Michigan football program sells about 86 percent of its Sugar Bowl tickets
It is likely the Michigan football program will not sell out its allotment of 17,500 tickets for next week's Sugar Bowl.
The Wolverines' sales have held steady the past few days at about 15,000, a spokesman said Tuesday afternoon. They sold about 14,000 tickets in the first two days after its matchup against Virginia Tech was announced.
The game will be played at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN.
The secondary market could be hurting sales. Tickets still can be had on StubHub for as low as $14.50. The only remaining price bracket through the school's allotment go for $125.
For as much trouble as the Wolverines have had getting rid of their remaining tickets, Virginia Tech has had it worse. After selling about 10,000 tickets, the school and the ACC announced Tuesday they had combined to purchase 4,000 "proxy tickets" — that is, tickets that will be used by others in New Orleans.
The school said the tickets would go to military personnel in the area.
Comments
BornInA2
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
The entire BCS system blows. Too many bowls, too many teams, spead out over too many days. The big bowls are supposed to be on January 1, the day the season ends. But no, now we are playing zero bowls on Jan 1 and instead they are on a Monday, and then there's another game the next week...and in the same location as the Sugar Bowl? Huh? Going to a bowl game used to be special. Now it's an expectation for teams...many teams. Maybe it's just too easy to think about skipping the trip to a bowl game this year, since I can always go next year.
snark12
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 6:37 a.m.
This is a stupid question but I'm confused: how are the tickets so much cheaper on StubHub?
a2roots
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
There are plenty of corporate freebie tickets that float around at every bowl game that enable the holder to do as they please. Sellers will hold out for there price on the good seats. Many lousy sight lines and crappy seats in the superdome which also explains cheap price. If you get free tickets and sell them for something you are ahead of the game.
Rob MI
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.
Because the sellers on StubHub, who are individuals as opposed to corporations or ticketing entities, like Ticketmaster, are the ones that set the prices. There is no fixed price point for any ticket at any event listed on StubHub...the seller can set whatever price point they want for any ticket, regardless of location. Furthermore, StubHub allows the seller to change the price at any time before it's sold and even offers an automated mechanism which adjusts the price to keep it competitive with similar tickets.
ThoseWhoStayUofM
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 5:12 a.m.
It doesn't help that the game is on January 3rd and the winter semester at Michigan starts January 4th. I know of a lot of students who would have liked to go but couldn't because they don't want to miss class. If this was a Jan 1st bowl game, I imagine it would be easier to sell tickets.
cutty240
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 4:54 a.m.
Only one Bowl will sell out,and everybody knows that one.But that Bowl is making both bands pay there own way.Thats a combined cost of 1 million dollors,to play for free for the fans that are at the game.The BCS is over and done with.This will be THE WOREST BOWL SEASON OF ALL TIME.Its very hard to screw up College Football,but ESPN has done a pretty good job of it.Who at at AA.Com came up with 86% of Tickets Sold.Its a Bowl Game,not a Math Quiz.Just say we sold 15,000 of the 17,500 we were given to sell.
Mick
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 4:35 a.m.
Let me get this straight Shankar, are you bragging that you sold 5,000 less tickets and it took you way longer to even do that and then VT had to buy 4,000 tickets for charity? Why would you brag about this, you defeat your purpose with what you wrote, so whatever buddy. Again, to people who can't wait to make fun of nothing.....would you pay $125 for tickets through the school or go on Stub Hub and get them waaaayyyy cheaper?
Mick
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 4:40 p.m.
Don't tell me to get a grip, worry about yourself, not me. I love the troops and revere them, I"m glad VT did that, that's not what I'm arguing, you need to get a grip.
rightmind250
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 3:04 p.m.
Get a grip Mick, The 4,000 tickets went to the troops. Not a bunch of A2 slackers.
10dz
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 4:30 a.m.
I am going to the game and will spend four days down in New Orleans. I, like many people I know who are going, did NOT buy our tickets through the Athletic department. I have 40 yard line seats. I don't think the school tickets are nearly as nice. Don't worry, MICHIGAN will have 20-25 thousand fans down there. GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shankar
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 4:07 a.m.
so.... Michigan with all the rich and national fan base did not sell the allotted tickets, despite the fact that they are in a surprise BCS game after a 10 year hiatus.... and the media is dogging the Hokies who have spent a lot of money in the past 10 years to the championship games & BCS games... and figured out that students / fans can get tickets in the secondary market cheaper? Yeah UM sold 15000, and VT sold 10000, and bought 4000 for soldiers...
stunhsif
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 3:20 a.m.
Just when I thought I would put my Robert Dorman Wolverine Lithoprint (signed by Bo-Don Canham and the artist--number 208 of 1000 from 1975) up for sale I see that only 86% of the tickets have been sold. Guess I won't be selling my framed lithoprint again this year. So much for all the yelling and bragging about the U of M thus far this year. Perhaps most fans have a "feeling" that they need to avoid spending big money on a big loss ? Go Green Go White
a2roots
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.
So how many sparty fans will be in Tampa?
heartbreakM
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 2:56 a.m.
I don't know exactly why these games should have trouble but I have an inkling..... When the bowls and BCS (and ultimately, the NCAA allowed it) decided to move the big bowl games to weeknights, during work week and when school began, they shot themselves in the foot. They took the students out of the equation. They also took out many families who would travel with school-age children, who will not pull their kids out of school to see a football game, no matter how good the location. And when they decided that matchups should be based solely on potential ticket sales rather than elite competition, that also hurt it. I am lucky--I am able to rearrange the schedule and go to this game, but it took a lot of help from others to make it happen and that is also hoping that weather does not disrupt my traveling. And this is a lot of my travel budget for the year. It's what my spouse and I love to do, so I don't regret the cost totally, but it is less than convenient and I blame the entire system for not considering its students, its alumni and fans, and its tradition. I think it's embarrassing that Michigan should not sell out only 17000 tickets to a big time bowl, especially after the last 3 year embarrassment where we didn't even go to bowl games (except once). But these factors make it difficult and it serves them all right.
Shankar
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 4:13 a.m.
If this game was on a weekend.. I would have gone there... When Michigan sold 15000 on the first 2 days, and VT sold only 5000, because it was not open to all alumni (only to club members) everyone laughed at us. I am surprised that Michigan alumni with all that money & hunger did not buy up not just the Michigan allotted tickets but even the VT ones.
john williams
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 2:48 a.m.
anybody who has been to new orleans know that there are some really nice areas but the majority of the city is not much of a vacation area, there aren't many good hotels for reasonable prices, plane tickets are around 800 dollers, so 86% is a lot better than I would have expected. theres a reason the sugar bowl takes sec teams nobody wants to/can afford to fly into nola
a2roots
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 2:32 a.m.
Pretty funny to read some of these comments. There is no better place to watch a Michigan bowl game than in the stadium where they are playing. Home viewing, not a family destination...give me a break. Michigan will be well represented in the Sugar Bowl by throngs of maize and blue faithful. And yes, I will be there.
Mick
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 2:19 a.m.
Relax people, fans are more savvy today, tickets through alternative measures that are way cheaper is a no brainer. If I was going, I would be doing the same thing. I would still wear my M Gear whether I bought the ticket from the school or on my own. It's funny how some trolls and other supposed M Fans can't wait to come on here and gloat about.....what exactly are you gloating about again? We'll just see how many fans are there a week from tonight.
Joe
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 1:39 a.m.
I would be curious to see how selling 86 percent of your allotment compares to the other schools...not including the NC game. That one is pretty much a home game for both schools, so I don't think it would be fair to compare that game to ones like UM going all the way to Nawlins, or Southern Miss fans having to go to Hawaii for a Christmas eve game. Would be interesting, I think. GO BLUE!!
A2comments
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 1:33 a.m.
We considered going until they got the Sugar Bowl. New Orleans is.not a family destination. And Virginia Tech was of no interest.
Elton in Atlanta
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
The Garden District, historic plantations, WWII museum, swamp tours...plenty of family friendly things to do without the debauchery of Burbon Street.
Scott
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 6:41 a.m.
It's a family destination if you like to take your wife and kids down to Bourbon Street to get hammered and watch people have sex in public.
Wally the Wolverine
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 1:26 a.m.
86 percent, huh? Anything less than 100% is both surprising and disappointing to me. The selection committee was willing to endure criticism (for bypassing a Boise State or Baylor) with the justification that we were a sure sellout. Hopefully, our ticket sales are considered adequate enough to avoid buyer's remorse when future at-large BCS bids hang in the balance.