, 2010
11:58 pm
Why won’t you take my remarks? The Truth hurts don’t it.
jesse james
June 11th, 2010
11:59 pm
Ban all these recruiting shows!
jesse james
June 11th, 2010
11:59 pm
We build these thugs up!
BIG DOG
June 12th, 2010
12:03 am
Adams and Evans are going to bring UGA Athletics down. Watch.
jesse james
June 12th, 2010
12:07 am
Adams and Perdue are alot alike! Useless!