Dozens of season-ticket holders and Mountaineer Athletic Club members talked with WVU representatives Wednesday at the Coliseum about a new seating plan that will reward big-money donors.
The MAC announced the change in December. Wednesday was the first of three open houses designed to receive feedback and explain the situation to fans.
“It gives a chance to folks to really understand why we’re doing this and what the implications will be,” WVU athletics director Oliver Luck said. “Some people won’t be affected at all, others will be affected.
Luck said seating takes several factors into account including monetary donations and fan loyalty. He said WVU studied point systems in place at other schools like North Carolina State, Virginia Tech and Virginia.
“We didn’t reinvent the wheel. We took the best things we could from other schools,” Luck said.
Fans talked with WVU representatives who laid out the new seating plan.
Craig Liebig has had football season tickets for 27 years and basketball season tickets for eight years. The new seating plan will allow Liebig to take advantage of better seats, he said.
“I’m feeling better, because at first I thought I was going to have to give more money and my seats weren’t going to be as good,” Liebig said. “But according to what I’ve been told, there’s a good chance I can even move up at my same donor level.”
The change is needed as more donors continue to write large checks, but there were no open seats available in the lower section of the Coliseum, Luck said.
Not everyone is happy. Thomas Brown, a Parkersburg resident who has owned basketball season tickets since 1988, learned he may have to give up his seats located in the fourth row of the upper deck.
“The money means more than the loyalty of the fans, as far as I’m concerned,” Brown said. “I’m just very disappointed. I’ve followed the Mountaineers since 1955 and it’s a hard thing to swallow.”
Luck said the system also gives points to ticket holders for a variety of reasons, including whether they work at WVU, were a former WVU athlete and more. He said he’s comfortable with the new policy.
“We think we put together a system that was as fair and transparent as we could make it,” Luck said. “Is it about money? Sure. Everything is about money in terms of the decisions we have to make. But we’ve tried to be sensitive to people who have donated not only money but a lot of time and energy into Mountaineer basketball.”
Feedback from fans has been mostly positive, Luck said. The open houses are designed to answer questions from ticketholders. Liebig said the open house cleared up some previous vague parts of the plan.
“I think there are still a few questions that need answered, but they are putting out a lot of emails and stuff like that keeping people informed,” Liebig said. “It’s just confusing at first trying to figure it all out.”
But Brown says after missing only 12 basketball games since 1988, he may not return next season.
“This will be my last year coming,” Brown said. “I’m not going to keep donating to find out I’m being moved to the nose-bleed section or moved to not good seating.”
The MAC will hold two more open houses: One is set for Feb. 23 before the Oklahoma State game and the other is scheduled for March 9 ahead of a contest with Iowa State.
10
Comments
Michael
I realize money makes the wheel spin, but this is just the first step in pushing the loyals out who have been coming since we were terrible in everything. Where were the big donors back when Nehlen or Catlett couldn't beat some high school teams? I bet Thomas Brown was there through those pitiful seasons....and alot of others. The Univeristy should reward the faithful fans instead of the wealthy. That is why when the fourth quarter comes or the last media timeout arrives, your fans are still in their seats instead of making their ways to their cars or tailgates.
January 24, 2013 at 8:22 am | Report comment
Taz
I couldn't agree more... Money finally jumps on the bandwagon and now they are pushing the loyal Mountaineer fans out.
January 24, 2013 at 8:56 am | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Oliver "Dollar Bill" Luck has struck again. Again fan loyalty gets trumped by the "Almighty Dollar" in the Oliver Luck book. It won't be long before WVU starts to beg the fans to return with the way the football and basketball programs are being run. Its a terrible product and many fans won't bother to buy in to what WVU, Ollie, Holgorsen and Huggins are selling.
January 24, 2013 at 9:27 am | Report comment
Big Skinny
WVU is way behind other competing schools as far as revenue generating. This has to be done. Is there a perfect solution? No. Will some people be unhappy? Yes.
This is a business. Do I appreciate those who sat in their seats thru the Catlett years? Sure. However, I know that change is necessary and a lot of West Virginians hate change.
I may lose my seats. It is what is it but I appreciate the hard work the Department is doing to generate revenue to benefit the university. We don't have a T. Boone Pickens to donate $300mil to WVU for facilities. We have to work hard for what we get and be creative in how we get it.
January 24, 2013 at 10:06 am | Report comment
GregG
What?!! Fungo bashing a greedy republican like Oliver Luck. You, of all people should be standing up for him. “Is it about money? Sure. Everything is about money".....that is the republican motto Fungo, not just a quote from Luck.
January 24, 2013 at 1:20 pm | Report comment
Shifter
Money hungry ***'s. I agree with Michael. We can't afford tickets anymore. The seats looked to be more than 1/2 empty last night. It's only going to get worse.
January 24, 2013 at 9:28 am | Report comment
Jay A. Ziehm II
Luck is all about the money and could care less about the true fans. An average fan cannot afford to attend a basketball game these days. I think instead of trying to find a new coach for the various sports teams at WVU, maybe we should find a new AD.
January 24, 2013 at 10:09 am | Report comment
CoachB
Since when do we ask for more money to pay for an inferior product. Love Mountaineer sports. I hated to see us go the way of Ohio State where old rich fogies make up the majority of the BB crowd.
January 24, 2013 at 11:40 am | Report comment
HMAALLTHEWAY
I ain't telling tales outta school but Haleys Comet has 4 seats on the 45 yd line he's ready to sell or trade for Bengals tickets.
His donation days is OVER! Back to the Flower Mill Ollie !
January 24, 2013 at 12:27 pm | Report comment
MdMountaineer
Does Mr Brown have more then two season tickets or has he missed a year in the last 25 buying season tickets.
My understanding is that season ticket holders who have purchased season tickets 25 consectutive years can keep two of their original seats.
January 24, 2013 at 3:30 pm | Report comment