Dear Bearcat Fans,
I wanted to take this opportunity to touch base with you regarding some very important developments with UC Athletics.
This is always a very busy time of year, what with the winter sports seasons winding down and the beginning of our spring sports campaigns. We also use this time to plan for next year and it is in that spirit that I share with you today!
Our 2007 football schedule is now complete and may be one of the finest slates of opponents to enter Nippert Stadium in our 119-year history. The Bearcats will host three preseason top-25 opponents (Oregon State, Louisville, West Virginia) as well as UConn, Marshall and Southeast Missouri State. Season tickets will go on sale beginning Monday, March 5 and will provide great new incentives for patrons who invest upfront with UC Football.
One major change for this year is that there will no longer be a tie between the purchase of football and men's basketball tickets. In the past, patrons were required to purchase football season tickets in order to have the opportunity to purchase basketball season tickets. While I understand why the linkage existed in the past, quite frankly I believe strongly in the value of the UC Football experience and know that if we are going to reach the heights we have for this program we must position football as having the strength to stand alone. I certainly hope you share these sentiments.
As the 2007 seating grid indicates, preferred seating in the chair back sections of Nippert Stadium will be reserved for UCATS members. Within the preferred seat sections there will be four tiers. Qualification for various tiers will be based on UCATS annual giving levels. Within a given tier, seat allocation will be based on your priority point rank among all others in that tier.
UCATS members may renew their membership and declare their intent to purchase men's basketball and football tickets at any point prior to May 31 (although their will be some incentives for early renewal as noted below). Beginning June 5 and continuing through the month of June, UCATS members will be granted an opportunity to `select-a-seat' in their respective tier. This plan will insure that the best seats in the stadium are going to the most loyal fans of the Bearcats.
There are also season ticket opportunities for non-UCATS members in the general seating sections of Nippert Stadium. Beginning on July 9, seat assignments will be allocated to all non-UCATS members based on renewal status from 2006 and continuing in order of date of deposit for 2007 season tickets.
Another new element of our football ticket plans for 2007 will be the inclusion of a bowl ticket in the seasonal investment. Consistent with our fervent belief in the value of UC football we have incorporated the cost of a bowl ticket in this year's season ticket package. It is important that our program be able to show prospective bowl committees that UC has a ready, willing and able fan base that are committed to the Bearcats.
For 2007, a $50 bowl ticket allowance will be included in the base season ticket price, which would cover the full cost of a non-BCS bowl ticket. In the event that UC advances to one of the BCS games, the difference between the cost of a BCS game ticket and the $50 bowl ticket value per ticket would be billed at a later date to the patron. A special bowl ticket certificate will be mailed with your 2007 season ticket order stating the dollar amount of your bowl ticket credit and the dollars can be used towards this ticket purchase. In the unlikely event of UC not going to a bowl game, the $50 value per ticket would be credited to the patron's season ticket purchase for the following year.
I want to thank you for sending along your feedback from the 2006 season, as that dialogue has given rise to the creation of a solid set of incentives for our 2007 season ticket patrons. These incentives will be spread over three tiers, based on the time of purchase, as detailed below:
Early Renewal Incentives - Hard Deadline is April 20, 2007
- Ability to select your seat, based on points, in defined section of Nippert Stadium beginning June 5, 2007
- Invitation to Pregame Reception with UC Coaching Staff prior to BEARCAT BOWL
- Special UC Football Sideline Cap, limited edition and not available for sale
- Invitation to special preseason event with UC Coaching Staff
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/Oregon St game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/Louisville game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/WVU game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/Miami game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/UCONN game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/SEMO game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/Marshall game
- Invitation to BEARCAT GAMEDAY Pregame Party prior to each home football game, featuring free Pepsi products and light snacks
FINAL UCATS Priority Points Deadline is May 31, 2007
- Ability to select your seat, based on points, in defined section of Nippert Stadium beginning June 5, 2007
- Special UC Football Sideline Cap, limited edition and not available for sale
- Invitation to special preseason event with UC Coaching Staff
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/Miami game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/UCONN game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/SEMO game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/Marshall game
- Invitation to BEARCAT GAMEDAY Pre-game Party prior to each home football game, featuring free Pepsi products and light snacks
General Renewal Incentives - Hard Deadline is July 3, 2007
- Ability to select your seat, based on points, in defined section of Nippert Stadium beginning July 9, 2007.
- Invitation to special preseason event with UC Coaching Staff
- Invitation to BEARCAT GAMEDAY Pregame Party prior to each home football game, featuring free Pepsi products and light snacks
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/SEMO game
- Entry into drawing for a chance to be the guest coach for the 2007 UC/Marshall game
Our goal is to present the best possible value to our patrons who make the highest level investment with UC Athletics. These incentives will be available exclusively to our season ticket patrons. From the UCATS tent pregame party with drinks and snacks; to the chance to be a guest coach; to the savings of buying tickets on a season-long vs. the day of game price, our patrons will realize our appreciation from our actions throughout the year. Patrons will no longer have to worry about single-game tickets being put on sale at a highly discounted rate to the general public, which underscores the value of a season ticket. Any mini-plan or promotion which may be announced at a later date would be priced to respect the value of our season ticket and the applied incentives.
Also, access to the best seats in Nippert Stadium are available for patrons who join UCATS. Entry level memberships start at only $50 so act now and help us build our winning teams! For more information on UCATS please call 1-877-55-UCATS.
If you would like to learn more about our 2007 football season ticket plans please call 1-877-CATS-TIX and speak with one of our friendly representatives or simply click on the web to our all-new ticketing and customer service page at CATSTIX.com.
Thanks for your patronage of UC Athletics. I look forward to seeing you on campus very soon!
Sincerely,
Mike Thomas
Director of Athletics
|
