[82lsju]

I guess we'll see who the optimists are for buying tickets for this as I just got an email offering up tickets.  Seats are $85-$238 (including $10-$18 in fees).  It appears that season ticket holders and donors for all 12 schools are getting the same offer.  At the end they say season ticket holders will have a chance to buy from an additional allotment if we get in the game

Here's most of the text of the email

Exclusive Presale for 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi's® Stadium
 
The Pac-12 Conference recently announced the 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game will be played at Levi’s® Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on Friday, December 5. The game will feature the Pac-12 North division winner against the Pac-12 South division champion.

Although the 2014 season has not yet begun and the Championship game participants have not yet been determined, the Pac-12 Conference is offering current football season ticket holders and donors from each Pac-12 school an exclusive window to purchase general public tickets to the Championship Game (regardless of the matchup). This presale offer will end on Friday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m. PT when tickets go on sale to the masses.

*Please note: These presale tickets are purchased directly through the Pac-12 Conference/Levi’s® Stadium via Ticketmaster and are not sold by Stanford Athletics at this time. This presale is not a deferred payment application – your credit card will be charged for all tickets purchased, and you will receive the tickets whether or not Stanford is a participant in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game.

If the Cardinal qualifies for the 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, Stanford Athletics will be allotted a quantity of Pac-12 Football Championship Game tickets that will be sold at a later date. Availability and location of these tickets will be prioritized based on your level of engagement with Stanford University.

[82lsju]

I guess we'll see who the optimists are for buying tickets for this as I just got an email offering up tickets.  Seats are $85-$238 (including $10-$18 in fees).  It appears that season ticket holders and donors for all 12 schools are getting the same offer.  At the end they say season ticket holders will have a chance to buy from an additional allotment if we get in the game

Here's most of the text of the email

Exclusive Presale for 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi's® Stadium
 
The Pac-12 Conference recently announced the 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game will be played at Levi’s® Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on Friday, December 5. The game will feature the Pac-12 North division winner against the Pac-12 South division champion.

Although the 2014 season has not yet begun and the Championship game participants have not yet been determined, the Pac-12 Conference is offering current football season ticket holders and donors from each Pac-12 school an exclusive window to purchase general public tickets to the Championship Game (regardless of the matchup). This presale offer will end on Friday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m. PT when tickets go on sale to the masses.

*Please note: These presale tickets are purchased directly through the Pac-12 Conference/Levi’s® Stadium via Ticketmaster and are not sold by Stanford Athletics at this time. This presale is not a deferred payment application – your credit card will be charged for all tickets purchased, and you will receive the tickets whether or not Stanford is a participant in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game.

If the Cardinal qualifies for the 2014 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, Stanford Athletics will be allotted a quantity of Pac-12 Football Championship Game tickets that will be sold at a later date. Availability and location of these tickets will be prioritized based on your level of engagement with Stanford University.

[stupac2]

I can't imagine going to the game if Stanford's not in it.

[stupac2]

I can't imagine going to the game if Stanford's not in it.

[82lsju]

I can't imagine going to the game if Stanford's not in it.

agreed, I would imagine the pre-sale would not be all that successful.  I was surprised at the high end of the price range for tickets.

[82lsju]

I can't imagine going to the game if Stanford's not in it.

agreed, I would imagine the pre-sale would not be all that successful.  I was surprised at the high end of the price range for tickets.

[Papa John]

I would imagine that more than a few folks will purchase tickets with the intent of selling them should their team not be in the championship game.

[Papa John]

I would imagine that more than a few folks will purchase tickets with the intent of selling them should their team not be in the championship game.

[Farm93]

The Pac-12's problem is that no school has such a following that getting 40% of Levi's seats would not be sufficient for their fans willing and able to get to Santa Clara on 6 days notice.  The Pac-12 needs a least a few programs in each division with fans that would fear getting locked out from their school's allocation for the preseason stuff to really sell. 

Only a USC vs UCB type game would likely generate a sellout with excess demand trying to buy into the stadium, and I doubt UCB fans are worrying too much about that theoretical potential Pac-12 CG sellout here in May.

I would imagine that in the BigTen Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State fans would rightfully fear their standing might not be good enough so buying now would be prudent.  All BigTen fans could reasonably assume that as long as one or two of those four were in the game then the resale market should be viable.  That probably creates viable perceived scarcity demand for the CG that fans can bank on if they elect to buy early.

In the SEC, my guess is that most of the schools have a tough time squeezing into their allotment at the Georgia dome, so any public sale program would getting a fair number of willing buyers fearing later scarcity.

I guess Oregon, UW and USC fans might buy into this program fearing their status, but those types probably would be better served by just donating $500 per year to their favorite program rather than buying 2 $250 Pac-12 CG tickets each year.

[Farm93]

The Pac-12's problem is that no school has such a following that getting 40% of Levi's seats would not be sufficient for their fans willing and able to get to Santa Clara on 6 days notice.  The Pac-12 needs a least a few programs in each division with fans that would fear getting locked out from their school's allocation for the preseason stuff to really sell. 

Only a USC vs UCB type game would likely generate a sellout with excess demand trying to buy into the stadium, and I doubt UCB fans are worrying too much about that theoretical potential Pac-12 CG sellout here in May.

I would imagine that in the BigTen Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State fans would rightfully fear their standing might not be good enough so buying now would be prudent.  All BigTen fans could reasonably assume that as long as one or two of those four were in the game then the resale market should be viable.  That probably creates viable perceived scarcity demand for the CG that fans can bank on if they elect to buy early.

In the SEC, my guess is that most of the schools have a tough time squeezing into their allotment at the Georgia dome, so any public sale program would getting a fair number of willing buyers fearing later scarcity.

I guess Oregon, UW and USC fans might buy into this program fearing their status, but those types probably would be better served by just donating $500 per year to their favorite program rather than buying 2 $250 Pac-12 CG tickets each year.

[76lsjumb]

Seems to me that a little creative thinking among the Pac-12 marketing folks, assisted by a few computers, could improve ticket sales overall and pre-sales in particular. 

Season ticket holders at Pac-12 schools should be allowed to purchase tickets now at some reasonable discount with the opportunity/option, should their team be one of the participants, of upgrading those tickets -- at a reasonable surcharge -- so as to be able to sit in the participant school's section for the game.  As it is, even though [as a Bay Area resident] I would seriously consider attending the game this year even if Stanford is not in it [mostly to get to see the new stadium], I'm very much disinclined to buy tickets at full price NOW knowing that, if Stanford DOES play, the tickets I buy now almost certainly won't be in the Stanford [as a participant] section.  However, if I knew I could "trade up" later to get into that section, I'd be happy to buy now.  And, it stands to reason, that an extra bump in pre-sales to season-ticket holders at this point [even at the cost of some discount on prices] would serve as an encouragement to non-season-ticket holders and the general public to purchase tickets now as well.

I can't imagine the logistics of making such a plan work would be so complicated that a few good computers and progammers couldn't work them out fairly easily.

[76lsjumb]

Seems to me that a little creative thinking among the Pac-12 marketing folks, assisted by a few computers, could improve ticket sales overall and pre-sales in particular. 

Season ticket holders at Pac-12 schools should be allowed to purchase tickets now at some reasonable discount with the opportunity/option, should their team be one of the participants, of upgrading those tickets -- at a reasonable surcharge -- so as to be able to sit in the participant school's section for the game.  As it is, even though [as a Bay Area resident] I would seriously consider attending the game this year even if Stanford is not in it [mostly to get to see the new stadium], I'm very much disinclined to buy tickets at full price NOW knowing that, if Stanford DOES play, the tickets I buy now almost certainly won't be in the Stanford [as a participant] section.  However, if I knew I could "trade up" later to get into that section, I'd be happy to buy now.  And, it stands to reason, that an extra bump in pre-sales to season-ticket holders at this point [even at the cost of some discount on prices] would serve as an encouragement to non-season-ticket holders and the general public to purchase tickets now as well.

I can't imagine the logistics of making such a plan work would be so complicated that a few good computers and progammers couldn't work them out fairly easily.

[Papa John]

Consider the teams most likely to make the championship game from the north and south:

North
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

South
UCLA
USC

I expect that at least one of these divisional champs would be in the running for a spot in the Football Final Four. If it's Oregon versus USC, it could be both teams (please don't let this be so). But just about any scenario in which at least one team has fewer than two losses will result in a high demand for tickets from the fans of said team(s).

[Papa John]

Consider the teams most likely to make the championship game from the north and south:

North
Stanford
Oregon
Washington

South
UCLA
USC

I expect that at least one of these divisional champs would be in the running for a spot in the Football Final Four. If it's Oregon versus USC, it could be both teams (please don't let this be so). But just about any scenario in which at least one team has fewer than two losses will result in a high demand for tickets from the fans of said team(s).

[Farm93]

In the Pac-12 offices I would guess that Oregon vs USC type game would be the best game for attendance and conference hype (that does not include a local team).  However, with only 6 days between the end of the season and the Pac-12 CG I really doubt the Pac-12 can fill the house.

In the last decade both of those schools have played at Stanford and at UCB with the chance to stay undefeated AND go to the BCS CG.  In many of the cases the Bay Area school fewer than 20,000 fans from the visiting schools were in the stands even when the local schools played in massive venues.

Obviously, it is not exactly the same, but I think if a loyal season ticket holder is not inclined to drive to Stanford or UCB over the past 10-20 years then they will not rush, with 6 days notice, to Levi's. 

FWIW - The Friday games will almost certainly be poorly attended because those types of travelling fans will need to go to their employers on Monday and ask for Friday off.  For many families or groups that will need to happen for each adult in the group.  And only after that is completed will they be able or willing to buy tickets.  The sane members of the group will step in and remind everyone that they should just go to a local sports bar on Friday night. 

Given the likely need for air, or day long road trip, travel to this neutral venue the Pac-12 should have demanded Saturday from Fox.

[Farm93]

In the Pac-12 offices I would guess that Oregon vs USC type game would be the best game for attendance and conference hype (that does not include a local team).  However, with only 6 days between the end of the season and the Pac-12 CG I really doubt the Pac-12 can fill the house.

In the last decade both of those schools have played at Stanford and at UCB with the chance to stay undefeated AND go to the BCS CG.  In many of the cases the Bay Area school fewer than 20,000 fans from the visiting schools were in the stands even when the local schools played in massive venues.

Obviously, it is not exactly the same, but I think if a loyal season ticket holder is not inclined to drive to Stanford or UCB over the past 10-20 years then they will not rush, with 6 days notice, to Levi's. 

FWIW - The Friday games will almost certainly be poorly attended because those types of travelling fans will need to go to their employers on Monday and ask for Friday off.  For many families or groups that will need to happen for each adult in the group.  And only after that is completed will they be able or willing to buy tickets.  The sane members of the group will step in and remind everyone that they should just go to a local sports bar on Friday night. 

Given the likely need for air, or day long road trip, travel to this neutral venue the Pac-12 should have demanded Saturday from Fox.

[jacketree]

Better get your tickets before those Michigan State fans swoop them all up!

[jacketree]

Better get your tickets before those Michigan State fans swoop them all up!