Georgia Bulldogs Raise Ticket Prices And Fan Consternation
By W. M. Lawson
The Georgia Bulldogs, or rather The University of Georgia, announced a rise in 2018 football ticket prices this week. Fans were quick to notice.
If you are around a Georgia Bulldogs football fan these days, two topics will assuredly come up: National Signing Day and ticket prices. One topic brings a smile and quiet optimism. The other was the announcement that football tickets will be 50% more expensive next year. Fans have taken notice, but have remained reserved in reaction.
Folks know when they are getting “had”, most of the time. That’s kind of the feeling in Dawg Nation around the ticket prices subject. The sense is that UGA had a fantastic year in terms of record, performance, attendance, and positive media coverage. The brand exploded on that September Saturday night in South Bend. The university folks know it, and have decided to get the fans while they can.
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Up to now, you could get into any game at face value for $50. Hence forth, it will be $75 to see a Power 5 match-up in Athens, and $55 to see a beat-down. That’s a $300 bill for a family of four just to get in the door. That means something to a bunch folks who love that team and see a game at least once a year.
The reason fans feel like they’re getting had is because they have already been got. Reality is that if, given a choice, most any Georgia Bulldog fan. most any time, would cheerfully say he or she would pay more in ticket prices if it meant an SEC Championship, a Rose Bowl win, and a chance at a National Championship. Simply, the school knows that.
Athletic Director Greg McGarity didn’t do himself any favors when he blamed the rise in prices on coming increases in coaches salaries. Really? That’s just insulting.
Truth is that all he had to say was ” Look. Kirby told me we have to spend more money to beat Alabama. So we’re going to spend more money. All of us.”
Something akin to that, and they could’ve barnstormed the state with open hands. But with the coaches salaries thing, it seemed more like they are just passing the cost of business down to the consumers. Fans get it, but they don’t necessarily like it.
Still, folks will show up en masse, quietly conversing about the cost and whether this is blamed on A.D. McGarity. If the football team continues a successful run, and they look poised to be the team to beat in the SEC East for the next three years, part of that conversation will be ended with, “but it’s worth it”.
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If for some reason they regress, or have a few down years, and prices remain elevated, McGarity will take serious heat. It’s a big bet on winning in the future. His job may depend on it.