Season Ticket Streak - Keep Going or Let Expire?

[ScarletKid2008]

Come to the board here with a question I've faced for a few seasons running now. For any normal person, the answer would be easy. But still holding on as proclaiming myself as one of the last few remaining loyal sons that purchases season tickets simply for the benefit of the program.

The Season Ticket Journey Through the Years:
- Held season tickets for 18 seasons in a row now
- Started in 2007/08 with a group of nearly 30 friends which I organized it all under once account
- The early days were awesome. Huge tailgate parties, Friends of friends joining. DJs , amazing food, booze for days. RU was still competing and winning
- By mid Ash era that group of 30 went down to about 5 of us
- By end of the Ash era we dropped the parking passes
- Two season ago there was only 2 of us left. And now I'm the final remaining one.
- During that run I couldn't even give the tickets away most of the time when I couldn't go or had free ones to bring others to join us
- All of us have young kids now. Some having newborns, others like myself, kids are youth sports age.

This season due to weddings, social events, kids sports, etc I can only make it to 3 games.

Less so than the financial element of just eating the cost of season tickets. I debate if there's even value in the season ticket streak. I haven't had parking passes in years. I've been hoping one day in the near future RU would get competitive again and all those priority points I've accumulated would be worth something when I want to get back into the tailgate lots.

But the program seems to just be totally unenthusiastic. no momentum. So few enjoyable moments (wins) inside our stadium.
RU has done absolutely nothing to incentive long standing season ticket holders or award us. We been overpaying for tickets for years and we don't even get a cute season ticket gift or cool physical tickets anymore.

I'm thinking about just buying single game tix for the next few years until my weekends clear up and the value of tickets actually do get close to face value + the required donation.

Thoughts? 18+ priority points worth eating another couple grand per season for a few years?

 

[lion1983]

I have no idea whether yopu should keep the tuckets or not - or how to advise you.

I wil say I rarely had a problem selling my tickets when I could not use them. And selling my parking pass when I did not go to the game was very lucrative. I probably paid for at least 75% of my total ticket cost by selling just 3-4 parking passes.

Though ,,, I had Green, and now Scarlet parking passes - the best resale value, and Section 105 seats - also great selling value.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Thoughts? 18+ priority points worth eating another couple grand per season for a few years?

A couple of grand per season for a single ticket? Where are you sitting?

Our group has fallen off, we're down to 5 tickets after having been around since the late 80's. But we picked out our seats when the stadium was expanded in 1994, currently sit on the edge of the upper deck around the 40, and the split cost amongst 5 of us with 2 parking passes is around $420. When we were at our max the cost was cheaper.

 

[DHajekRC1984]

I have no idea whether yopu should keep the tuckets or not - or how to advise you.

I wil say I rarely had a problem selling my tickets when I could not use them. And selling my parking pass when I did not go to the game was very lucrative. I probably paid for at least 75% of my total ticket cost by selling just 3-4 parking passes.

Though ,,, I had Green, and now Scarlet parking passes - the best resale value, and Section 105 seats - also great selling value.

Football ticket value and parking pass resale are not nearly the same. Not even close.

You can now easily buy great parking for far less than the cost of donation plus fee.

I just sold my 2 tix for umass for 12 bucks. Laughable ..

 

[RUAldo]

Football ticket value and parking pass resale are not nearly the same. Not even close.

You can now easily buy great parking for far less than the cost of donation plus fee.

I just sold my 2 tix for umass for 12 bucks. Laughable ..

Yup - resale is a joke

 

[DJ Spanky]

I just sold my 2 tix for umass for 12 bucks. Laughable ..

Well that's because it's UMass and the game's on a Thursday night.

But if you wanna sell your tickets for the USC game I'll give you $15!

 

[Rutgers Chris]

Come to the board here with a question I've faced for a few seasons running now. For any normal person, the answer would be easy. But still holding on as proclaiming myself as one of the last few remaining loyal sons that purchases season tickets simply for the benefit of the program.

The Season Ticket Journey Through the Years:
- Held season tickets for 18 seasons in a row now
- Started in 2007/08 with a group of nearly 30 friends which I organized it all under once account
- The early days were awesome. Huge tailgate parties, Friends of friends joining. DJs , amazing food, booze for days. RU was still competing and winning
- By mid Ash era that group of 30 went down to about 5 of us
- By end of the Ash era we dropped the parking passes
- Two season ago there was only 2 of us left. And now I'm the final remaining one.
- During that run I couldn't even give the tickets away most of the time when I couldn't go or had free ones to bring others to join us
- All of us have young kids now. Some having newborns, others like myself, kids are youth sports age.

This season due to weddings, social events, kids sports, etc I can only make it to 3 games.

Less so than the financial element of just eating the cost of season tickets. I debate if there's even value in the season ticket streak. I haven't had parking passes in years. I've been hoping one day in the near future RU would get competitive again and all those priority points I've accumulated would be worth something when I want to get back into the tailgate lots.

But the program seems to just be totally unenthusiastic. no momentum. So few enjoyable moments (wins) inside our stadium.
RU has done absolutely nothing to incentive long standing season ticket holders or award us. We been overpaying for tickets for years and we don't even get a cute season ticket gift or cool physical tickets anymore.

I'm thinking about just buying single game tix for the next few years until my weekends clear up and the value of tickets actually do get close to face value + the required donation.

Thoughts? 18+ priority points worth eating another couple grand per season for a few years?

As you mention, aside from a personal badge of honor, there’s really no point to it. We had tickets right on the tunnel and the kids grew up high fiving players from both teams which they loved. When we moved I kept the tickets and passed them onto a friend but he’s running on fumes too.

 

[RU Jeep]

Miss the USC and Nebraska wins ? Never !

 

[Rutgers Chris]

 

[Jtung230]

If you look at everything purely on financial reasons, you would stay home on the weekends and drive a Honda Accord. You have to ask yourself where am I going to waste my money on?

 

[ScarletKid2008]

A couple of grand per season for a single ticket? Where are you sitting?

Our group has fallen off, we're down to 5 tickets after having been around since the late 80's. But we picked out our seats when the stadium was expanded in 1994, currently sit on the edge of the upper deck around the 40, and the split cost amongst 5 of us with 2 parking passes is around $420. When we were at our max the cost was cheaper.

It’s a couple tickets for my family (kids). I haven’t stooped so slow as to going to games by myself… but came close to it quite a few times.

 

[RU206]

What are the 3 games you can attend this year?

 

[RUBlackout]

I held my tickets strong all through bad years. I’ve convinced friends that there are only 6-7 events per year to guarantee we will get together and gets scheduled on the calendar. May miss a few games here or there but thats ok. Still get to hangout with friends who otherwise trying to make plans with is always an issue with family and life going on. Worth the cost for me

 

[Fat Koko]

Let it expire.

Buy tickets a la carte rather than pay a premium for season tickets. Simpler, cheaper, and no need to worry about offloading tickets you won't use.

Last season, I bought a ticket to the Oregon game a few hours before kick off using SeatGeek. $46.85 including fee for section 124, the lower bowl at the 25 yard line. This game was over in the second quarter, the crowd evaporated at halftime, so I watched the rest of it from the first row, 50 yard line, behind Rutgers bench.

I live out of state, have three kids, and usually don't know if I can make a game until the night before. My kids aren't into Rutgers football, my Rutgers friends don't care, but I enjoy watching Rutgers live, so I buy tix last minute on SeatGeek when I have the free time to get to a game.

I don't know exactly how the priority points work. I do know Rutgers football tickets will not be in demand until Rutgers hires a new football coach which could be years from now. Richie says a 6-6 season earns Greg an extension, so we could be waiting a while longer before those priority points are useful.

 

[Pils86]

You are a good alum. There are still 7 tix left in 217, upper corner, for $112 for the season. You could do that if you want to keep the points alive. Reality though if your kids are youth sports age you will miss a lot of games the next ten years, not sure if you want to pay for that long to hold the streak.

 

[MrsScrew]

I gave up my MBB Tix this year.
We are moving to NC in January so this will be the last season for football. I already cancelled my R Fund donations as well.

 

[ScarletKid2008]

You are a good alum. There are still 7 tix left in 217, upper corner, for $112 for the season. You could do that if you want to keep the points alive. Reality though if your kids are youth sports age you will miss a lot of games the next ten years, not sure if you want to pay for that long to hold the streak.

Not a bad idea. Illl just downgrade my tix and keep the streak alive.

 

[Knight Shift]

If you look at everything purely on financial reasons, you would stay home on the weekends and drive a Honda Accord. You have to ask yourself where am I going to waste my money on?

Observational with a small sample size. Post pandemic, seems many people are quite content being siloed in front of their big screen TV instead of getting out and going to live events such as football games. But in ScarletKid2008's case, there is nothing more "there" by going to the game if he stays at home and watches with his kids.

It’s a couple tickets for my family (kids). I haven’t stooped so slow as to going to games by myself… but came close to it quite a few times.

My wife and I are in a similar boat. Used to visit tailgates in the blue lot. One dissolved, another is now in the Black lot, which feels like a 20 mile walk from the front of the Yellow Lot. The Yellow Lot tailgate we used to hang at went belly up too, and same for a great tailgate in the Scarlet Lot.

Your story and mine is like John Rambo's-"They're all gone sir."



I can't answer the question on the value of a season ticket streak to you. You will lose priority points if that means anything to you.

But like you, the wife and I are barely hanging on as season ticket holders. We skipped the parking process this year and purchased at the Greek Church. This may be our last year.

Priority Point Information

Priority Point Information

rfund.scarletknights.com

 

[Jtung230]

I gave up my MBB Tix this year.
We are moving to NC in January so this will be the last season for football. I already cancelled my R Fund donations as well.

Do you have to cancelled donations? I thought its pure discretionary.

 

[Fat Koko]

Here are tix sales. Greg 2.0 can't beat Flood and Ash.

Why pay for season tix for Greg 2.0 teams when tix can be had on game day for a fraction of the cost and a minimum of fuss.

 

[Anon1764435409]

Pretty apathetic crowd and my enthusiasm has waned over the years as well. I started with season tix almost 25 years ago when my son was 4. Over the years, our group has dwindled but we have met some good friends and continue to tailgate strong. Currently in the Black Lot with a washed up DJ who played in the RU band. Shout out to @DJ Spanky from the Aegean Sea.

 

[Bueller]

I went to games in 06/07 - I was on season ticket wait list. Then I went to two bad games in a row (Fresno and N Carolina). The hours of driving and parking hassles etc. really didn't seem worth it. I never went back to live games. I don't mind loses but bad games vs mediocre teams and blowouts (NC was 44-12) just weren't worth 7 hrs in the car. Its easy to get caught-up in the flow of live season but TV these days (lots of cameras and drones) is pretty good. Now I mostly do DVR because fall days are too nice to be watching tv. I was never a tailgater either. I would never be in hospice wishing I went to more football games lol

 

[MrsScrew]

Do you have to cancelled donations? I thought its pure discretionary.

Do you have to? No. But why would I continue to donate? I don't need the Priority points after this year. I'm not interested in funding NIL. I'm retiring & moving away.

 

[Section124]

Football ticket value and parking pass resale are not nearly the same. Not even close.

You can now easily buy great parking for far less than the cost of donation plus fee.

I just sold my 2 tix for umass for 12 bucks. Laughable ..

Depends on the game. No one wants to go to the UMASS game other than to tailgate/celebrate first game of season. Glorified practice just like Howard.

 

[Knight Shift]

Do you have to? No. But why would I continue to donate? I don't need the Priority points after this year. I'm not interested in funding NIL. I'm retiring & moving away.

Make sure you read the thread on the exit tax. There is a sub tax for former Rutgers season ticket holder and R Fund donors. Your donations must continue 5 years after you leave the state.

 

[Section124]

35+ years season ticket holder. We went through the same in the Shea and Ash years. Keep the tickets for now. Once my kids were a little older, they wanted to go to every game. They didn't care so much about the game but they loved the kid zone, tailgate and food.

 

[Jtung230]

Do you have to? No. But why would I continue to donate? I don't need the Priority points after this year. I'm not interested in funding NIL. I'm retiring & moving away.

sorry, I thought you meant a pledge or promise of multi year giving. I did that a while back but RU never pushed it again.

 

[Knight Shift]

Here are tix sales. Greg 2.0 can't beat Flood and Ash.

Why pay for season tix for Greg 2.0 teams when tix can be had on game day for a fraction of the cost and a minimum of fuss.

View attachment 1401661

Is this TOTAL ticket sales including single game sales or just SEASON ticket sales?
Can anyone do the math on what a sellout brings in (prices are different in upper level/lower level and sidelines/endzone)? This seems like a pathetic number. Wow, Maryland is much worse than RU, and UCLA and Minnesota are low too. Not sure what is up with Indiana.

Ticket sales revenue data from the NCAA Membership Financial Reporting System (MFRS) is available primarily for public Big Ten schools (via open-records requests), as private institutions (Northwestern and USC) are not required to release it. The most recent comprehensive figures cover Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025: roughly July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025, covering the 2024 football season

Team
Football Ticket Revenue (millions $)
Michigan 67.6
Ohio State 67.0
Penn State 44.3
Nebraska 31.1
Oregon 30.5
Washington 26.7
Wisconsin 25.8
Iowa 24.5
Michigan State 17.9
Illinois 15.0
Purdue 13.8
Indiana 12.7
Minnesota 11.6
UCLA 10.4
Rutgers 9.2
Maryland 5.0

 

[Knight Shift]

sorry, I thought you meant a pledge or promise of multi year giving. I did that a while back but RU never pushed it again.

Are you saying they did not approach you for another multi year promise/pledge?
Same for us. But because of other reasons which I have detailed before, we decided to never give another $ to Rutgers after years of generous giving.

 

[Fat Koko]

Is this TOTAL ticket sales including single game sales or just SEASON ticket sales?
Can anyone do the math on what a sellout brings in (prices are different in upper level/lower level and sidelines/endzone)? This seems like a pathetic number. Wow, Maryland is much worse than RU, and UCLA and Minnesota are low too. Not sure what is up with Indiana.

Ticket sales revenue data from the NCAA Membership Financial Reporting System (MFRS) is available primarily for public Big Ten schools (via open-records requests), as private institutions (Northwestern and USC) are not required to release it. The most recent comprehensive figures cover Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025: roughly July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025, covering the 2024 football season

Team
Football Ticket Revenue (millions $)
Michigan 67.6
Ohio State 67.0
Penn State 44.3
Nebraska 31.1
Oregon 30.5
Washington 26.7
Wisconsin 25.8
Iowa 24.5
Michigan State 17.9
Illinois 15.0
Purdue 13.8
Indiana 12.7
Minnesota 11.6
UCLA 10.4
Rutgers 9.2
Maryland 5.0

Includes single game tickets and season tickets. Excludes amounts received above face value for tickets such as a seat fee.

The numbers are for fiscal 2025 which includes the 2024 football season. Indiana's ticket sales revenue almost certainly increased in the 2025 season but those figures won't be published until January 2027.

View attachment 1401740
View attachment 1401737

https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/ncaa/finance/NCAAFIN_AgreedUponProcedures.pdf

 

[gmay8]

I'm not sure what you should do with your priority points. But reading the original post is just sad... because I've lived the exact same thing. Season ticket holder, loved the tailgates and the enthusiasm, going to games was an event. Dumped the season tickets when me and my other ticket holders had newborns, just got too hard to spend all day saturday away from home (and drinking). Now i'm in the youth sports phase, so my saturday's are spent at a field somewhere. I still watch every game and record it if i have a conflict, but i attend maybe 1 -2 games in person anymore, and my tailgate is a jersey mikes sandwich and a diet coke in the bed of my truck with my 9 year old.

2006 bought a ton of excitement and hope and probably buoyed the program for the next 6-8 years. but that's 20 years ago, and the new fans haven't seen crap to get excited about. Better start winning soon.

 

[DHajekRC1984]

Depends on the game. No one wants to go to the UMASS game other than to tailgate/celebrate first game of season. Glorified practice just like Howard.

yeah I get that but $12 for a B1G football game that are very good seats?

 

[DHajekRC1984]

I gave up my MBB Tix this year.
We are moving to NC in January so this will be the last season for football. I already cancelled my R Fund donations as well.

The spot right under the #52 is gonna miss you badly. Enjoy NC. We spend every February down there on the coast.

 

[tico brown]

Come to the board here with a question I've faced for a few seasons running now. For any normal person, the answer would be easy. But still holding on as proclaiming myself as one of the last few remaining loyal sons that purchases season tickets simply for the benefit of the program.

The Season Ticket Journey Through the Years:
- Held season tickets for 18 seasons in a row now
- Started in 2007/08 with a group of nearly 30 friends which I organized it all under once account
- The early days were awesome. Huge tailgate parties, Friends of friends joining. DJs , amazing food, booze for days. RU was still competing and winning
- By mid Ash era that group of 30 went down to about 5 of us
- By end of the Ash era we dropped the parking passes
- Two season ago there was only 2 of us left. And now I'm the final remaining one.
- During that run I couldn't even give the tickets away most of the time when I couldn't go or had free ones to bring others to join us
- All of us have young kids now. Some having newborns, others like myself, kids are youth sports age.

This season due to weddings, social events, kids sports, etc I can only make it to 3 games.

Less so than the financial element of just eating the cost of season tickets. I debate if there's even value in the season ticket streak. I haven't had parking passes in years. I've been hoping one day in the near future RU would get competitive again and all those priority points I've accumulated would be worth something when I want to get back into the tailgate lots.

But the program seems to just be totally unenthusiastic. no momentum. So few enjoyable moments (wins) inside our stadium.
RU has done absolutely nothing to incentive long standing season ticket holders or award us. We been overpaying for tickets for years and we don't even get a cute season ticket gift or cool physical tickets anymore.

I'm thinking about just buying single game tix for the next few years until my weekends clear up and the value of tickets actually do get close to face value + the required donation.

Thoughts? 18+ priority points worth eating another couple grand per season for a few years?

Leave

 

[JL23]

Really depends how much you value the in-game experience and sitting in your same seats
I have really good bball seats - was pretty down after the Ace/Dylan season, and don't have much hope moving forward w/Pike in charge

But the seats are too good and not crazy priced to give up - granted, I only have 1 seats, but I love the view, and the people near me / next to me are awesome

 

[Section124]

yeah I get that but $12 for a B1G football game that are very good seats?

He is lucky he got $12. I have not been able to give away those types of tickets. i consider it part of my donation to the program.

 

[Knight Shift]

He is lucky he got $12. I have not been able to give away those types of tickets. i consider it part of my donation to the program.

I burn them for warmth on cold winter nights, figuring I get "something" back for them.

But buying a new phone is more expensive, so perhaps I should rethink that plan?

 

[Leonard23]

Some funny comments in this thread. Always a double standard towards Rutgers...Win or I'm not coming/buying anymore, yet people happily continue lighting their $ on fire with Jets tickets despite the decades of futility and crappy stadium and experience. What have the Jets done to earn that loyalty and $? The reality is that we're in a pro market where many more people prioritize pro sports over college, and will always find easy excuses to go to Jets games over Rutgers games. Spend your $ and time on what you want without the faux excuses.

 

[Knight Shift]

Some funny comments in this thread. Always a double standard towards Rutgers...Win or I'm not coming/buying anymore, yet people happily continue lighting their $ on fire with Jets tickets despite the decades of futility and crappy stadium and experience. What have the Jets done to earn that loyalty and $? The reality is that we're in a pro market where many more people prioritize pro sports over college, and will always find easy excuses to go to Jets games over Rutgers games. Spend your $ and time on what you want without the faux excuses.

People go to Jets games?

 

[Leonard23]

People go to Jets games?

From Gemini:


NY Jets 25-Year Performance & Attendance (2001–2025)

Season	Record	Win %	Playoff Outcome	Home Venue	Avg Home Attendance
2001	10–6	.625	Wild Card Round	Giants Stadium	~78,600
2002	9–7	.563	Divisional Round	Giants Stadium	~78,800
2003	6–10	.375	Missed Playoffs	Giants Stadium	~77,900
2004	10–6	.625	Divisional Round	Giants Stadium	~77,800
2005	4–12	.250	Missed Playoffs	Giants Stadium	~77,500
2006	10–6	.625	Wild Card Round	Giants Stadium	~77,100
2007	4–12	.250	Missed Playoffs	Giants Stadium	~77,200
2008	9–7	.563	Missed Playoffs	Giants Stadium	~78,200
2009	9–7	.563	AFC Championship	Giants Stadium	~77,300
2010	11–5	.688	AFC Championship	MetLife Stadium	~78,900
2011	8–8	.500	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~78,700
2012	6–10	.375	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~78,300
2013	8–8	.500	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~76,900
2014	4–12	.250	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~78,100
2015	10–6	.625	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~78,100
2016	5–11	.313	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~77,800
2017	5–11	.313	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~77,900
2018	4–12	.250	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~77,800
2019	7–9	.438	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~78,500
2020	2–14	.125	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~0 (COVID)
2021	4–13	.235	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~71,700
2022	7–10	.412	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~78,000
2023	7–10	.412	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~77,800
2024	5–12	.294	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~75,000
2025	4–13	.235	Missed Playoffs	MetLife Stadium	~72,000