I received the following email from the AD this afternoon. I wonder what the mentioned changes will be.

Thank you for your continued support of Cal Athletics and Cal Football. Throughout the years your support has been truly impactful in the continued development of our student-athletes and the success of our programs. From making it possible to build the Simpson Center for Student-Athlete High Performance and renovate California Memorial Stadium to the ongoing support of all 850 of our student-athletes' experience, your support has been foundational to the continued operation of Cal Athletics.

As we look to position our department for the upcoming ACC transition and the realities that entails, we are going to introduce a few changes to how our Endowment Seating Program will operate moving forward.

First, to honor your impact and your commitment to us from the beginning, we are excited to introduce: The Founders Club - the ultimate expression of our gratitude for your support. It recognizes those who have gone above and beyond in the call to support the renovation and upgrades to California Memorial Stadium and the mission of Cal Athletics. The Founders Club will include all members who have paid in full by December 31st, 2024.

This exclusive opportunity will be considered the highest level benefits tier for club seat members and will include enhanced service on gameday, customized apparel, exclusive opportunities with athletics and campus leadership as well as additional private events. You will receive information throughout the year specifically related to the benefits you are eligible for as a member of the Founders Club.
As a Founders Club member, you will not be impacted by the upcoming changes to the Endowment Seating Program; including adjustments to our current pricing. While these changes will not include the tax deductibility and additional years of seat rights of the past, they will provide us with more flexibility in our ticket pricing and options. Ultimately, we believe this will position our department to operate more effectively in the present, prepare us for the future of college football, and ensure the long-term success of our student-athletes.
Your premium representative will be reaching out in the next few days to share additional information and answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for your support of Cal Athletics and Cal Football, and Go Bears!
Beth Tafolla-Voetsch
Chief Development Officer
Cal Athletics

Markeisha Everett
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Cal Athletics

Interesting that they also mention a revamping of the ESP pricing. Getting more 50 years line seats occupied by lowering the price would make CMS seem much less dead.

Sounds like a good thing. Sounds like, "We've figured out a way to get more revenue by revamping our tiered system, but, for a change, we've realized that it would be bad to let it negatively impact anybody who has been supporting Cal athletics for years and years and years."

Like Cheech and Chong advertising their goods on Twitter

Big C said:

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Sounds like a good thing. Sounds like, "We've figured out a way to get more revenue by revamping our tiered system, but, for a change, we've realized that it would be bad to let it negatively impact anybody who has been supporting Cal athletics for years and years and years."

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I have a question. They're asking for ESP annual payers to pay their full commited pledges by this December 31st. Many people opted for varying payment plans (5 year, 10 year, 15 year, or 20, 25 or 30 years). But they're offering up some perks to have people pay early.

I am worried that many people will get screwed if they pay off their commitment early when the next round of realignment happens and Cal isn't included. Will Cal reimburse ESP participants if Cal is left out of the CFP opportunity? Or are they going to say "Enjoy games where Cal is playing Davis, Cal Poly and Idaho"?
What's the insurance against this happening?

This looks like a way for Cal to reduce the stadium debt quickly on the backs of supporters who may get completely screwed. After all, the administration hasn't shown much support for a competitive program in the past 5 decades…past administrations as well as this one have put Cal in this position.

Golden One said:

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I received the following email from the AD this afternoon. I wonder what the mentioned changes will be.

Thank you for your continued support of Cal Athletics and Cal Football. Throughout the years your support has been truly impactful in the continued development of our student-athletes and the success of our programs. From making it possible to build the Simpson Center for Student-Athlete High Performance and renovate California Memorial Stadium to the ongoing support of all 850 of our student-athletes' experience, your support has been foundational to the continued operation of Cal Athletics.

As we look to position our department for the upcoming ACC transition and the realities that entails, we are going to introduce a few changes to how our Endowment Seating Program will operate moving forward.

First, to honor your impact and your commitment to us from the beginning, we are excited to introduce: The Founders Club - the ultimate expression of our gratitude for your support. It recognizes those who have gone above and beyond in the call to support the renovation and upgrades to California Memorial Stadium and the mission of Cal Athletics. The Founders Club will include all members who have paid in full by December 31st, 2024.

This exclusive opportunity will be considered the highest level benefits tier for club seat members and will include enhanced service on gameday, customized apparel, exclusive opportunities with athletics and campus leadership as well as additional private events. You will receive information throughout the year specifically related to the benefits you are eligible for as a member of the Founders Club.
As a Founders Club member, you will not be impacted by the upcoming changes to the Endowment Seating Program; including adjustments to our current pricing. While these changes will not include the tax deductibility and additional years of seat rights of the past, they will provide us with more flexibility in our ticket pricing and options. Ultimately, we believe this will position our department to operate more effectively in the present, prepare us for the future of college football, and ensure the long-term success of our student-athletes.
Your premium representative will be reaching out in the next few days to share additional information and answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for your support of Cal Athletics and Cal Football, and Go Bears!
Beth Tafolla-Voetsch
Chief Development Officer
Cal Athletics

Markeisha Everett
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Cal Athletics

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Credit to Beth that they are at least listening and trying to change things.

Alkiadt said:

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Big C said:

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Sounds like a good thing. Sounds like, "We've figured out a way to get more revenue by revamping our tiered system, but, for a change, we've realized that it would be bad to let it negatively impact anybody who has been supporting Cal athletics for years and years and years."

---

I have a question. They're asking for ESP annual payers to pay their full commited pledges by this December 31st. Many people opted for varying payment plans (5 year, 10 year, 15 year, or 20, 25 or 30 years). But they're offering up some perks to have people pay early.

I am worried that many people will get screwed if they pay off their commitment early when the next round of realignment happens and Cal isn't included. Will Cal reimburse ESP participants if Cal is left out of the CFP opportunity? Or are they going to say "Enjoy playing Davis, Cal Poly and Idaho"?
What's the insurance against this happening?

This looks like a way for Cal to reduce the stadium debt quickly on the backs of supporters who may get completely screwed. After all, the administration hasn't shown much support for a competitive program in the past 5 decades…past administrations as well as this one have put Cal in this position.

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It's difficult to read through this and not come to the conclusion that it's a money grab. When has this AD done anything proactively to improve anything?

The obvious conclusion is they are going to cut pricing on ESP to finally try to sell those seats. Having that void on the 50 that the students and team stare at all game is not good.

So I think while they'd love to get more revenue this move is more about dealing with the very, very biggest donors who ALREADY paid this off. Personally I think they are over thinking this issue. This is long overdue (speaking as someone who paid their ESP seats in full in 2012). Business people know that if you have a product that is not selling you cut prices. More than a decade is more than long enough. I never bought my seats viewing this as a brilliant financial move. It was a donation to the university. I think a lot of original ESP folks feel the same.

Exactly. I sold it to my wife as "cal athletics is going to get some of our estate when we die. Why not give it now and enjoy some of the benefit?". Philanthropy at a young(er) age.

It's calculated out to about $300 a ticket after the tax deduction, to sit on the 50 and have complimentary F & B. That was a lot in 2013 but will be a rounding error in 2040.

Cutting the cost won't affect those who got the tax cut, the more important issue is filling out the stadium. Can't imagine it will bother anyone that get the big picture.

Sebastabear said:

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The obvious conclusion is they are going to cut pricing on ESP to finally try to sell those seats. Having that void on the 50 that the students and team stare at all game is not good.

So I think while they'd love to get more revenue this move is more about dealing with the very, very biggest donors who ALREADY paid this off. Personally I think they are over thinking this issue. This is long overdue (speaking as someone who paid their ESP seats in full in 2012). Business people know that if you have a product that is not selling you cut prices. More than a decade is more than long enough. I never bought my seats viewing this as a brilliant financial move. It was a donation to the university. I think a lot of original ESP folks feel the same.

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I also paid for my 50-yard line ESP seats in full in 2012, and I agree with you. I view my payment as a donation to the university and our football program.

I'd be curious to know the details. I never bought ESP, so don't have the appropriate context, but flirted with it a few years ago and coulldn't get my group to jump in..

With the vagueness, I read this like something software companies do with subcription contracts... pay the remainder of your multi-year contract now and we'll give you a 20% discount... i.e. they want short term cash.