The Lions' Pride

Very true. Neither of us used facts. Which is why I have asked if anyone knows the real numbers here... There are a lot of variables, and it is very complex. I don't know how much more profit there has been. I asked you, and I don't think you do either. I'm not attacking you. I just said that we need more info. But if you are right, and there are more profits, the goals of STEP would have been met. My point is, with our current situation, we need to adjust those goals. Maybe there is a way to get more people in the 15,000 empty seats without sacrificing profit. IMO it's just another example of the laziness of our administration. Sales are down, and have been down every year of step, according to some of the articles written that I have browsed beiefly. I am not claiming to be a STEP expert. Just saying that sales are down... And if you are right, and profits are up, let's work and get sales up too. Thats all Im saying man.

I don't think STEP works (not in terms of profit) but because of the marked decrease in season tickets right after it came into being, and the decrease thereafter- before the scandal... Profit is a huge part of it, but all Im saying is that it's not the only measure of success here. I would like to see them attack this and come up with something to get it done. I just see this as another example of people being comfortable with how things are going and not trying to make things better. But yes, too many factors to def say that STEP is the only problem. I was being vague and that's my bad. I acknowledge that man. You are right in that. But then the conversation got deeper and deeper, and all Im saying is that I don't know the facts, and no one is offering them. I don't feel like looking them up. But when someone does, it will be easier to talk about the particulars. But your point is well taken (if true- I don't know, and you asked the question yourself), if profits are up, STEP works for those purposes...

Understand man. And agree. But isn't there a way to try to do both? Wouldn't it be nice to read that they have at least discussed improving it? They just seem to be happy with having 15,000 empty seats... Maybe there is a way to have your cake and eat it too... They don't even appear to be concerned or even talking about making improvements... Let alone actually taking steps (No pun intended) to improve it.

Agreed. It's impossible to say whether it's working or not... I mean if profits are up, and seats are empty, that can probably be improved or tweaked, just as you said... And would be a win from the profits standpoint (and yes MTayl, I know that profits are the most important thing). But I just think that 15,000 empties is a pretty big failure on some level... I think we agree more than we think lol I am not disagreeing with anything that you are saying. My problem is their unwillingness to tweak it- at all... All these people speaking out, and it has no effect... MTayl's recommendation to lower prices close to game time is actually pretty darn smart. And the idea that the prices should be adjusted according to seat location is smart too... I mean if we can come up with these suggestions on a message board, how can people who's job it is to maximize this program still not even discuss ways to improve it? Just frustrating and I'm seeing it as another example of how people who run PSU are inept.

I think the Step concept is ok but PSU has messed up how to implement it. Look where all the empty seats are. In the middle of the E and W stands in the upper third. The contribution amount for those seats is 600 per seat per year. Look around to the endzones and except for areas that are allocated to opposing teams those are full. They have just mispriced those seats. They really are not great seats. I will be shocked if they don't alter the pricing on those sections next year. Perhaps those are $300 per seat contributions. But no one wants to pay that much to sit 70 rows up.

I also seriously question the idea of adjusting the ticket price for the club contribution for unsold seats. I understand why they are doing it. They don't want to undermine season ticket sales. But once the fix the above noted issue they should price all remaining seats much lower.

I see a lot of talk about money, blah, blah, blah....what about Bob's main weapon against Bowl Games.....the "we play in front of 110,000 people a week"?

Penn State will always find the money. In fact they would still be tripping over it if they only got 85,000 per weekend. However, other schools are going to be able to look at Penn State recruits and say, "Yes, playing in front of 110,000 people is better than playing in some bowl game, but they aren't getting 110,000, they are getting 85,000. And if you have seen 85, 000 in that stadium it looks like a Pitt Game."

BOB is there to win games, because winning makes more money. If he starts losing he's fired (if the situation is right financially through these sanctions). If small crowds start showing up and it hurts recruiting which hurts the bottom line, they'll adjust. At this time, its not an issue. They need to make money, period. Every other sport depends on it. They shouldn't make any other changes to get them less cash, that's stupid business.

As a fan, can that suck? Yes. But that's the way it is, and should be.

Its relative man. Dpends on the profit generated more than the flat number.

Agree almost wholeheartedly. I think the reason to tweak it is that people are starting to notice and comment. There are way too many empties. I understand that you wait a little bit, see if it improves, are satisfied with the profits... But it's been happening for a couple years now (immediately after STEP was implemented, and a steady decrease according to the OP article). I think they can start to analyze and discuss possible solutions. I would be happy with just that... Just talking about ways to improve the attendance while keeping profits up... I just think that you can start the process now, after a few years of seeing attendance come down... BUT I get what you are saying and agree that at this time, profit is most important/it funds everything else/ we NEED those profits. Just want to make that clear.

Tim Curley to hell

I think lowering the price and getting people in the seats does more than just look good...the more people in the seats, the more memorabilia, food, and whatever else you sell. That number often goes overlooked.

Basically, to me, the problem is simple...step may have worked, if at a different time. They implement it during a recession and then just when you think it may survive, the sandusky shit drops...and the ball starts rolling down hill eventually leading to a few things:

1. People are pissed, I am one. I still have my tickets but have a really hard time digesting comments made about me and our culture by the Board of Trustees. And I know that while the team needs (and will get) my support, every penny I spend eases the Boards pain. Do I come...yes, not quite as much as i used to, but my seats are always filled.
2. Sanctions. It does take away from the importance of each game. Sure, we all want to win every game, but you cant deny that knowing we cant win a national championship let alone a Big Ten title will sway your marginal fair weather fan to just watch on TV.
3. Game atmosphere...sounds kind of ridiculous, but something is certainly missing on Saturday's in state college and more specifically Beaver Stadium. I miss a lot of the chants and traditions that have been changed. For example...i used to stand at the corner of Porter and Hastings and slap hands with players while the Blue bus practically ran over my foot....not anymore...damn things go like 50 down the road, the exhaust forming a middle finger telling me to get out of the ^%$*ing way
4. Prices for hotels, parking, and whatever else...when does it stop!

Perhaps we can paint the seats blue? Seems to disguise a half empty stadium for Pitt games ...

This is just not a PSU problem. Ticket sales are down across the country. The quality of television today is an issue for most sports programs and franchises. A family member of mine is an executive with the Columbus Blue Jackets and brought this point up to me a few years ago. He basically said it is getting tougher to sell tickets when fans can watch a game in HD at home on their couch and save tons of money while doing so.

That said, with everything that has happened at PSU the past year, the ticket prices do need to drop. They definitely need to get rid of the additional charge on single game tickets. I assume this is the issue with the empty seats at the top of the east side at the 40 or so yard line each game. I know the university needs the money, but I would think it is more important to fill the stadium the next couple of years to be more of an attraction for recruits. If not, it could take much longer for the football team and athletic department to recover.

If you know you're going to the game a day or so ahead of time I thought you could buy a parking pass for $10?