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TNTwrestle

Senior
Jun 6, 2025
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And they are $175 for 6 events after all that. Less than $30 per.

SMH over the complaining. NCAA wrestling remains the best deal in sports.
Just a few years ago, PSU was giving some tickets away to fill the BJC for the meets there. Other than the schools mentioned earlier in the thread, there are few outside of Iowa (if any) that get $20 per ticket, and just a few years ago, that number was closer to $10, much like Women's BB until Clark showed up, and we don't have any Clark-like draws on this team anymore. Spencer was the last one.
You did. You also said the below, and now for the 3rd time have refused to own up to it. The fact of the matter is it’s been years since there was an increase even close to that. You could have just said “my bad…” but instead you had to make a message board federal case out of it.



Of course ticket prices have gone up. Ever heard of supply and demand? Ever noticed the price of basically everything going up all the time?
Until three or four years ago, season tickets were never $100. The year they jumped over that, my 11 tickets took a jump of over $300, which is a chunk for my budget. There are several reasons they got that high, but supply and demand say they should go back down.
 

Slim45

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2019
643
2,045
93
You did. You also said the below, and now for the 3rd time have refused to own up to it. The fact of the matter is it’s been years since there was an increase even close to that. You could have just said “my bad…” but instead you had to make a message board federal case out of it.



Of course ticket prices have gone up. Ever heard of supply and demand? Ever noticed the price of basically everything going up all the time?
Animated GIF
 

Slim45

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2019
643
2,045
93
You did. You also said the below, and now for the 3rd time have refused to own up to it. The fact of the matter is it’s been years since there was an increase even close to that. You could have just said “my bad…” but instead you had to make a message board federal case out of it.



Of course ticket prices have gone up. Ever heard of supply and demand? Ever noticed the price of basically everything going up all the time?
3 and 4 years ago both jumps of 28%…been YEARRRS. God ur a ****** clown
 
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FanInBlack

All-Conference
Nov 9, 2001
1,953
4,132
113
One of the rare times a Gable coached wrestler was out strategized. Carver was just shellshocked after.
I still remember during the team picture after winning the team championship everyone looking like their dog just died, except for Mcginnis, he was all smiles lol.
I dont know why but that one hurt more than Spencer. I was gutted.
 

98lberEating2Lunches

All-Conference
Feb 11, 2018
846
1,457
93
I guess ticket pricing was as follows (assuming processing fee is just a BS add on that applies to the ticket order).

21-22 $85
22-23 $125
23-24 $145
24-25 $169
25-26 $195

But it seems over those years Iowa did not have the same number of Home duals.
21-22 6
22-23 8
23-24 6
24-25 6
25-26 6

So the price per ticket by year is:
21-22 $14.17
22-23 $15.63
23-24 $24.17
24-25 $28.17
25-26 $32.50

Year-over-year inflation for Iowa City as of December CPI-U - Midwest Region (West North Central division)
21 - 267.054
22 - 275.182 - 3 04% inflation yr-over-yr
23 - 283.910 - 3.17%
24 - 292.530 - 3.04%
25 - 300.400 - 2.69%

Ticket Price in 2021 Dollars
21-22 $14.17
22-23 $15.17 ($15.63)
23-24 $22.74 ($24.17)
24-25 $25.72 ($28.17)
25-26 $28.89 ($32.50)

Excluding inflation, ticket prices have increased at an APR of 19.49%.

So a little under 20% rather than over 30% each year.

Clearly the biggest jump came in 2023 and that was just under a 50% increase. I think the evolving NIL landscape and its affect on University Athletic donations (instead going to NIL collectives) was a factor. Could be that the construction costs (and impact on seating) also was a factor.
 

TheREALSpooner

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2022
1,065
3,630
113
I guess ticket pricing was as follows (assuming processing fee is just a BS add on that applies to the ticket order).

21-22 $85
22-23 $125
23-24 $145
24-25 $169
25-26 $195

But it seems over those years Iowa did not have the same number of Home duals.
21-22 6
22-23 8
23-24 6
24-25 6
25-26 6

So the price per ticket by year is:
21-22 $14.17
22-23 $15.63
23-24 $24.17
24-25 $28.17
25-26 $32.50

Year-over-year inflation for Iowa City as of December CPI-U - Midwest Region (West North Central division)
21 - 267.054
22 - 275.182 - 3 04% inflation yr-over-yr
23 - 283.910 - 3.17%
24 - 292.530 - 3.04%
25 - 300.400 - 2.69%

Ticket Price in 2021 Dollars
21-22 $14.17
22-23 $15.17 ($15.63)
23-24 $22.74 ($24.17)
24-25 $25.72 ($28.17)
25-26 $28.89 ($32.50)

Excluding inflation, ticket prices have increased at an APR of 19.49%.

So a little under 20% rather than over 30% each year.

Clearly the biggest jump came in 2023 and that was just under a 50% increase. I think the evolving NIL landscape and its affect on University Athletic donations (instead going to NIL collectives) was a factor. Could be that the construction costs (and impact on seating) also was a factor.

Thanks but this was futile. He still thinks he was right. 😂
 

Sabula

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
1,590
1,766
113
Man, you have got to be the biggest 🤡 on here. Did i not already say i didn’t know the exact %’s? But hey, i guess 28% for 2 years and 17% for the next 2 isn’t that significant. THAT was the whole point, ticket prices have gone up. By a lot. So again, you’re a dumbass
He's the dumbass, and yet you were the one whose initial statement of 30% every year was totally wrong. Ok, got it... thanks.🤣
 

dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,420
4,524
113
Just a few years ago, PSU was giving some tickets away to fill the BJC for the meets there. Other than the schools mentioned earlier in the thread, there are few outside of Iowa (if any) that get $20 per ticket, and just a few years ago, that number was closer to $10
What the heck are you talking about? PSU has sold out every match at Rec Hall for like 15 straight years. BJC maybe a couple of non sellouts, but I think the lowest they have had there was an early season Oklahoma which still almost 10k.

Yeah, in 2010 I was going to some MLB games and finding $15 seats in the upper levels regularly. Now, I’m lucky to get a last minute desparation ticket against a team like the Marlins for $50 and if I’m buying a 10 game plan that probably includes 1 good opponent, I’m looking at something like $800. Go to an NFL game and you’ll find yourself paying $250 to $500 per tickets for regular seats depending on the opponent.

It’s not 1980 anymore and you can’t expect $10 to get you much more than a quarter pounder with cheese nowadays. They are not $1.50 anymore in case you didn't notice. I remember paying 10 cents for drafts in cafeteria juice glasses on Tuesdays in college and this week in NYC for business a draft cost me almost $20.

Paying $30 for an event that’s going to draw 8 to 10k rabid fans of your favorite team sounds like a deal to me in 2026.
 
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dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,420
4,524
113
I guess ticket pricing was as follows (assuming processing fee is just a BS add on that applies to the ticket order).

21-22 $85
22-23 $125
23-24 $145
24-25 $169
25-26 $195

But it seems over those years Iowa did not have the same number of Home duals.
21-22 6
22-23 8
23-24 6
24-25 6
25-26 6

So the price per ticket by year is:
21-22 $14.17
22-23 $15.63
23-24 $24.17
24-25 $28.17
25-26 $32.50

Year-over-year inflation for Iowa City as of December CPI-U - Midwest Region (West North Central division)
21 - 267.054
22 - 275.182 - 3 04% inflation yr-over-yr
23 - 283.910 - 3.17%
24 - 292.530 - 3.04%
25 - 300.400 - 2.69%

Ticket Price in 2021 Dollars
21-22 $14.17
22-23 $15.17 ($15.63)
23-24 $22.74 ($24.17)
24-25 $25.72 ($28.17)
25-26 $28.89 ($32.50)

Excluding inflation, ticket prices have increased at an APR of 19.49%.

So a little under 20% rather than over 30% each year.

Clearly the biggest jump came in 2023 and that was just under a 50% increase. I think the evolving NIL landscape and its affect on University Athletic donations (instead going to NIL collectives) was a factor. Could be that the construction costs (and impact on seating) also was a factor.
Year to year inflation figures are highly influenced by major cost of living expenses including things like mortgage/rent, auto, etc - most of which may be very stable over longer periods of time. While housing prices may increase, for example, long term financing mutes the that effect on cost of living increases for society as a whole and this is reflected in those figures.

Things that hit your pocketbook daily, weekly, monthly like food, gas, utilities, other essential purchases and nonessential expenses are much more volatile and can even go through negative cycles, which you never see in cost of living figures. Also, some of these are affected by societal changes, which rarely impact the basic sustenance expenses like shelter and food for example. So, long story short, you are better served comparing price increases inside a specific product sector, rather than the CLI.

I would categorize buying wrestling tickets as entertainment, which likely will have seen a higher increase than the CLI this century. I don’t know that for sure and I’m not inclined to do the research, so if someone is so inclined and I’m wrong, please correct me.
 

98lberEating2Lunches

All-Conference
Feb 11, 2018
846
1,457
93
Year to year inflation figures are highly influenced by major cost of living expenses including things like mortgage/rent, auto, etc - most of which may be very stable over longer periods of time. While housing prices may increase, for example, long term financing mutes the that effect on cost of living increases for society as a whole and this is reflected in those figures.

Things that hit your pocketbook daily, weekly, monthly like food, gas, utilities, other essential purchases and nonessential expenses are much more volatile and can even go through negative cycles, which you never see in cost of living figures. Also, some of these are affected by societal changes, which rarely impact the basic sustenance expenses like shelter and food for example. So, long story short, you are better served comparing price increases inside a specific product sector, rather than the CLI.

I would categorize buying wrestling tickets as entertainment, which likely will have seen a higher increase than the CLI this century. I don’t know that for sure and I’m not inclined to do the research, so if someone is so inclined and I’m wrong, please correct me.
If you trust AI overview for "how did the rate of college sports ticket price increases from 2015 to 2020 compare to general inflation CPI-U"

Between 2015 and 2020, college sports ticket prices generally increased significantly faster than the general rate of inflation (CPI-U), continuing a long-term trend where sports tickets outpace overall consumer costs.

During this same period, sporting event admission prices rose at a much faster pace, often growing at roughly twice the speed of overall consumer prices.

College sports are not broken out separately.

Point taken. But "Why?" remains the question. Clearly a 20% APR and 50% in one year is quite a bit more than twice the applicable CPI-U.
 
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Slim45

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2019
643
2,045
93
He's the dumbass, and yet you were the one whose initial statement of 30% every year was totally wrong. Ok, got it... thanks.🤣
I threw a % out there without looking it up, and have said that numerous times. And was 2% off for 2 of the last 4 years. I guess keep getting hung up on that “30%” and ignore the main point i was making, ticket prices have increased significantly. Which is indisputable
 

Sabula

All-Conference
Oct 24, 2001
1,590
1,766
113
I threw a % out there without looking it up, and have said that numerous times. And was 2% off for 2 of the last 4 years. I guess keep getting hung up on that “30%” and ignore the main point i was making, ticket prices have increased significantly. Which is indisputable
Well... you said "they jack the prices up 30% every year"...which was incorrect and an obvious exaggeration for effect... or just a wild guess... since you told us you didn't actually know how much they went up. All of us that attend know they have gone up. You are the one that tried to specifically quantify it, just incorrectly. I guess if they want to jack the prices up they can go ahead and do it. But it's a shame I'm getting less enjoyment for more money.
 

TheREALSpooner

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2022
1,065
3,630
113
I threw a % out there without looking it up, and have said that numerous times. And was 2% off for 2 of the last 4 years. I guess keep getting hung up on that “30%” and ignore the main point i was making, ticket prices have increased significantly. Which is indisputable

People wouldn’t be so hung up on it if you didn’t flip out and start calling people names when it was pointed out that your comment wasn’t factual.

Also your bold part is still wrong. (For the 2nd time)
 

98lberEating2Lunches

All-Conference
Feb 11, 2018
846
1,457
93
the main point i was making, ticket prices have increased significantly. Which is indisputable
If you appear to willfully ignore others' points, don't expect others to acknowledge yours. That is standard message board quid pro quo.

"Significantly" can be logically disputed.

Points others have made that go beyond your "30% per year" and "jacked up" characterizations include:
1) Relative to the rate of increase to other sports event ticket prices; and,
2) Relative ticket price increases compared to other major college wrestling teams.

More so, others might lament a) declining product for the price, or b) the 'claim of demand over supply' as the reason for magnitude of increase, over the price increases themselves, as more problematic. If the hypothesis holds that demand will fall and Carver will have many empty seats, then maybe "they will slash prices." But I wouldn't hold my breath for that in the age of NIL.
 

bnicolls

All-Conference
Jun 4, 2005
218
1,643
93
If you appear to willfully ignore others' points, don't expect others to acknowledge yours. That is standard message board quid pro quo.

"Significantly" can be logically disputed.

Points others have made that go beyond your "30% per year" and "jacked up" characterizations include:
1) Relative to the rate of increase to other sports event ticket prices; and,
2) Relative ticket price increases compared to other major college wrestling teams.

More so, others might lament a) declining product for the price, or b) the 'claim of demand over supply' as the reason for magnitude of increase, over the price increases themselves, as more problematic. If the hypothesis holds that demand will fall and Carver will have many empty seats, then maybe "they will slash prices." But I wouldn't hold my breath for that in the age of NIL.
NIL has zero to do with the change of seat prices.

All non-rev sports should/need to be looking at being self-sustaining, men's in particular. Wrestling loses money, but could have a path to breaking even, much more so than other men's non-rev sports.

The contemplated sale of 10% of media rights to the CA entity at what was likely a high discount rate (low price) should tell you all you need to know about Athletic Department's balance sheet....cash poor. The additional burden of Rev Share (not NIL) increase expenses over 20 million, without a corresponding increase in gross income. Certainly media rights and other gross income has been, is, and will increase, but in the short term, there is a funding issue at all fully funded Rev Share schools. That is why that deal was contemplated. The price was way too cheap.
 

Slim45

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2019
643
2,045
93
People wouldn’t be so hung up on it if you didn’t flip out and start calling people names when it was pointed out that your comment wasn’t factual.

Also your bold part is still wrong. (For the 2nd time)
Nope, just you. Because you’re an arrogant prick.
If you appear to willfully ignore others' points, don't expect others to acknowledge yours. That is standard message board quid pro quo.

"Significantly" can be logically disputed.

Points others have made that go beyond your "30% per year" and "jacked up" characterizations include:
1) Relative to the rate of increase to other sports event ticket prices; and,
2) Relative ticket price increases compared to other major college wrestling teams.

More so, others might lament a) declining product for the price, or b) the 'claim of demand over supply' as the reason for magnitude of increase, over the price increases themselves, as more problematic. If the hypothesis holds that demand will fall and Carver will have many empty seats, then maybe "they will slash prices." But I wouldn't hold my breath for that in the age of NIL.
So the logical argument against it being a significant increase, is comparing it to other sports/teams and their significant increases? Thats…quite the logic!
 
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98lberEating2Lunches

All-Conference
Feb 11, 2018
846
1,457
93
NIL has zero to do with the change of seat prices.

All non-rev sports should/need to be looking at being self-sustaining, men's in particular. Wrestling loses money, but could have a path to breaking even, much more so than other men's non-rev sports.

The contemplated sale of 10% of media rights to the CA entity at what was likely a high discount rate (low price) should tell you all you need to know about Athletic Department's balance sheet....cash poor. The additional burden of Rev Share (not NIL) increase expenses over 20 million, without a corresponding increase in gross income. Certainly media rights and other gross income has been, is, and will increase, but in the short term, there is a funding issue at all fully funded Rev Share schools. That is why that deal was contemplated. The price was way too cheap.
All good info.

For clarity, I was referring to time before the House settlement, when NIL entities were unconstrained and revenue sharing had not yet materialized. During this time, NIL entities outside of direct control of Athletic Departments most certainly syphoned off significant monies that would've otherwise gone to University Athletics departments to fund scholarships. In part, I believe this is a major reason universities and the NCAA sought to allow universities to have a NIL entity under their direct control.
 

98lberEating2Lunches

All-Conference
Feb 11, 2018
846
1,457
93
Nope, just you. Because you’re an arrogant prick.

So the logical argument against it being a significant increase, is comparing it to other sports/teams and their significant increases? Thats…quite the logic!
Exact. Statistically it would be a normal/nominal increase.
 
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dicemen99

All-Conference
Nov 15, 2005
3,420
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Nope, just you. Because you’re an arrogant prick.

So the logical argument against it being a significant increase, is comparing it to other sports/teams and their significant increases? Thats…quite the logic!
THIS is quite the post and pretty much sums up why there are hundreds of posts arguing about this (just FYI Slim, this hyperbole is meant to be ironic - pretty sure you are not picking up on that without it being pointed out).

Pretty evident the futility of continuing all of the “discussions” with a poster with this POV.

 

bnicolls

All-Conference
Jun 4, 2005
218
1,643
93
All good info.

For clarity, I was referring to time before the House settlement, when NIL entities were unconstrained and revenue sharing had not yet materialized. During this time, NIL entities outside of direct control of Athletic Departments most certainly syphoned off significant monies that would've otherwise gone to University Athletics departments to fund scholarships. In part, I believe this is a major reason universities and the NCAA sought to allow universities to have a NIL entity under their direct control.
Title 9 prior to Rev Share would not have allowed dough to be given for additional rides to men. With Rev Share, that has changed. And Yes, AD's despised NIL as it was not under their control. They seek control, and more control and more control
 

Slim45

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2019
643
2,045
93
I’m ok with prick.

But he poked that bear and made this into something.
TheREALSpooner said:
First, fake news is fake.

Second...that's not the problem.
Ya idk the actual percentage, but they’ve gone up a lot in a very short amount of time. You’re just doing your usual dumbass schtick. I dropped my tix because i didn’t feel like paying that much for a few good home duals, id imagine im not the only one.
Now carry on being a dick like always


That was my first response to you. Funny how I called exactly what would transpire. Took me exactly 1 post to say i threw a random % out there for effect. And boy did you latch onto that “30%”

Ticket prices have jumped substantially in the past 4 years, that’s my take and has always been my take. Im out
 

Evashevsky58

Junior
Mar 10, 2008
107
350
62
$30 a ticket is A LOT for wrestling, especially when my dad just paid about $55 for football last year with good seats.
 

98lberEating2Lunches

All-Conference
Feb 11, 2018
846
1,457
93
Doesn’t help when they jack the prices up 30% every year
Wasn't this your first post to this thread?

the main point i was making, ticket prices have increased significantly.

Ticket prices have jumped substantially in the past 4 years, that’s my take and has always been my take.

Is it "every year" or over "the past 4 years?"

Did they "jack up" the prices or did they respond to the evolving college athletics landscape?

Is the increase "significant" (how important) or "substantial" (how much)?

You do seem to be moving the goal post a little.

Everyone agrees that prices for tickets have increased on average a rate of less than 20% over the last 4 years, and over that time the cost of a ticket increased over $14 in terms of 2021 purchasing power (a little less than two Starbucks coffees plus tip) to double in price.

To many that $14 is not a substantial amount of money, let alone to attend an Iowa home dual, but to you it is. That is what I understand you have been saying all along.

It may be a significant amount of money in terms of its contribution to the health of Hawkeye wrestling. I don't believe you intended to mean this.
 
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TNTwrestle

Senior
Jun 6, 2025
114
450
63
I guess ticket pricing was as follows (assuming processing fee is just a BS add on that applies to the ticket order).

21-22 $85
22-23 $125
23-24 $145
24-25 $169
25-26 $195

But it seems over those years Iowa did not have the same number of Home duals.
21-22 6
22-23 8
23-24 6
24-25 6
25-26 6

So the price per ticket by year is:
21-22 $14.17
22-23 $15.63
23-24 $24.17
24-25 $28.17
25-26 $32.50

Year-over-year inflation for Iowa City as of December CPI-U - Midwest Region (West North Central division)
21 - 267.054
22 - 275.182 - 3 04% inflation yr-over-yr
23 - 283.910 - 3.17%
24 - 292.530 - 3.04%
25 - 300.400 - 2.69%

Ticket Price in 2021 Dollars
21-22 $14.17
22-23 $15.17 ($15.63)
23-24 $22.74 ($24.17)
24-25 $25.72 ($28.17)
25-26 $28.89 ($32.50)

Excluding inflation, ticket prices have increased at an APR of 19.49%.

So a little under 20% rather than over 30% each year.

Clearly the biggest jump came in 2023 and that was just under a 50% increase. I think the evolving NIL landscape and its affect on University Athletic donations (instead going to NIL collectives) was a factor. Could be that the construction costs (and impact on seating) also was a factor.

What the heck are you talking about? PSU has sold out every match at Rec Hall for like 15 straight years. BJC maybe a couple of non sellouts, but I think the lowest they have had there was an early season Oklahoma which still almost 10k.

Yeah, in 2010 I was going to some MLB games and finding $15 seats in the upper levels regularly. Now, I’m lucky to get a last minute desparation ticket against a team like the Marlins for $50 and if I’m buying a 10 game plan that probably includes 1 good opponent, I’m looking at something like $800. Go to an NFL game and you’ll find yourself paying $250 to $500 per tickets for regular seats depending on the opponent.

It’s not 1980 anymore and you can’t expect $10 to get you much more than a quarter pounder with cheese nowadays. They are not $1.50 anymore in case you didn't notice. I remember paying 10 cents for drafts in cafeteria juice glasses on Tuesdays in college and this week in NYC for business a draft cost me almost $20.

Paying $30 for an event that’s going to draw 8 to 10k rabid fans of your favorite team sounds like a deal to me in 2026.
Thank you for looking up actual numbers, 98lber. I was wondering if my memory was serving me correctly.

More than doubling in four years is a substantial raise in my books, regardless of the actual yearly percentage. of course, 2021-25 inflation overall was more than ridiculous. For a guy who retired and is living on a fixed income now, that destroys your buying power. Some of us worked hard for 40-50 years, just to be unable to enjoy the things we planned, thanks to the loss of buying power. We can't get a better income, jacked up by the inflation rate.

I don't remember how many years ago the free ticket thing was, but PSU wanted to break the CHA record for single-meet attendance, so they gave away tickets to a meet at BJC to do that. I read it in multiple places at the time. Selling out Rec Hall would be child's play for Iowa. Until this year, we had the season attendance record every year for well over 20 years, probably closer to 40. I haven't priced tickets at other locations in a while, but until the last few years, you could buy a dual-meet ticket for most meets (except where they jacked up prices when Iowa came to town) anywhere for $15.

I don't care what NFL tickets sell for, college wrestling is not (officially) a pro sport, and I wouldn't pay $10 for any product that league puts out. They lost my interest several years ago, and their policies have done nothing to get it back.

I don't care about percentages per year, but I know buying 11 season tickets went from $935 in 21-22 to $2145 in 25-26. That is a lot of money ($1210) to my budget. I understand both sides of this debate, but I don't think I've gotten my money's worth the past couple of years. I'll still keep buying as long as I'm breathing to keep the streak alive. I just don't have to like it.