GB54;602462 said:

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It was a decent crowd and will be bigger than either WSU or OSU. This has turned out to be a lost season but I am enjoying ATT a lot. Much better access than Berkeley, cheaper parking, better views, nicer seats, better food. Sure the campus life and spirit is not there and is greatly missed but many fans are missing out on a good thing.

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Seriously? This was my first game at AT&T and I thought it was absolutely horrible, easily the worst game day experience I've ever had for any sport. It was sterile and quiet and sparsely attended. It sucked big time. Memorial can't be renovated fast enough...

Folks, it was Utah. They are awful. Cal fans and fans in general are intelligent enough to withhold purchasing tickets to a game like this.

I mean, you really want to be honest? 33-35k fans in a 45k seat stadium? And you're complaining about that? I don't get it.

Much reasons have been listed here and I agree with most of them. Downward decline of the program's record the past 3 years, terrible home schedule, huge losses to Oregon and USC. It has sapped the interest of the marginal fan and generally made it more palatable for the season ticket holder to give up their seats to opposing teams or just staying home!

Does anyone expect any more from fans? Blind allegiance? Puhleez.

35,000 might have been the paid attendance, but there were nowhere near that many people there. The stadium was half empty. My guess is the actual butts in the seats were between 25,000 and 30,000. And the student section was only half full.

I agree with you that people aren't obligated to go to a sporting event is the product isn't good (more so pros that college).

What gets me is how poorly the team and experience is marketed. A competent marketing team would have... well I'm repeating myself.

philly1121;602845 said:

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Folks, it was Utah. They are awful. Cal fans and fans in general are intelligent enough to withhold purchasing tickets to a game like this.

I mean, you really want to be honest? 33-35k fans in a 45k seat stadium? And you're complaining about that? I don't get it.

Much reasons have been listed here and I agree with most of them. Downward decline of the program's record the past 3 years, terrible home schedule, huge losses to Oregon and USC. It has sapped the interest of the marginal fan and generally made it more palatable for the season ticket holder to give up their seats to opposing teams or just staying home!

Does anyone expect any more from fans? Blind allegiance? Puhleez.

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ATT is not a venue for football as I have been there on at least two occasions - once for the Boston College vs Colo St game a few years ago (Emerald bowl - my dad was a CSU grad), and the Miami vs Cal bowl game.

But transportation however is a blast for folks coming from the peninsula - just hop off Caltrain and you are there - much, much better than Memorial except for the east bay folks :P

xultaif;602727 said:

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Marketing 101. You price, market and sell those tickets BEFORE the season starts so you're not dependent on the whim of the team's record, weather, time of game, etc.

In May the athletic department knew those seats weren't selling. What they should have done is simply switch out the students and young alumni, put them there. The visiting fans would buy the seats that would now be vacated by students and young alumni.

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I agree with the sentiment but the mechanics don't work here. I don't think you can put students behind the opposing bench. I think the team wanted to be on the shady side with access to the Giants' home lockerroom so you can't switch the team to the other end. I do think that a young alumni section there would've been great, or they could've tried an alumni standing section there.

If nothing else, hopefully this kills any thoughts they may have had about moving the students once we get back to Memorial. There is little demand for a no amenity facing the sun big donor section.

Quote:

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Up until now, I really had not considered your excellent point. No free/cheap student body helping at AT&T; costs skyrocket.

And is it too simple to blame Sandy and the ATO? What closeted group of profit-experts came up with the pricing/policy? It really can't be all on her shoulders, can it?

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Depending on their goal, costs might be largely irrelevant. Unless you really depress attendance (like the A's), the costs are fixed. Rent, workers, etc. The costs for 35k or 45k fans are basically the same. So it's a question of maximizing revenue and/or attendance. The costs really only come into play if maximizing attendance (you'd still want to not take a financial loss on the season).

My guess is that they figured that in the last 6 years we'd had one game with attendance under 50k, which to them meant that in a 45k seat stadium demand > supply. That means they can raise prices. They overlooked that the one game was the last one last year and waaaaaay overshot on the price raising. Maybe someone did quick math on what it would take to roughly equal last year's revenue with less home games and higher costs and just assumed very high sell through. Or maybe this really is the revenue maximizing option, I haven't done the math (seems unlikely though, even ignoring the long term damage).

Also, it doesn't matter who in the AD came up with the pricing. The buck stops with Sandy.

"I would guess Memorial sells out every game next year. (lowered capacity means perception will be tickets are hard to come by, New stadium everyone wants to see, ZM will be starting his second season with a MUCH improved D and run game, we have a schedule that includes several "revenge" games, etc)".

I think there is absolutely no chance that every game in Memorial next year will sell out. I wouldn't be surprised if no games sold out. My guess is that UCLA will draw about 55,000 and the Big Game might reach 60,000.

I guess the moral of all this is: San Francisco is NOT Bear Territory.

Golden One;602860 said:

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"I would guess Memorial sells out every game next year. (lowered capacity means perception will be tickets are hard to come by, New stadium everyone wants to see, ZM will be starting his second season with a MUCH improved D and run game, we have a schedule that includes several "revenge" games, etc)".

I think there is absolutely no chance that every game in Memorial next year will sell out. I wouldn't be surprised if no games sold out. My guess is that UCLA will draw about 55,000 and the Big Game might reach 60,000.

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I disagree Golden One .... there will be interest in the new stadium alone. If the team is good and shows the upward trend over the remaining 5 plus games ... I think there will be serious crowds for next year's season. If you combine that with the opponents coming in ... Oregon, Stanfurd, Nevada (they will draw some fans being they aren't too far away), Washington (they are obviously much improved), and even Ucla (don't remember the other OOC opponents right now) .... I am sure the attendance will be pretty good.

If recent history (bad economy being a possible detractor) is any indication, the new baseball stadiums ALWAYS draw huge in the beginning ... if the team stinks, the crowds decrease substantially over the subsequent seasons

boredom;602858 said:

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I agree with the sentiment but the mechanics don't work here. I don't think you can put students behind the opposing bench. I think the team wanted to be on the shady side with access to the Giants' home lockerroom so you can't switch the team to the other end. I do think that a young alumni section there would've been great, or they could've tried an alumni standing section there.

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You've got the conference rules right, but that's just poor thinking. For a one-off situation like a bowl game you can get away with pricing Sections A-C on a premium basis. For a season ticket situation, it's a grave mistake. Sections A-C has distant access to restrooms and concessions. Sections A-C also just happens to mimic Cal Memorial's Student Section. Failure to put the Student Section in that area is asking for a disaster in season ticket sales for the simple reason that donors (!) will not pay season ticket prices plus donations of $300 to $600 per seat for seating with distant restrooms and concessions.

Also, citing conference rules as a reason for locating the students elsewhere is nothing more than bureaucratic sleight of hand; problem is, it failed, spectacularly.

boredom;602858 said:

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If nothing else, hopefully this kills any thoughts they may have had about moving the students once we get back to Memorial. There is little demand for a no amenity facing the sun big donor section.

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Absolutely agreed. In retrospect, I believe that this was a failed attempt to leverage scarcity of seats into large ticket revenues, and one aspect of that is the "experiment" represented by Sections A-C.

boredom;602858 said:

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Depending on their goal, costs might be largely irrelevant. Unless you really depress attendance (like the A's), the costs are fixed. Rent, workers, etc. The costs for 35k or 45k fans are basically the same. So it's a question of maximizing revenue and/or attendance. The costs really only come into play if maximizing attendance (you'd still want to not take a financial loss on the season).

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Even so, maximizing attendance should pay significantly more than attempting to maximize revenues per seat given a shaky economy (high unemployment, high prices on groceries and fuel).

If season ticket prices had been around $240-$250 for most seats, students were moved to Sections A-C, the Left Field End Zone were priced similarly to the 1st Base End Zone seats, fewer donor seats on the Promenade and View Levels, there would have been better season ticket sales, better attendance, and revenues would have held at least flat, if not shown a small increase versus actual.

Further, 2011 season ticket sales would have served as a bridge between 2010 and 2012 at Cal Memorial. Mark my words, 2012 season ticket sales will be depressed at Cal Memorial in large part because many 2010 season ticket holders were left out of AT&T by the season ticket pricing structure, resulting in the early sales of the cheapest seats in the house while the priciest seats went begging.

boredom;602858 said:

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My guess is that they figured that in the last 6 years we'd had one game with attendance under 50k, which to them meant that in a 45k seat stadium demand > supply. That means they can raise prices. They overlooked that the one game was the last one last year and waaaaaay overshot on the price raising. Maybe someone did quick math on what it would take to roughly equal last year's revenue with less home games and higher costs and just assumed very high sell through. Or maybe this really is the revenue maximizing option, I haven't done the math (seems unlikely though, even ignoring the long term damage).

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I think you've got it essentially right. You've just recapped why the calculation for 2011 season ticket sales did not work. But the pitfall is trying to shoehorn Cal Memorial 2010 revenues into 2011 AT&T Park revenues. Put simply, you've got two strikes on you (rent, and 62% capacity) and the losing 2010 campaign (5-7 anyone) threatens to deal strike three.

It was a very difficult situation, but the plan employed made it worse.

boredom;602858 said:

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Also, it doesn't matter who in the AD came up with the pricing. The buck stops with Sandy.

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True, enough. The buck does stop with Sandy. How many people will remember that in 2012 with a rebuilt Cal Memorial?

CubanPete;602902 said:

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How many people will remember how much she's jacked up ticket prices over the last several years? How many will remember how the team has done over that span? Quite a few.

If the intent is to fill the stadium when it reopens (and it better be if they don't want to be a laughing stock), they better be thinking about what price would have the stadium with an average attendance of at least 40,000 per game regardless of how good the team is next year.

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I think the aim is for a much higher average attendance than 40,000.

I was sitting in section 125 for the game. It was a fun game because we won, but AT&T had no atmosphere for football, it was incredibly stuffy and hot with no breeze and the overhang retaining the heat, and there was little electricity.

I didn't hear one singular Cal Band song besides Sons of California for touchdowns. I did hear the Cal Band playing Sons of California for a commercial ad -- over the loudspeaker. THAT was loud and clear. This is a troubling combination of minimal Cal Band numbers and muted sound. I'm sure people have gone to Sandy about this? This is so ridiculous. The CMB shouldn't take a back seat to anyone in the Cal football experience. So sad for the CMB because I saw them setting up at 9:30am at Kleeberger for a 4pm game. This is a complete disrespect of kids that volunteer all day in wool suits and giving it their all.

Me, calumnus and Richard Lee were yelling our lungs out on third downs and many other plays where the Utah offense was right in front of us. It seemed like we were the only ones to do that in our section and one couple moved about 10 seats to their left to get out of earshot. It just shows me that a good majority of non-students don't expect to contribute to the noise of the stadium. I'm surprised the pro sports MAKE SOME NOISE pavlovian prompts didn't get the people to make noise. Maybe our fans are even numb to that. Hmm... From where I was sitting it was hard to hear the student section. This really nullifies the power of our student section, which is awesome at Memorial. Anyway, will just have to grin and bear it until we play games at the new Memorial.

GB54;602723 said:

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Ok. We had 34,000 season ticket holders last year and are down to 26000 this year (if earlier reports are accurate). I think the loss of hard core fans is primarily due to ATO miscalculations.

We do know however that at Memorial we are used to crowds of 50,000 so there is something else going on. The marginal fan is not coming. I suspect this is due to

1) Last year's and this year's performance. Oregon and SC basically killed marginal interest in the rest of the year.
2) Schedule is total crap. Fresno game and Presby games are a joke. Nobody is coming to those on a whim. If they were really interested in money they should have scheduled some strong OOC rival to kick off this year. We are left with USC, Utah, OSU and WSU-all except for one team, the dregs of the conference. We know USC is going to sell out but there is little attraction to the others. The other factor here is homecoming which was the USC weekend. Homecoming is almost a guaranteed sell out. Why not make it the Utah game and do some promotion or run busses and encourage attendance so you at least sell that out.
3) I think the stadium decision factors in for the season ticket holders but not for the casual fan. You would go if the game is important or the team was on a roll. Neither is true. Utah, WSU and OSU are not going to do it.

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Yup

KoreAmBear;602980 said:

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I was sitting in section 125 for the game. It was a fun game because we won, but AT&T had no atmosphere for football, it was incredibly stuffy and hot with no breeze and the overhang retaining the heat, and there was little electricity.

I didn't hear one singular Cal Band song besides Sons of California for touchdowns. I did hear the Cal Band playing Sons of California for a commercial ad -- over the loudspeaker. THAT was loud and clear. This is a troubling combination of minimal Cal Band numbers and muted sound. I'm sure people have gone to Sandy about this? This is so ridiculous. The CMB shouldn't take a back seat to anyone in the Cal football experience. So sad for the CMB because I saw them setting up at 9:30am at Kleeberger for a 4pm game. This is a complete disrespect of kids that volunteer all day in wool suits and giving it their all.

Me, calumnus and Richard Lee were yelling our lungs out on third downs and many other plays where the Utah offense was right in front of us. It seemed like we were the only ones to do that in our section and one couple moved about 10 seats to their left to get out of earshot. It just shows me that a good majority of non-students don't expect to contribute to the noise of the stadium. I'm surprised the pro sports MAKE SOME NOISE pavlovian prompts didn't get the people to make noise. Maybe our fans are even numb to that. Hmm... From where I was sitting it was hard to hear the student section. This really nullifies the power of our student section, which is awesome at Memorial. Anyway, will just have to grin and bear it until we play games at the new Memorial.

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I certainly appreciate your enthusiasm for our team. However, you can't really expect other fans to match the same level that you have. If I was the couple next to you, I probably would have asked you to lower the volume. Then again, it looked like there were plenty of empty seats so maybe moving was the better option.

Still, in watching the 1st half, it seems that the bleacher seats in the sun are quickly turning into the opposing teams cheering section as I saw quite a bit of red in the bleachers.

However, I do believe your comments about the Cal Band are spot on. I don't even think I heard Big C. Looking at the location of the band and the student section, they must be watching the game in blinding sun and incredible heat!

Lots of reasons for poor attendance and atmosphere, but the consensus opinion seems to be:

1. Powers that be screwed up big time with marketing/price points; and
2. The buck stops with AD.

KoreAmBear;602980 said:

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I didn't hear one singular Cal Band song besides Sons of California for touchdowns. I did hear the Cal Band playing Sons of California for a commercial ad -- over the loudspeaker. THAT was loud and clear. This is a troubling combination of minimal Cal Band numbers and muted sound. I'm sure people have gone to Sandy about this? This is so ridiculous. The CMB shouldn't take a back seat to anyone in the Cal football experience..

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I assume you mean "Fight for California", but otherwise, yeah.

I wonder, in my darkest and most troubled moments, if Tedford and the marketing people have killed the Cal Band? No one currently in the Band was there when they used to play a few bars of all the familiar fight songs after every big play, and full versions during every time out. After Tedford is gone, will they magically remember what it used to be like? (I believe Director Robert Colonico was in the Band as a student -- perhaps he'll hang on long enough to keep the spirit alive)

JSC 76;603054 said:

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I assume you mean "Fight for California", but otherwise, yeah.

I wonder, in my darkest and most troubled moments, if Tedford and the marketing people have killed the Cal Band? No one currently in the Band was there when they used to play a few bars of all the familiar fight songs after every big play, and full versions during every time out. After Tedford is gone, will they magically remember what it used to be like? (I believe Director Robert Colonico was in the Band as a student -- perhaps he'll hang on long enough to keep the spirit alive)

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@JSC76 yuup you're right about the song title. I was never good with the actual names of the Cal songs. Can't we do something about the CMB being marginalized? Has there already been a discussion with Sandy or can we go on a letter writing campaign?

JSC 76;603054 said:

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if Tedford and the marketing people have killed the Cal Band

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"Cal Sports Properties and IMG College - Working Together Since 2005"


"Cal / IMG Sports Network Mission Statement:

Create the finest corporate sponsorship model in intercollegiate athletics by developing long term fully integrated marketing partnerships designed and customized to meet the marketing and business objectives of our corporate partners and the property. The marketing partnerships will deliver value to our corporate partners, fans, the community and all stakeholders. Concurrently produce and develop outstanding programming and content for property media platforms."




:Monty

35K sounds like a lot to me considering the extra travel required, that it was on TV, and that we are not ranked or competing for a Pac 12 championship. Not to mention you get a better view on TV for free, less hassle, and the biggest plus is you get to watch all the other games too in the comfort of your living room. That's not to say I don't enjoy going to a game, but it's a lot of time out of your Saturday to go to AT&T park.

prospeCt;603072 said:

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"Cal Sports Properties and IMG College - Working Together Since 2005"


"Cal / IMG Sports Network Mission Statement:

Create the finest corporate sponsorship model in intercollegiate athletics by developing long term fully integrated marketing partnerships designed and customized to meet the marketing and business objectives of our corporate partners and the property. The marketing partnerships will deliver value to our corporate partners, fans, the community and all stakeholders. Concurrently produce and develop outstanding programming and content for property media platforms."

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If you wanted to write a parody of meaningless corporate BS double-talk, it would look exactly like that. This could've been lifted straight from Dilbert.

I'll be so happy when Memorial is finished and we can be done with this mess. Marketing screwed up, but I'm not sure how much it would have mattered. The last two home games probably won't be much better in the "high attendance/ high energy" department, though the Oregon State game *could* be good in that regard.

At this point, our best shot at a Cal game with real fan energy is either the Big Game, if the Bears play out of their heads and Furd forgets to show up, so the Cal fans have a reason to be involved, or a bowl game, if we can make it to one.

march2397;602705 said:

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I think X really nailed it on the marketing of AT&T. Amateur hour and a disaster.
With the added factor of p*ssing off a number of long time fans and Bear backers, of which I am one.

Hope the AD and the incompetents in the ATO enjoy the view of the sideline bleachers filled with our opponents fans. Whoops, actually they aren't filled, but they do have mostly our opponents fans, at least so far.

Grade? I'd give an F.

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+1. I was at the last two games and it just really pissed me that u$c and Utah fans were given the 50 yard line bleacher seat section (where the students sit in Memorial) and the Cal students and Cal band sat in the end zone bleachers.

Adding insult to injury, u$c brought only 50 band members but they sounded louder than the Cal Band in the stands because the stadium behind u$s band acted as an acoustic shell (amplifying the sound) while the Cal Band has open air behind them.

I have been to Cal away games all across the country, including Tennessee, Illinois, Utah, New Mexico State, Michigan State and every Pac-10 opponent. We have NEVER received premium seating like we are giving to the other side this year.

I've been sitting in the section for ESP donors at the club level at AT&T on around the 10 yard line. It just galls the bejesus out of me to look across at a sea of red in the premium seats. Half the seat in my section on Saturday were EMPTY. The student section wasn't close to full.

The athletic department was WRONG IN ITS ENTIRE APPROACH for its year at AT&T. Instead of using it as an opportunity to build the brand, they just took a big dump on the people who care. Hopefully the team will be great next year, Memorial will be wonderful, and this will all be soon forgotten. But if the same morons are making the decisions, I am fearful that they will continue to f@#% things up.

JSC 76;603075 said:

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If you wanted to write a parody of meaningless corporate BS double-talk, it would look exactly like that. This could've been lifted straight from Dilbert.

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You may have stumbled onto the reason for the venue - AT&T Park.

JSC 76;603054 said:

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I wonder, in my darkest and most troubled moments, if Tedford and the marketing people have killed the Cal Band? No one currently in the Band was there when they used to play a few bars of all the familiar fight songs after every big play, and full versions during every time out. After Tedford is gone, will they magically remember what it used to be like? (I believe Director Robert Colonico was in the Band as a student -- perhaps he'll hang on long enough to keep the spirit alive)

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Don't know if they've killed the Cal Band, but they've killed the college game day experience. People consider me a dyed-in-the-wool Cal fan, but over the past several years I find that I have less and less motivation to go to the game in person. If I'm going to be blasted with ads throughout the game, not hear the band play, etc, its a better experience to watch on TV. This is not about the team stinking it up - I don't think I missed a home game during the Holmoe years even. Its about a crappy experience that costs a lot - yes I bought a walk up ticket for $85 (yes scalpers were cheaper, but I figure my $$ should go to Cal). I've talked to many people who say they've written to Sandy about the ever worsening game day experience, but none have ever received a reply.

randythebear;603152 said:

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+1. I was at the last two games and it just really pissed me that u$c and Utah fans were given the 50 yard line bleacher seat section (where the students sit in Memorial) and the Cal students and Cal band sat in the end zone bleachers.

Adding insult to injury, u$c brought only 50 band members but they sounded louder than the Cal Band in the stands because the stadium behind u$s band acted as an acoustic shell (amplifying the sound) while the Cal Band has open air behind them.

I have been to Cal away games all across the country, including Tennessee, Illinois, Utah, New Mexico State, Michigan State and every Pac-10 opponent. We have NEVER received premium seating like we are giving to the other side this year.

I've been sitting in the section for ESP donors at the club level at AT&T on around the 10 yard line. It just galls the bejesus out of me to look across at a sea of red in the premium seats. Half the seat in my section on Saturday were EMPTY. The student section wasn't close to full.

The athletic department was WRONG IN ITS ENTIRE APPROACH for its year at AT&T. Instead of using it as an opportunity to build the brand, they just took a big dump on the people who care. Hopefully the team will be great next year, Memorial will be wonderful, and this will all be soon forgotten. But if the same morons are making the decisions, I am fearful that they will continue to f@#% things up.

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I hear what you're saying. However, it was never an option to put the students in the bleachers. It would have put them right behind the visiting team. Cal certainly wasn't going to be on that side of the field as its the sunny side. Also, and I'm not sure about this but were the bleacher seats reserved for season ticket holders? If so, season ticket holders seem to be giving/selling their tickets to the opposing team!

I do think that after the losses to Oregon and USC - the wheels came off in terms of attendance. Like another poster wrote, people can watch at home, tivo the game or watch all the other games. Between buying tickets to a game against a very marginal opponent, at a venue that doesn't seem suitable for a football game, and watching a Cal team that is out of the running for Pac-12 championship, Rose Bowl or major bowl - or staying at home and saving money - I'm staying home.

I think we're just going to have to ride this season out.

From what I could see, at least a couple of thousand people remained in the many bars outside AT&T where the game was being played in beautiful HD TV. Momo's, Pete's and O'Neill's all within a block of the stadium were packed w/ Cal Fans, enjoying their adult beverages, the nice weather and their friends (and the game).

+1.

GB54;602462 said:

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It was a decent crowd and will be bigger than either WSU or OSU. This has turned out to be a lost season but I am enjoying ATT a lot. Much better access than Berkeley, cheaper parking, better views, nicer seats, better food. Sure the campus life and spirit is not there and is greatly missed but many fans are missing out on a good thing.

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I must admit ATT is much better than I had ever thought possible, but I will still take Memorial Stadium any day.

SanMateoBear;603215 said:

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Don't know if they've killed the Cal Band, but they've killed the college game day experience. People consider me a dyed-in-the-wool Cal fan, but over the past several years I find that I have less and less motivation to go to the game in person. If I'm going to be blasted with ads throughout the game, not hear the band play, etc, its a better experience to watch on TV. This is not about the team stinking it up - I don't think I missed a home game during the Holmoe years even. Its about a crappy experience that costs a lot - yes I bought a walk up ticket for $85 (yes scalpers were cheaper, but I figure my $$ should go to Cal). I've talked to many people who say they've written to Sandy about the ever worsening game day experience, but none have ever received a reply.

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and still have TV time outs to get blasted with in-stadium commercials. I guess that eliminates the need, and the possibility, of talking with your friends.

ddc_Cal;603296 said:

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and still have TV time outs to get blasted with in-stadium commercials. I guess that eliminates the need, and the possibility, of talking with your friends.

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What if you have no friends???

and yes they were nice ,but I still felt like I was watching the game on TV. I think the unfamilar backround plays tricks with your brain and elimnates that feeling we get in Memorial that we a part of and actually IN the game.

I was bored and I do not know why.

sanmateobear;603215 said:

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don't know if they've killed the cal band, but they've killed the college game day experience. People consider me a dyed-in-the-wool cal fan, but over the past several years i find that i have less and less motivation to go to the game in person. If i'm going to be blasted with ads throughout the game, not hear the band play, etc, its a better experience to watch on tv. This is not about the team stinking it up - i don't think i missed a home game during the holmoe years even. Its about a crappy experience that costs a lot - yes i bought a walk up ticket for $85 (yes scalpers were cheaper, but i figure my $$ should go to cal). I've talked to many people who say they've written to sandy about the ever worsening game day experience, but none have ever received a reply.

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exactly right!!!

I have no had data to back it up, with the exception that I have season tickets, live in SoCal, and decided not to come up. Actually, I may not make any of the games at ATT, which sucks. However, combined with higher airfares and the product on the field, there is no value for me.

philly1121;603223 said:

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I hear what you're saying. However, it was never an option to put the students in the bleachers. It would have put them right behind the visiting team. Cal certainly wasn't going to be on that side of the field as its the sunny side. Also, and I'm not sure about this but were the bleacher seats reserved for season ticket holders? If so, season ticket holders seem to be giving/selling their tickets to the opposing team!

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I'm sorry, but this is just garbage. The best option would have been to put the students in the bleachers. As I've said repeatedly in many threads, the pricing structure for 2011 Cal football season tickets was botched, top to bottom.

Part of that botched job was the placement of the students in Sections 136-141 and reserving Sections A-C for donor seating.

This is a mistake of epic proportions for the simple reason that access to basic amenities (read: restrooms and food/drink concessions) is remote, a longer trek than any other ballpark location. It is not unlike Cal Memorial's Student Section.

The right decision would have been to put the Students and Young Alumni in Sections A-C, and price tickets in Sections 136-141 (Left Field End Zone) the same or similar to those in Sections 104-114 (1st Base End Zone).

There is no logistical reason why the Cal sideline could not have been in front of Sections A-C. The reason stated for why the Students were moved was doubletalk; put bluntly, it was a bull$#it reason for a bull$#it move.

philly1121;603223 said:

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I do think that after the losses to Oregon and USC - the wheels came off in terms of attendance. Like another poster wrote, people can watch at home, tivo the game or watch all the other games. Between buying tickets to a game against a very marginal opponent, at a venue that doesn't seem suitable for a football game, and watching a Cal team that is out of the running for Pac-12 championship, Rose Bowl or major bowl - or staying at home and saving money - I'm staying home.

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All very good points. Which also makes the season ticket pricing debacle that much more painful. There was an opportunity to sell out AT&T on a season ticket basis and the opportunity was lost in an effort to maximize revenue by leveraging a scarcity of seats.

A sold out (or nearly sold out) AT&T Park for five home games has got to be worth more in 2012 season ticket sales than any additional ticket revenue realized from overpriced seats.

philly1121;603223 said:

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I think we're just going to have to ride this season out.

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Yes, yes we will.

calman91;602474 said:

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Try 30.

AT&T isn't a college football venue. Frankly, I'm not enjoying it. Hate to see the infield outlines, don't like the neighborhood and getting in and out from the North Bay is a PIA.

We've been spoiled by the campus and CMS, even in its previously-decayed state.

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Agree. It does not have the feel of a "home" game. I miss the bowl of Memorial. I hate the fact that the fans are so split up due to the different levels and sections, At Memorial I sit in the old Gold Zone and I felt closer to the rooting section and to the fans in the Blue Zone than I feel to the fans just 3 sections away at ATT. Also the field feels like it is a mile away and behind barbed wire fence (so to speak).