OSU Students Paying The Price For Basketball Tickets

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STILLWATER, OK -- It's been called the best venue in college basketball.

"The noise is deafening at times - it's unlike anything I've ever been to before," said Oklahoma State graduate student Jon Paa. "As soon as I went to my first (game) I was hooked on coming back."

Now OSU's Gallagher-Iba Arena has another distinction: the most expensive place in the country for a student to watch a major college basketball game at $242 for a season ticket.

"In my opinion, I think our job is to support them, to be loud, to be enthusiastic and go to class," Paa said. "Not to have the financial burden put on us as much."

Paa is former president of Aggies Spirit Group: a club dedicated to supporting Oklahoma State athletics. He is a diehard fan, but says he doesn't want to pay the price tag for a men's basketball student season ticket.

Extended Coverage: The Nation's Most Expensive Student Season Tickets

"I just don't have the money," Paa said. "I think it's that way for a lot of students. There are a lot of good basketball fans that want to go to the games and want to support the team, but students just don't have that money."

The university used to require students to purchase a $150 "all-sports pass" just to be eligible to buy men's basketball season tickets. This year, OSU amended the policy, giving students a choice of purchasing football or men's basketball season tickets.

Let's calculate the costs. All students pay a $3 athletic fee per credit hour. So if you're taking 15 hours per semester, that's $90 a year in fees. If you want to see football, its $150 and if you're buying basketball tickets too, that's another $242, for a grand total of $482.

Newson6.com sent multiple e-mails to OSU Athletic Director Mike Holder who did not respond to our requests for an interview about the student ticket policy.

Paa cut costs by splitting basketball tickets with another student this season, but says many students just quit going to games.

"If the ticket prices hold the same for next year and I'm unable to find a bargain somewhere, then I don't think I'll be buying season tickets next year," Paa said.

NewsOn6.com called all 63 major college basketball conference schools. The only other institution that charged more than $200 solely for a men's basketball season ticket was Indiana. But 42 of those schools charged less than $100, and 24 either have free admission or costs are covered by student fees.

Extended Coverage: Student Ticket Costs: Conference-By-Conference

OSU has seen a significant decline in student basketball ticket sales. During the 2006-07 season, students bought more than 3,700 season tickets. Three years later that number has shrunk by more than 2,000 - including a sales decrease of more than $397,000.

Extended Coverage: OSU Student Season Ticket Sales: Year-By-Year

Paa acknowledges the team's record hasn't helped, but he blames the decrease on the ticket policy.

"There's definitely more empty seats - especially in the student section," Paa said. "I think a lot of fans take a lot of pride in the arena and having school spirit. When there are less people there and there's not that enthusiasm, it's kind of sad and a little disappointing."

STUDENT SEASON TICKETS STATS

OSU Sales Round-Up: The Cowboys have the lowest number of season tickets sold in the eight years since Gallagher-Iba Arena was renovated. Oklahoma State sold 3,972 student season tickets during the 2000-01 season and had $317,760 in sales. This year 1,642 students bought season tickets and had $345,860 in sales.

Then and Now: Oklahoma State charged students $98 for tickets during the 2000-01 season. The last two years, student season tickets for men's basketball have been $242. The highest price increase came after the 2001-01 season. The university went from charging $98 to $159 for a men's basketball student season ticket.

Best Bargain in the Big 12: Oklahoma charges students $130 for a basketball season ticket, but if you attend 16 or more games (90%) you receive a full refund. Anyone who goes to at least 14 games receives a $50 credit.

Highest Conference Average: The Big 12 has an average price of $122.92 for student season tickets. The Big 10 came in a close second with $120.82.

Lowest Conference Average: The ACC charged an average of $17.25. Nine of 12 schools in the conference charge free admission or costs are covered by student fees. Seven SEC schools let students in free to games or costs are covered by student fees.
 

jhawksoon

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From what I've heard Oklahoma State AD Mike Holder is a complete buffoon. He is holding the season ticket holders at ransom, and it's not just for basketball. The football game in Stillwater next year against Georgia won't even be sold out.:mj07: :142smilie
 

Jaxx

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From what I've heard Oklahoma State AD Mike Holder is a complete buffoon. He is holding the season ticket holders at ransom, and it's not just for basketball. The football game in Stillwater next year against Georgia won't even be sold out.:mj07: :142smilie

Like Kansas sells out its football games.
avg. last year 44,000

:mj07:
 

jhawksoon

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No, but it also doesn't charge an arm and a leg to get in. OU sure doesn't have a problem filling up it's stadium.:00hour Nice trying to stear away from the fact that your AD is a complete idiot. I guess you're just bitter.:scared
 

jhawksoon

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Like Kansas sells out its football games.
avg. last year 44,000

:mj07:

Do you really think Aggie fans have much to stand on as far as attendance goes. OSU avg. attendance was 48,000 with a capacity of 60,000. Just another example of Aggie stupidity. They couldn't even sell out their stadium before the expansion. Does that make sense to you? Also, since you tried to stear the heat away from your program onto KU's, KU was at 88% capacity last year. Bitter:sadwave:
 

layinwood

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Why does a program with as much money in donations as OSU has need to charge the kids that much? Maybe I don't know enough about the situation.
 

jhawksoon

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Because the university is now run by Boone Pickens and the people he has put into place (ie. Mike Holder) not the board of regents. The donations that Pickens made were put into Boone Pickens' own BP fund (Boone's choosing) which in turn tanked. The university actually had to turn around and borrow money to build the facilities that Pickens gave his money to in the first place. After the fund tanked the university couldn't make the payments on the borrowed money and many projects had to be stopped.:mj07: Pickens had to give more money just so OSU could keep construction going. In order for the university to pay for all of these new facilities they are raping the ticket holders. I live in Oklahoma so I get to see first hand the step brother mentality OSU fans have to their University of Oklahoma big brother. They believe that they are a big time university with big time sports programs and should therefore have big time facilities. The problem is that it doesn't transfer to the courts and fields.
 

Jaxx

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Do you really think Aggie fans have much to stand on as far as attendance goes. OSU avg. attendance was 48,000 with a capacity of 60,000. Just another example of Aggie stupidity. They couldn't even sell out their stadium before the expansion. Does that make sense to you? Also, since you tried to stear the heat away from your program onto KU's, KU was at 88% capacity last year. Bitter:sadwave:

Not bitter just stating facts. KU average attendance 44,000. I agree they should not charge that much for student tickets. Hell I remember when you could get in for 8 bucks.
As usual your childish demeanor shines through calling me a stupid aggie. I think you are the bitter one living in Oklahoma. Being around all them stupid aggies has to be tough. Maybe you should move back to Kansas. Or come out to Florida and I will show a good time.
:thefinger
 

jhawksoon

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When you hop in on an OSU aggie topic and try to bring up another school and with that still show how piss poor Oklahoma State attendance is, then yes you are a stupid aggie. I'll pass on the over priced Florida living.:kiss:
 

Jaxx

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When you hop in on an OSU aggie topic and try to bring up another school and with that still show how piss poor Oklahoma State attendance is, then yes you are a stupid aggie. I'll pass on the over priced Florida living.:kiss:

Maybe overpriced for your income but not mine. LOL

:sadwave:

Sorry Jack. The imbecile gets under my skin.
 

jhawksoon

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Now you're throwing out the "I make more money than you do" comments. That could possibly be true, who's really the childish one though? :rolleyes:
 
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