Ohio State’s ticket costs dwarf PSU’s
By Cory Giger, cgiger@altoonamirror.comArticle Photos
UNIVERSITY PARK - Many Penn State fans are frustrated or angry over reports about a substantial hike in season-ticket prices, but they also should know that for years it's been cheaper to attend games at Beaver Stadium than it has been at more than half the other schools in the Big Ten.
And when it comes to Ohio State season tickets, that's a whole other ballgame entirely. The Buckeyes charge fans a minimum donation of $1,500 simply for the right to be able to purchase season tickets.
Fans who want premium seats, meaning those near midfield, must pay a donation of $600 at Iowa, $500 at Michigan, Michigan State and Minnesota and $250 at Wisconsin.
For years, Penn State season-ticket holders have had to make a minimum donation of only $100 to the Nittany Lion Club. Even Purdue, which charges a $200 minimum, is more expensive.
Penn State is expected to raise minimum donation levels beginning with the 2011 season, according to published reports. The minimum will be $600 per seat between the 40-yard lines and $400 per seat from the goal lines to the 40s.
Fans who don't want to pay the increases may be moved to other parts of the stadium.
The university is expected to release specifics about the new plan as early as next week. Coach Joe Paterno said Tuesday he supports whatever decisions the university makes in order to pay the bills for all of the school's 29 athletic programs.
"How much are we charging compared to other people?" Paterno said. "I think we're probably at the bottom of the list. I saw what Michigan charges, and I saw what Ohio State charges."
JoePa added the athletic programs "don't get a nickel from the university for anything" and are "completely self-supporting."
"They got to do something [to raise money] or we got to cut back sports, and we don't want to do that," Paterno said.
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Possum
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11-20-09 11:27 AM
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I glad someone actually cares. I could care less if I ever read another story about JoPa and the ever mediocre PSU program. Boring......
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Spunky
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11-20-09 10:28 AM
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It's not the price of the tickets, it is the home schedule. They should hve played 4 of the teams on this year's home shedule the same DAY. Start at at 8:00 A.M......get the PUFFS out of the way.
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PaSnoborder
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11-19-09 9:24 PM
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Another wonderful article by the ever relevant C.Giger!? Since Ohio State has officially sealed up the Rose Bowl bid, now your only gripe against them is their ticket prices. wow...they charge more money, shame on them. Let's go tell their parents! Oh, but wait, they are a major metropolitan market. Columbus, OH vs State College, PA. I wonder which one is bigger, which one has more talent, which one has a mass population, which one recruits, plays and represents better? Good Lord Cory, do you even troubleshoot and research your articles? From now on, let someone read your articles before you publish them. I realize that you yourself don't actually publish them, I wonder if this garbage gets in the paper, do you actually have a boss? Or do you just give the thumbs up? I know you probably don't even read these responses, but, DANG! OH by the way, didn't you research that you have to pay money to earn points, to even get considered to get on the waiting list for PSU tickets???
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wendle
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11-19-09 7:46 PM
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I think that all of it is way too over inflated to begin with our tax dollars built the stadiums. In my opinion 7.50 a ticket is overkill. Its a college game get real
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Crudstud
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11-19-09 1:25 PM
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I would love more than anything else to see the fans universally refuse to pay this exorbitant increase and refuse to buy tickets or show up for the games. a couple games in a stadium filled only with students would send the strongest message. of course, given the "sheeple" mentality, this will never happen.
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jlaw65
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11-19-09 9:52 AM
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And now we have just a little look into gov run healthcare with the a s s inine idea of putting off mammograms until age 50 by a "board". Are you kidding me? There you go one of the governemnts "boards" giving a recommendation based on costs and NOT life saving. I am sure there will be more to come. Hope and change, hope and change. How is that working out for you lately???
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Bernitt
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11-19-09 7:17 AM
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As has been stated by others the main purpose of the football program should NOT be the support of the other sports. It must first provide a program that fans want to support. That means a competitive team with an adequate schedule. Ir is NOT okay to have fully half of the home schedule be against inferior teams. Ohio State is very much a poor comparison. The success of their teams dwarfs the Penn State team.
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mocus1
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11-18-09 7:21 PM
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"Fans who don't want to pay the increases may be moved to other parts of the stadium." Indeed, you'll be given a selection of a seat in the men's restroom next to the urinal cake dispenser or in the locker room next to the pile of sweaty jock straps that need steam cleaned. That's where you'll be sitting my friends.
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mocus1
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11-18-09 7:18 PM
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Actually, considering Joe's legendary status, he could be getting a much higher salary than his current $500,000. The current high salary is $4 million by the Alabama coach. 500k sounds like a lot but it's chump change when compared to modern day athlete/celebrity salaries.
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mocus1
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11-18-09 7:16 PM
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"a minimum of $1500 dollars to even qualify to be considered for season tickets". In politics, that's called "pay to play". It's illegal.
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ACBPSU
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11-18-09 6:32 PM
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Ohio State has played for 3 National Titles this decade.How many has PSU played for? OSU has put a product on the field to warrant those prices PSU has not!
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PaCardFan
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11-18-09 5:01 PM
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What does that mean? The Redskins charge more than the Eagles. They are in same division. Cost of Living much higher in Columbus, OH than anywhere in Pa.! WHERE IS THE RELEVANCY? Point is, proposed changes at PSU are being raised at an unacceptable rate - across the board, not just between the 40's! Yes, price hikes are needed at times, but not at 100% rates!
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Zephyr
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11-18-09 4:33 PM
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Another school is worse, or greedier, than PSU at something? Knock me over with a feather. Thanks, Cory.
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Tuz127
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11-18-09 3:03 PM
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I don't see what's wrong with charging extra for the prime seats. You want to sit between the 40's.... so be it. It's gonna cost you extra.
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pittdan7
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11-18-09 2:49 PM
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I see Tom's comment about costs. Actually the Pepsi sponsorship probably covers all of the gameday costs and then some. Everybody kind of forgets that Pepsi is paying big money for the University to push their product. Parking is a pretty penny also. There's so much money moving through that stadium on gameday, there's a counting room at field level. None of that money is related to ticket prices.
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DRILLMAMMA
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11-18-09 2:29 PM
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Notre Dame--Wheres that?
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Jim123
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11-18-09 1:41 PM
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"but they also should know that for years it's been cheaper to attend games at Beaver Stadium than it has been at more than half the other schools in the Big Ten." But Mom!!! All the other kids are doing it!!
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pittdan7
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11-18-09 11:52 AM
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See guys, because Ohio State does it, it's okay now. Glad we got that out of the way.
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skyler
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11-18-09 9:40 AM
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Why does this crap need on the front page of the online paper, isn't here more local news to print than all about Penn State prices? Those who can afford the 50 yd line will pay. Print news not all this PSU crap.
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TomM73
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11-18-09 9:16 AM
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Maybe you should realise what gets paid out of the ticket prices. The officials get paid, theres about 80 to 100 paramedics/EMT's around the stadium, the doctors and nurses that are in the first aid room under the stands and other support staff that gets paid from ticket prices only.
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RazMnaz
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11-18-09 9:15 AM
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I knew this one woman I used to work with that went to every home game with her husband in their big painted up RV, partied and tailgated with their friends before and after the game, and had all the fancy Penn State clothing, face pawprint stickers - the whole nine yards. They also had season tix on the 40 yard line. You can imagine the laughter of disbelief she got when one day she asked me what "3rd and 5" meant.
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RazMnaz
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11-18-09 9:02 AM
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The fine folks at Penn State proposing these ticket increases KNOW it isn't about the devout fans coming to simply watch a football game that they're trying to capitalize on. It is mainly the playing up whole social status thing involving the wealthy older people with money to burn (successful alumni)that have that desire to see who's there from their "circle" and be seen, show off their nice new blue and white 30' RV they bought especially for tailgating, and hob-knob with the other social elite. Penn State knows these snobs will pay whatever it costs for those tix, or they could be at risk for being viewed as a some sort of failure or slacker in the eyes of their peers. Can't have THAT happen.
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KlausVR
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11-18-09 9:02 AM
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So Drill ... you DO care about Notre Dame?
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KlausVR
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11-18-09 9:00 AM
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Don't like it, don't buy 'em. I pretty much stopped going after they built Bryce Jordan, taking away the BEST tailgating fields in the country. Amen and good night to this topic.
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DRILLMAMMA
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11-18-09 8:57 AM
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Hey Pascal--I could care less about Notre Dame. I'm just care about our states program and the overpayment of ANY coaches salary. I'm sure the Notre Dame coach is overpaid too.
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