[Farm93]

I will wonder what Stanford's debt service will be, as there is a theoretical big increase in revenue starting this coming season.  I've been on the 30-35 yard line of the new stadium since its inception.  We bypassed the section on the 50 because of the mandatory yearly donation.  Well, to maintain our seats, we're now on the hook for $1,000 per seat per season, as part of the AD's new requirement for the seats between the 20 yard lines.  I thought that there might be a large abandonment from prior STH, but surprisingly, when I looked at the stadium map of available seats, the renewals have continued.  Yes, we renewed.

The Stanford AD is allocating $500K to servicing debt.  Some debt may be beneficial for any number of reasons, so I would not expect the new ticket revenue will be used to drive down the underlying debt line.  Remember that 500K is in an annual budget of $100 million, that's not a lot. 

BTW - why surprisingly on renewals?  Some on this board stated all along that the renewal rates would be OK.  For those required donation doubters out there I believe the real renewal test will come after a bad season.  And that's the trick.  Make sure the donations become routine and habitual before any downturn in on field results.

As I noted before timing was the Maples mistake.  The AD waited too long before introducing the required donation route.  Introducing the donations during a downturn made it easier for people to walk away.  And many did.

CMac's return with the defending Rose Bowl Champs would have made the 2016 season better, but the even year schedule has been awful.  So 2017, given the odd year schedule quality, was a good time.

[Farm93]

I will wonder what Stanford's debt service will be, as there is a theoretical big increase in revenue starting this coming season.  I've been on the 30-35 yard line of the new stadium since its inception.  We bypassed the section on the 50 because of the mandatory yearly donation.  Well, to maintain our seats, we're now on the hook for $1,000 per seat per season, as part of the AD's new requirement for the seats between the 20 yard lines.  I thought that there might be a large abandonment from prior STH, but surprisingly, when I looked at the stadium map of available seats, the renewals have continued.  Yes, we renewed.

The Stanford AD is allocating $500K to servicing debt.  Some debt may be beneficial for any number of reasons, so I would not expect the new ticket revenue will be used to drive down the underlying debt line.  Remember that 500K is in an annual budget of $100 million, that's not a lot. 

BTW - why surprisingly on renewals?  Some on this board stated all along that the renewal rates would be OK.  For those required donation doubters out there I believe the real renewal test will come after a bad season.  And that's the trick.  Make sure the donations become routine and habitual before any downturn in on field results.

As I noted before timing was the Maples mistake.  The AD waited too long before introducing the required donation route.  Introducing the donations during a downturn made it easier for people to walk away.  And many did.

CMac's return with the defending Rose Bowl Champs would have made the 2016 season better, but the even year schedule has been awful.  So 2017, given the odd year schedule quality, was a good time.