It Ain't Cheap Being a Fan in the SEC

There is nothing cheap about the SEC. Especially if you want to buy season tickets. The face value of a ticket has increased significantly in the last ten years. That's nothing, though, when compared to the increase in the mandatory donation for the right to purchase those season tickets.

In the SEC, Alabama ($50.71) and Auburn ($50) have the most expensive average face-value tickets in 2008; a decade ago, they each averaged $27.14. LSU ($47.50 average), Tennessee ($45), Arkansas ($45) and Georgia ($40) are among SEC schools that raised 2008 prices.

But it's not just the actual ticket that costs fans if they want to see the best games. Eight SEC schools require a minimum donation in order to purchase season tickets, up from six schools in 1998.
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For instance, Florida charges only $224 for season tickets because purchasing them requires a $4,200 minimum donation. That means Florida fans are paying at least $632 per game, tops in the SEC and a 183 percent increase from 1998.

Alabama charges $355 for season tickets and requires at least a $130 donation. To sit in better seats, there are minimum donation levels at $260, $390, $600, $1,300 and $3,250.

Auburn season tickets cost $350 and must be accompanied by at least a $225 donation. That places the Tigers' average total ticket cost at $82.14, a 98 percent increase over their 1998 price.

Schools, of course, justify this as necessary because the costs are so high -- coaches salaries, new and shinier facilities, and other expenses.
On top of the increased prices per game, there is the increased number of home games. With the expansion to 12 games, most BCS Conference schools have merely added one more home game -- preferably with a patsy opponent.

The trade-off to these prices is that already passionate fan bases are paying huge cash to see their team. They become less tolerant of anything but winning. Actually scratch that. Not just winning, contending for the National Championship is what is expected.

The other thing is that the increased prices have done nothing to diminish demand. Average attendance in the SEC is up 12% in the same 10 year period. Only Tennessee has seen any decrease in attendance since 1998.