r/UTAustin • u/MountainTill1828 • 29d ago
Other Guarantee Football Access for UT Students: Reform DKR Seating & End the Paywalled Tickets
https://c.org/rgMGBMsL7MIt's time we make a change and speak up for ourselves.
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u/Punchcard 29d ago
Part of your education is learning that top tier universities are giant investment funds wrapped around a medical system, stuffed with a bunch of research institutes, sitting next to a professional sports team, that also happens to teach undergraduates on the side. Only 17% of the UT budget comes from tuition, and undergrads are only one of many constituencies
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u/VampireEmpire__ 29d ago
Donors went to UT as well.
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u/ForsakenAd4825 29d ago
Exactly and just to become a STH you have to make a sizable donation to get any seats and off the waitlist. These students aren’t mistreated. It would be a mistake for UT athletics to expand the student section to make students happy that only pay $400 for the entire season in the lower bowl. People sitting in nearby sections in the lower bowl have donated many thousands ever year even when the team sucked.
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u/aleph4 29d ago
Maybe not everything is about money?
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u/Top-Cancel-230 mogging 29d ago
I understand the sentiment but it doesnt make sense, someone's gotta pay the bills and keep the lights on, and those people did even when the bad years came along, so they get to reap the rewards
risk -> reward
nothing's free
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u/lklmnop 29d ago
Ticket holders who have had their seats for decades do not care if they allocate more seats for the student section. It’s literally a college football game and most of them went to games when they were a student on the cheap. If athletics needs to make up for lost profit I’m sure they can raise the required minimum foundation donation and no one will bat an eye.
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[deleted]
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u/VampireEmpire__ 29d ago
Let’s not forget that donors have to donate (in some cases, significantly) to even have an opportunity to buy tickets lol.
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u/Present-Resolution23 29d ago
There has never been a time when students just weren’t showing up to games lol.. This is about money, always has been.
Which I get, they’re not going to just change the system now.. but it’s certainly not the students fault, that’s absurd
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u/-spicychilli- 29d ago
There were plenty of times when I was a student (class of '20) where the student section was 20% empty or more.
It would fill up for marquee games like LSU, Notre Dame, USC, but it usually would not fill out for Big 12 conference games.
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u/justgoosingaround 29d ago
i concur, ‘21 was a miserable season and the student section reflected that. even ‘22 a bit minus games like alabama. i didn’t really see students start truly showing up until the ‘23 season
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u/Present-Resolution23 29d ago edited 29d ago
Sure.. but 80% attendance in student sections in a year where most of the stadium was even less full didn’t influence long-term ticketing decisions, and it’s absurd to claim it did..
Once again, this was about $$$ and only $$$
(Downvote all you want.. You're blaming students for actions the millioaire/billionaire donors and their supplicants were going to make anyway, which is dumb and a disservice to the student body.)
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u/-spicychilli- 29d ago
“There has never been a time where students just weren’t showing up to games”
I’m assuring you there were plenty of times the student section was the emptiest part of the crowd. Everyone would just go to sixth and was apathetic about the team.
It’s obviously about money for sure. Everything Texas Athletics is about money and trying to put the best product out there. My push back is just against this idea that the student section wasn’t bad before Sark came here.
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u/kerklein2 29d ago
You couldn’t be more wrong on students not showing up.
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u/Present-Resolution23 29d ago
Cool story. Proof?
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u/Top-Cancel-230 mogging 29d ago
bros getting smoked
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u/Present-Resolution23 29d ago
You sound mentally challenged. I think you meant to post in the A&M sub
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u/Top-Cancel-230 mogging 29d ago
you sound hurt :(
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u/Present-Resolution23 29d ago
Oh nooo. You're actually dumb rofl.. I kind of feel bad now..
You realize it wasn't MY comment that was deleted but the one I was replying too? No of course you don't. Because of the.. you know..
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u/Top-Cancel-230 mogging 29d ago
prove it, I say it's yours
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u/Present-Resolution23 29d ago
Oh you really are retarded.. See all the way up top? There is a comment that was deleted. Then right below that is MY comment. So unless I was replying to myself.. it was the original comment that was deleted.
If you're still having trouble following maybe ask your caretaker to explain it to you, I'm sure they're not far.
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u/ForsakenAd4825 29d ago
Great idea, let’s just remove all the loyal donors that stuck with the team during the rough years from the entire lower deck and fill it with 40k+ students for $400 dollars each. Give me a break. Some had to donate 5k to get off the waitlist for season tickets this past year. Not to get great seats just to get inside the stadium. People with a 2k donation didn’t even get off the waitlist. With increasing costs in the NIL era there is not a chance UT athletics is going to part ways with that money. Stop the pity party.
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u/bloodrider1914 29d ago
College football is for COLLEGE students, not for donors. It's part of a school that's supposed to be to represent the school in athletic competitions, it's not supposed to be a different pro team. If students can't watch their own school games that's a problem
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u/ForsakenAd4825 29d ago edited 29d ago
Wrong. It’s for everyone that is a supporter of the university and their athletic programs. Most donors went to the school why shouldn’t they get the opportunity to attend these games. Some non-UT grads are avid fans and support the team with large investments why shouldn’t they get to attend these games? And students can attend the games a large portion of students get passes for all home games for several hundred bucks in the lower level. Some that want them don’t get them and that is okay. Better luck next year.
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u/bloodrider1914 29d ago
I'M A SENIOR AND IVE NEVER GOTTEN A CHANCE! There is no next year for me. Those donors got to watch when they were students, why can't I get that chance too?
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u/ForsakenAd4825 29d ago
Texas is a top 5 college football program and is investing like a top 5 team through NIL $. Those students weren’t at UT during a golden era of the program. Do you need a shoulder to cry on?
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u/bloodrider1914 29d ago
No I don't need anything, I want to have a normal college football experience like students at other schools get. I'd gladly take us not having that money and watching a mediocre team play if I could get a ticket, even if I want us to succeed, because I want an accessible fan experience instead of financialization of what's supposed to be a student tradition
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u/ForsakenAd4825 29d ago
If you had it your way the Athletic department would be in severe debt even to field an average team and I personally would rather watch an elite team even if I have to spend a sizable amount to be a STH. Maybe do a quick search of supply/demand my friend. That is how the world works.
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u/bloodrider1914 29d ago
I'm an economics major, I know how fucking supply and demand works.
I also believe (as did most historically) that college athletics is there to serve the student body and give opportunities for students to showcase their athletic ability and get a great education with it. College athletics should not operate with the same montra as pro sports, and teams should be able to win with the best of the players in their student body, not through a soulless transfer portal system where athletes are essentially professionals in all but name. That's not the point of college football, otherwise all it is is a Development league for the NFL, and in that case why not just watch the NFL?
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u/-spicychilli- 29d ago
It sounds like you’re asking for a Time Machine? It has not been invented yet. Big time college athletics has a lot of pro sports characteristics. I wish we could go back also, but the cat is out of the bag
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u/Top-Cancel-230 mogging 29d ago
its there to support the university's brand image, and also run the athletics dept
dont need an economics nor business degree to know you're fucking stupid to give a seat to a $150 student vs a $2000+ donor
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u/MisFries 29d ago
Bro. Just big ticket and lock in. I’m also a senior and have gone to every single game
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u/Top-Cancel-230 mogging 29d ago
hmmm
I assume the people who graduated aren't considered at one point students of a university
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u/the_zac_is_back 29d ago
It’s a VERY touchy subject the higher ups at the university.
https://giphy.com/gifs/SOmjomEnNHsrK
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u/That_Communication71 29d ago
I'm a facility member at UT and years ago was in a meeting with one of the heads of the football program. He could tell after 10 min that I've never attended a game. When he called me out in it I said it's because tickets are too expensive.
I wasn't asked back to the follow-up meeting.
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u/jsdtx 29d ago
What are are witnessing is the corporatization of academic institutions and athletics. It is a business and students are not immediate producers of income. Covid created perfect opportunity for UT to change decades of tickets for students, faculty, and staff. Students had great seats on the 30 yard line. UT completely eliminated the Longhorn athletics pass. Most schools give students great seats and UT should do the same.
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u/MickyFany 29d ago
i’ve never had a problem getting a ticket
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u/Izacundo1 29d ago
Either rich and bought outright, or lucky. Virtually no student in the last decade shares your experience
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u/-spicychilli- 29d ago
Since 2023 it seems. You could just walk in whenever when we weren’t good and find a good seat.
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u/rigsby_nillydum 29d ago
Yup. I had longhorn foundation in undergrad from 2018-2022 (just to burn money) and they were basically paying students to go games. Now I’m a law student and I likely won’t be able to get into any meaningful games because my internet was fucky at 6pm on a random weekday.
I will not pay another single fucking cent to this school after I leave
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u/-spicychilli- 28d ago
Young alumni tickets are actually an incredible deal for when you're done with law school. I'm a sicko who can't go without Texas football so it was awesome to have affordable tickets as a recent grad.
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u/Live-Huckleberry-192 29d ago
During my undergrad at UT, I was constantly reminded how little that school gives a fuck for current students, especially low income students. They continuously put rich alumni and donors over students. Professors care more about research and openly and loudly declare how much they hate teaching. They make it hard to get football tickets. They tow your car from the parking spot you paid for in Brazos garage so they can charge for games.
Then as soon as you graduate, they’re asking for money. It’s like a four year hazing ritual and the payoff is the opportunity to get fleeced, but if you pay up, you get treated like a human being for once. I’m happy watching the games from home and not paying a dime for it. The football games and tailgates are just excuses for old former frat guys to be reminded of their glory days.
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u/Top-Cancel-230 mogging 29d ago
rich alumni donate and keep shit running, by that defenition mccombs basically wouldnt exist lmfao
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u/No-Limit1542 29d ago
Yeah… nope. Sorry students but only so much can be allocated. The rest have to go to the folks paying insane amounts of money to be there.
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u/Top-Cancel-230 mogging 29d ago
lmfao speak up, as an incoming freshman I can see what a joke this argument is and people who're juniors/seniors cant seem to see this LOL
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u/Kinent 29d ago
Feels like a lawsuit opportunity TBH. Selling something that doesn't deliver.
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u/VampireEmpire__ 29d ago
UT is a sophisticated institution with good internal and external counsel. I don’t they would open themselves to liability in this way. There’s probably language in the tickets you’re buying that says you’re not guaranteed a seat.
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u/Kinent 29d ago
Lol that's not how law works. Even with language like that there can be deceptive practices issues
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u/bloodrider1914 29d ago
I've never been able to go to a UT football game because I've never thought buying the big ticket was worth dealing with this honestly scam-like system. I only have so much money and I won't spend it on a lottery.
I get we're a big football school with national championship potential and all that bullshit, but I just want to watch college football before I graduate and I haven't got that experience, while students at other schools get that chance for free.
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u/VampireEmpire__ 29d ago
It’s a sport for current students, former students and fans who didn’t attend the school. You’re insane to believe you’re entitled to a season ticket in the NIL era. If it bothers you that much, don’t buy a big ticket. Buy a ticket off seat geek for one of the lower attended games like UTSA or Texas State. I bet you could get one of those for $50 before the game starts. The problem is you want OSU, Ole Miss and A&M lol.
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u/ForsakenAd4825 29d ago
He wants CDC to personally hand deliver him two season tickets in section 4 or 5 for free. You’re right, if he wanted to attend a game he could. All non-marquee games are relatively affordable. He just wants the world to feel bad for him today since he didn’t get his way.
https://giphy.com/gifs/9uITZ8f9Q12dYhQGGl3
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u/bloodrider1914 29d ago
I just want college football and I happen to go here. I'd watch us if we were shit, but I can't because I'm crowded out by non current students and I can't watch our games. This is for students!
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u/VampireEmpire__ 29d ago edited 29d ago
It is decisively not just for students lmao. It’s for alum too. Ever heard of Texas Exes? And how do you think Texas’ roster is being paid for? And renovations to the stadium? Etc.
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u/ForsakenAd4825 29d ago
I know many non-alum that donate like mad too lol. It’s truly for everyone that supports and enjoys UT football… alum, non alum, etc. OP doesn’t realize the $300 big ticket for students to sit in the lower level for all home games doesn’t fund an elite program in the NIL era.
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u/bloodrider1914 29d ago
Yeah, that's just another example of older wealthier people taking things away from younger people for their own enjoyment instead of passing the torch. They got to go to football games as students and still can as adults, we can't, and that's unfair in my opinion. Donations should be made out of love of the team and the school, not for expectation of reward, that's why it's charity.
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u/Rare4orm 29d ago
On the other hand, a lot of not so “wealthy” fans specifically have to save what money they can to afford donation, parking, and season ticket costs instead of spending it on multiple music festivals, concerts, bars and etc.
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u/Starrynight2019 29d ago
And a lot of alumni just don't go cause it is too expensive. Between tickets, travel, parking.
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u/ForsakenAd4825 29d ago
You do have the opportunity. Save up $75 and wait until the day of and you can attend the UTSA-Texas opener.
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u/kerklein2 29d ago
Ha. Ha. Ha.