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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
189 comments Add your comment
col fot
June 12th, 2010
12:29 am
If you buy a ticket to ga tech football game..heck they’ll let you bring in the whole family.
GIBBS
June 12th, 2010
1:25 am
Demand is rising at Alabama, 10,000 more seats put in to push 100,000 seats, dollars up by 40%+ in less than 3 years.
Demand is drastically falling at Georgia, required donation price drop from $10,500 to just $1550 in only 2 years.
Alabama fans see program massively improved, and Georgia fans see program in massive decline.
GIBBS
June 12th, 2010
1:27 am
Non-renewals decline by over double in 2 years isn’t good either.
Urbane Meyer
June 12th, 2010
7:47 am
Why is it that when another UGA goon gets arrested or in some kind of trouble, the AJC doesn’t allow comments or cuts them off pretty quickly?
Why is that?
Losers
June 12th, 2010
8:10 am
I don’t understand it….such a waste of time. I’m not a TEch fan. You’ll be lucky to win 5 this year Georiga. Quit thinking you’re an upper league team. You have have one fluke year since 1980 and that year if you didn’t have Herschel, you’d have won maybe 6 games??? You mkae the entire state look stupid b/c of the way you go on about them.
BuLLdawg
June 12th, 2010
8:39 am
Southern California gave up wins starting December 2004 in which they, not Auburn, beat Oklahoma and all of 2005 when they of course Lost to Texas.
Southern California remains 31 games ahead of UGA Bulldogs in All-Time Football wins in 10th place.
Southern California back 36 years has not won the National Championship in Football, when UGA did in 1980 Consensus 30 years ago, making UGA better.
I’d also like to wish Christian LeMay Happy 18th Birthday in Athens today with his brothers for Football Camp. He remains the 1 recruit on Offense, none in this state last year 2010 or next year 2011, if indeed his commitment with all the outs, is a commitment to Mike Bobo by name.
Mike Bobo, the same coach responsible for recruiting Christian LeMay, Zach Mettenberger, and Montez Robinson to name the most recent 3 to run afoul of The University of Georgia itself.
Admissions Department is already weighing in on the matter, as they did for example Jamar Chaney and Michael Grant. Now, we have this hanging over our heads between now and this time next year – and, he yet another Top 10 at his Position Recruit that we can butt heads between the football staff and The University itself.
So, Happy Birthday Christian LeMay. Big 18 years old. You will fit right in here, son with all the other Mike Bobo recruited players.
Michael Grant.
Christian LeMay.
These 2 cases are both the same, reportedly.
I think we should ask Mr. LeMay to not show up today in Athens, or his brothers, until his mom and dad want to be truthful about this young lady on school grounds, all of which should be out by Monday. We went a month there without this kind of news since the last of 3 football players were kicked off team, 2 of them for incidents with young ladies, both Top 10 Players at their Positions.
Oh, joy. Michael Grant and Christian LeMay : both cases are the same.
Losers
June 12th, 2010
8:51 am
USC would spank Georgia’s azz anytime anywhere
BuLLdawg
June 12th, 2010
8:51 am
Nerd
Who is the LOSER ?
30-24, coming back to you ?
Poor Dawgs
June 12th, 2010
8:55 am
The bad news: Declining revenue and interest in UGA sports to the point that ya’ll are having to drop the price of season ticket contributions.
The good news; If UGA continues at this pace, after two more years of suckingit will actually owe the UGA fans a refund for watching games. So UGA fans have that going for them. Congrats.
One, two, free, fo, fi, them der Gator don't take no jive!
June 12th, 2010
9:36 am
The Lemay kid is not a reflection on UGA. He hasn’t even enrolled yet.
Just read about the secondary violations and UGA and Tech. How in the heck do they expect these coaches to keep up with some of these rules? They would need an advanced law degree!
As far as ticket prices, well that is directly related to the product on the field. Richt needs to get it turned around or it will continue. I know the economy is bad, but it is worse in Florida and the same over in Alabama. That’s just a convenient excuse from Evans.
LaShondra "Bookey" Smiff
June 12th, 2010
10:11 am
I wuz down at da Walmarts and they got dem UGA tickitts on sell down dare. Dey rite nexx to da Afrosheen display.
Frank
June 12th, 2010
10:26 am
Hard to see a positive when the req. donation $$$ fall from over $10,500 to $1500 in just 2 seasons. Cancellations are increasing rapidly.
If declines continue to double each year, in only 7 years, Georgia will no longer have a football program and will have 100% cancellations.
2000 in 2010
4000 in 2011
8000 in 2012
16,000 in 2013
32,000 in 2014
64,000 in 2015
128,000 in 2016
jesse james
June 12th, 2010
10:28 am
Lashondra – you are wrong those were the tickets Damon Evans donated for the underpriviledged. That is why you were in that section. We just gave two million to our university for things other than athletics.
jesse james
June 12th, 2010
10:32 am
The University of Florida has required all football players to be declawed. All finger nails are gone so there will be no more eye clawing. Tebow paid for this to be done.
jesse james
June 12th, 2010
10:34 am
Man it is amazing how many people are worried about UGA. Some of you need to get a life. UGA will always be there and strong when you are gone, gone, gone, gone.
Stewart
June 12th, 2010
10:38 am
It’s the losses that are losing interest in Mark Richt’s program.
06- Lost to Tenn, Vanderbilt & Kentucky
07- Loss to Tenn
08- 39 Point loss to Florida
09- 24 point loss to Florida, Loss to Kentucky, 26 point loss to Tenn
Georgia should not be loising to teams like Kentucky, Vanderbilt & Tenn.
Georgia should not be losing 17 out of 20 to Florida and getting beat by 24-39 points a game.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2010
10:41 am
Are Alabama fan incapable of reading comprehension?
The “donations” for ticket prices did not drop. For 97% of ticket orders the donation remains the same. For the 3% of folk trying to get into the rotation for the first time, the entry fee is just normal , not astonomical as it was 2 years ago.
And what a shock that the season after the NC Bama has high demand for tickets. WOW. What an amazing fact worthy of being pointed out. Is the initiation $10,000 for those new tickets.hmm??? I would bet you have NO idea what the system is to sell those new tickets. You just read something about new seat.
And whats with the spin about the % of ticket non-renawal. Yes 2 is twice 1. Whoppie.
Are you going to predict the demise of the Bama football program when a some fan don’t take the full allotment of multiple tickets one year, once those new seat settle down? 2000, geez. I’m pretty impressed that ONLY 2000 ticket didnt get renewed given the boring home schedule, stank economy, and clearly in transition with the team. Bama take the best season in a decade to sell 90+, UGA did it with the worse.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2010
10:50 am
I like how Mr. Blind Homer really spanked me on that season ticket debate. “Kool-aid” and “UGA sucks”. Not so much Mr. Original Thoughts are you?
jesse james
June 12th, 2010
10:59 am
All you UGA haters, there will still be over 80,000 fans strong when the Dawgs tee it up between the Hedges!
Lake
June 12th, 2010
11:04 am
1- Recruiting rankings dropped to lowest in 5 years
2- Finished season unranked in national polls
3- Went 4-4 in SEC conference
4- Revenues are down
5- Required donations in sharp decline
6- Cancellations sharp rise
Something’s wrong in Athens.
BuLLdawg
June 12th, 2010
11:16 am
Duh
Something is wrong in Athens
We are, according to Chris Low this morning, the # 5 team in The SEC against Top 25 teams.
We are # 4 in The SEC against SEC teams over the last 4 years.
We are # 3 in our Division against SEC East teams over the last 4 years.
We are # 19 in the nation in won/loss over the last 4 years at 38-14.
We average # 52 in total offense the entire Coach Richt Era.
We average 21 fumbles a year over the last 4 years
We average 14 interceptions a year over the last 4 years
We average # 96 NCAA Rank in Most Penalties every year over the last 4 years.
We have had 39 Arrests / Suspensions over the period of since February 2007, a period of 3 years and 160 football players.
We have kicked 3 more players off the team in the time just since Spring Practice, and now on the heels of that, we have our # 1 Commitment Recruit, the # 2 QB in the nation, in public have at it with a gal in a classroom on the last day of school yesterday for the Principal to see first hand.
Duh
There is something wrong in Athens.
Chang you can't believe in
June 12th, 2010
11:25 am
All you UGA haters, there will still be over 80,000 fans strong when the Dawgs tee it up between the Hedges!
That would be a new world record for the most Obama voters gathered in one place at the same time.
Mario
June 12th, 2010
11:31 am
We have had 39 Arrests / Suspensions over the period of since February 2007, a period of 3 years and 160 football players.
One out of every four players arrested. And yet Richt can’t get a handle on it.
That’s truly pathetic.
One, two, free, fo, fi, them der Gator don't take no jive!
June 12th, 2010
11:49 am
BuLLdawg,
I’m a Gator fan and I think you’re wrong. How can a RECRUIT that hasn’t even signed a letter of intent much less enrolled be a poor reflection on ANY university? Does that mean that every school he was/is being recruited by is bad? He may never make it to UGA. This has NOTHING to do with UGA. It may, if he makes it to Athens some day, but for now he is only a recruit. Period.
As for the rest of your points, I’ll leave the in-fighting up to you Dawg fans. Ya’ll certainly don’t want to hear my opinion on any of that! LOL
Losers
June 12th, 2010
11:54 am
Typical of Georgia fans, I tell you you aren’t all that and you tell me I’m a Tech fan….NO. Back this up….what one game have you won since 1980 does the nation care about? See ya in the weedwacker Bowl! If you’re lucky enough for a vacation in Shreveport!
RDR
June 12th, 2010
11:56 am
Texting a recruit is a NCAA violation, BUT e-mailing a recruit is not?????
RDR
June 12th, 2010
11:57 am
The LOSER sounds bitter.
Losers
June 12th, 2010
11:58 am
But while I’m at it….I’ll be enjoying the NFL (refernece a certain team about 60 miles west this fall); who just might be playing in Dallas, Feb. ‘11
jesse james
June 12th, 2010
12:35 pm
Losers – They want be playing Dallas. The Cowboys are too full of themselves. Oh by the way the next Cowboy coach will be Saban. Good by Wade!
jesse james
June 12th, 2010
12:37 pm
Oh losers, you must really keep up with the DAWGS if you know who they have beaten and haven’t. I see where you got your name from. Boy it must have been tough on your parents.
old dawg
June 12th, 2010
3:24 pm
Stewart & Lake are on the right track. CMT needs to go now. He is not a capable coach. He is no judge of talent. He is no motivator. Hire a proven coach next time. I hope we don’t fool aound for a few more years with this coach. Release this man to go preach or whatever. I am tired of his lack of coaching.
Jes
June 12th, 2010
5:05 pm
If season ticket holders cancellations continue to rise at the alarming rates (up almost 300% from 2 years ago).
And if the required donation levels continue to lose an average of $4000+ per season, Richt will be gone soon.
You just can’t make the financials work when the program is in that kind of downward trend.
Ralph
June 12th, 2010
5:07 pm
The tough part is sitting by and watching how schools like Alabama are adding thousands more seats, upgrading buildings, seeing revenues climb through the roof, while Georgia, keeps on sliding down.
Hard to watch your program die a slow death like this.
Zappa
June 12th, 2010
9:01 pm
Evans doesn’t pony up on staff pay.
Richt lost Kirby Smart because he couldn’t pay him enough to keep him.
BuLLdawg
June 13th, 2010
7:50 am
Pure folly.
Are you out of your mind saying that our top recruit being KICKED OUT 9 days after his celebrated statement and on the very day he is to show up on our campus with 2 brothers, is not a reflection on The University of Georgia.
I guess NEITHER were the other players, ever, then a reflection on The University of Georgia.
You guys have more EXCUSES than a pregnant Nun, DISNEYdawgs.com in here making up excuses like it does not matter.
Sure it matters.
Sans Tainment
June 13th, 2010
11:34 am
Richt’s had the program in a freefall for years now. He has ONGOING problems with penalties, turnovers, arrests, declining defense, losing to Florida, etc. Just can’t fix ANY of the problems. What are the chances, in just one year, Richt fixes: penalties, turnovers, arrests, defense, and losing to Florida? I don’t see him fixing ANY, much less ALL 5 problems. think about it, if Richt COULD fix any of these, he already WOULD have fixed. Richt has taken the program as far as he can.
Sans Tainment
June 13th, 2010
11:58 am
AJ Green has had 3 different QB’s in his 3 years at Georgia, first Stafford, then Cox, now a 3rd different QB in 3 years. How a coach can CONTINUE to make that same mistake, EVERY SEASON, is just unacceptable and shows a lack of looking ahead. AJ Green could have been awesome, but under 3 different QB’s, it will cost him a fortune in the NFL draft all the QB carousel at Georgia.
ryan
June 14th, 2010
2:05 pm
http://edgeteamsports.com/
D.J. Shockley to Omaha, Kentavious Caldwell to Athens, SEC media to Hoover | UGA sports blog
July 19th, 2010
6:01 am
[...] Here’s an interesting article in the Columbia, S.C., newspaper, The State, on the decline in college football season-ticket sales around the South. At Georgia, sales haven’t declined –- season tickets are once again sold out -– but the minimum contribution required to qualify to buy first-time season tickets has dropped dramatically. [...]