No price decrease for basketball tickets

Poll shows students not willing to pay athletic fee for cheap tickets

By: Jessica Powviriya

Posted: 12/1/08

Student basketball tickets for the upcoming seasons will not be any cheaper because of disinterest in a student fee added to the cost of attendance.

The results of the Associated Student Government Student Poll showed a majority of UA students would not be willing to pay an athletic fee to lower student basketball ticket prices. About 70 percent of the students polled were against a fee.

"Students who don't go to basketball games shouldn't have to pay to lower the tickets," ASG President Carter Ford said. "There are a lot of students who can't afford the price of admission to rise just for student fees and basketball."

Student tickets cost $108 for the season ($6 a ticket) and $24 for a four-game package.

"The prices are outrageous and need to be lowered," said Kelly Jackson, a senior architecture student. "The school is so hyped up on athletics and football; you'd think they would reduce basketball prices so more students will attend that athletic venue."

However, one student gave a different reason for not going to games.

"I've never paid for the package because they break up the big-name games with ones I don't want to go to," said Jonathan Harris, a junior food science major.

Harris wondered what student has time to go to all of the home games and said there's no point in getting season tickets.

Regardless of the price of tickets, some Razorback fans will go to the games.

"I am a big fan," said Brady Delperdang, an electric engineering major. "I go to every home game. Students still get a decent deal for a game; $6 a game isn't too pricey if you compare it to the price of a regular ticket."

Delperdang also compared the limited seating of the Bud Walton Arena student section to the much larger Reynolds Razorback Stadium where the Razorback football games are held.

There are a lot fewer seats to sell, so the prices are raised, Delperdang said.

The UA doesn't have definite reasoning behind the higher prices.

"That has been the policy since I've been here," said Robby Edwards, associate media relations director for men's basketball. "I need to find out why."

"While the cost of basketball tickets is high compared to [Razorback] football tickets, it is low compared to other SEC schools," Ford said.

However, that is not necessarily true (see side bar).

The ASG will not pursue endeavors to create a student fee to lower student basketball ticket prices at this time, but members will research other ways to lower ticket prices.

"We are looking into other ways to reduce cost of admission to the games," Ford said.

An endowment is a possibility, but that would take collaboration with the athletic department, he said.