Blue collar team...white collar business

We're gonna need a bigger hammer.

As a freshman at Boise State in 1999, I used to pick up my free game tickets at the Student Union info desk on the day of the game. A couple of years and a couple of championships later, I was camping out in front of the ticket office the Mondays before games for hours. By the time I was a senior...the writing was on the wall—I had to become a season ticket holder while the getting was good. Now, after 5 years as a season-ticket holder—more writing-on-the-wall arrived in my mailbox on Thursday: I don't know if I can afford it anymore.

The "Decade of Dominance" factsheet was what you were supposed to see first. That part was supposed to make us feel better...maybe a twinge of guilt that we might be taking all of this success for granted. Keep reading...turn the page. "We're raising ticket prices almost 20% AND you'll be paying BAA membership fees on top of that". Nice.

I always pictured myself being a lifelong season ticket holder...I got in when the getting was good...now my kids can attend games with me. Sure, there would be lean years with the pocketbook, but we could always just renew and sell the tickets to someone for the season. That way, we'd keep our tickets for a better day. But, the thing is—I'm starting to see a trend and I'm just not sure I can keep up. The worst part is, it may affect the lifelong ticket holders and the younger fans alike...the younger fans, incidentally, being the lifelong ticket holders in the future. Now, the dilemma...the winning has brought the fans in droves—but will the fans be there to see the winning product if they keep getting priced right out of their seats?

So, I've got till May to figure out what to do. For the short term...for the long term. Do we downgrade our seats? Sell them off for the year in hopes that next year's a better fit? Do we drop them altogether (perish the thought)? Should I sell off a kidney?

I know, Gene, I know...we have to support the team and "keep up with the Joneses"...but weren't those shiny new Skysuites supposed to foot the bill for future expansion? I'd sooner part with a limb than my season tickets, but in the grand scheme of things, tickets aren't life's top priority. I'll continue mulling it over...in the meantime, make room in the South End Zone...we may be coming down!

O, Glorious Day!

Today...by all accounts, sucked. I was nauseous last night, starving this morning and had to endure a rather routine but entirely unpleasant medical procedure. But then, I came home and found these:
Everything's coming up roses.

A lot better season ticket holder swag this year, too. A nice Bronco license plate frame. Bravo.

2008 Podcast numero uno

JT Ray from Bronconation N.O.W., "Buck" Rogers from Statueleft and yours truly kicked off the 2008 season with an epic roundtable discussion about everything from Bob Behler to the ticket crisis. We were missing Kevan from OBNUG and aren't quite in mid-season form yet...but you may enjoy hearing our extremely biased opinions. Enjoy.

 The Bronco Nation Podcast - Shaken Off the Rust [50:15m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Oil prices up, corn prices up, ticket prices...

"With great success, comes great fan suffering" this quote comes from Sun Tzu in his 6th century B.C strategy guide the Art of College Football. Never has this great truth been more evident than the past few seasons of Bronco football where loyal fans have seen their season ticket prices raise steadily. Certain ticket packages have risen over 30% in the last two seasons alone. Upon hearing this news, I was introspective:

"What're you gonna do", said me, "it's not like I'm NOT gonna renew my tickets".

Still, getting my ticket renewal form in the mail on Wednesday was the happiest I've been to receive a bill since...well...ever.

Statesman story about ticket prices.