PSU: New ticket prices will help 'carry on the great traditions' of athletic programs

(Editor's note: The new seating plan may affect ticket holders differently depending on many personal situations you already have. For more information or to ask specific questions about your situation, call PSU at 1-800-NITTANY (1-800-648-8269), send an e-mail to step2011@psu.edu, or visit the official STEP Web site at www.gopsusports.com/sports/c-lionclub/step.html)

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Penn State must make more money to "remain at the forefront of the increasingly competitive college athletics landscape," according to its sports Web site, and the university has decided the best way it can do that is to raise football season ticket prices.

The school released specifics about its 2011 season-ticket increase Tuesday, and the figures match the numbers widely reported last week.

Most seats between the 30-yard lines at Beaver Stadium will require a minimum donation of $600 per seat per year to the Nittany Lion Club, on top of face value for the tickets ($55 apiece per game).

Most seats from the goal lines to the 30s will require a minimum donation of $400 per seat per year, on top of face value.

Currently, the minimum donation for all seats is only $100, and that figure will remain in place for the 2010 season.

When the new plan goes into effect in 2011, seats around the end zones will continue to require a minimum donation of $100.

Prices are for seats on both the lower and upper decks.

A very small number of premium seats at midfield on the lower level that have seatbacks will require a minimum donation of $2,000 apiece.

Fans who want to pay the higher prices can purchase better seats, while fans currently sitting in those areas who don't want to pay the higher prices will be moved to other parts of the stadium.

The new seating arrangement is called Seat Transfer & Equity Plan (STEP), and there is a detailed description of all the particulars at gopsusports.com. Penn State athletic director Tim Curley has a message to fans posted on the site that reads: "Embracing tradition. Preparing for the future. At Penn State, we face the very real fact that the former is at risk without commitment to the latter."

Curley's statement later goes on to say the new seating program "will allow us to carry on the great traditions associated with Penn State athletics, while also positioning the athletic department to better serve you and meet the many challenges that come with competing today at the highest level of college sports."

The STEP plan features one component that had not been previously available. For a limited-time only and for a one-time fee, season tickets can be transferred to another person.

The transfer fees are:

* The limited premium sideline seatback seats will require a fee of $2,000 per seat.

* Those between the 30s will be $1,500 per seat.

* Those from the goal lines to the 30s will be $1,000 per seat.

* Around the end zones will be $500 per seat.

One other difference with the new seating plan will be that the entire student section will be wrapped around the south end zone.

Though the new plan will not go into effect until the 2011 season, Curley's message on the PSU Web site encourages fans to learn all of the ins and outs sooner rather than later.

"Familiarizing yourself now with the various changes and timeline of the new STEP will be important preparation for when the time comes to transfer or secure your seats," Curley wrote. "For that reason, we encourage you to take plenty of time to read and review this material."

Cory Giger can be reached at 949-7031 and cgsports12@aol.com.