Jamie Pollard statement regarding ticket scanning process during home opener

[alarson]

When the SEZ was built, they wanted to do something to make it more attractive to fans since endzone seats are normally considered to be among the worst seats in a stadium. So they added backs to these seats, cup holders, and the opportunity to purchase beer.

I think that's why alcohol has always been limited to this section (and the suites).

This has been the party line, but i've always been dubious of it.

Yeah, its a perk, but I'd guess very few are doing it just for the privilege of buying a beer at an inflated price. Most are purchasing it because of the other amenities- climate controlled areas, easier access to restrooms and concessions, etc, You'll see a lot of families and kids in these club areas (obviously the kids aren't drinking beers), and I think the climate control option in particular makes it an easier sell for some of these families who may not want to be in the heat and\or cold for 4 hours.

 

[alarson]

Better pay and working conditions (maybe some awnings for shade?) would undoubtedly result in more people taking the job.

Yeah, that'd be the follow-up question- has the pay for that gig gone up comparably with the market for similar jobs, or are they just refusing to pay more and going 'kids don't want to work anymore'?

 

[alarson]

Then you have to kill re-entry which pisses people off. There isn't an easy solution here since re-entry has been a thing for years longer at JTS than it has anywhere else.

Not sure why reentry has anything to do with the decision to sell alcohol in the stadium at all.

 

[KnappShack]

Then you have to kill re-entry which pisses people off. There isn't an easy solution here since re-entry has been a thing for years longer at JTS than it has anywhere else.

Or maybe take this as a marketing opportunity.

Iowa's biggest beer garden at the half. Flood the area with beer vendors manned by ISU students and clubs. Play highlights. Pump in music.

Buy a beer from Cy!

All while supporting the good guys

 

[Pope]

Better pay and working conditions (maybe some awnings for shade?) would undoubtedly result in more people taking the job.

And an increase in ticket prices.

 

[IcSyU]

Yeah, that'd be the follow-up question- has the pay for that gig gone up comparably with the market for similar jobs, or are they just refusing to pay more and going 'kids don't want to work anymore'?

In Jamie's case I bet his bill from the security contractor has gone up. I'll let you guess if the extra is going to the owner or the employees.

 

[carvers4math]

And an increase in ticket prices.

Well at least people might not have to miss a quarter of the game to get in. You going to give refunds for that?

 

[isufbcurt]

And an increase in ticket prices.

If that's what it takes so be it.

 

[carvers4math]

Pollard say if the SEZ border wall is coming down?

 

[nfrine]

Well at least people might not have to miss a quarter of the game to get in. You going to give refunds for that?

We are already missing one full home game this season.

I'll bring my giant crescent wrench Saturday

I have a left-handed, metric crescent wrench if you need one.

 

[wxman1]

Then you have to kill re-entry which pisses people off. There isn't an easy solution here since re-entry has been a thing for years longer at JTS than it has anywhere else.

People act like it is their God given right to go out and slam a couple of beers while missing decent chunks of the game.

 

[CYEATHAWK]

And an increase in ticket prices.

BS. We aren't talking every night of the year. We are talking what.........5 Saturdays? And the ISU athletic department or whoever fronts the cost can't afford that? Like I said BS. And did I say..............BS!! The ISU AD is swimming in money. Maybe not UT or Alabama money.....but we aren't talking building a new stadium. We are talking paying a bunch of college kids to make game day go smooth. JP must have received his talking points from CPR. You know...the guy who said it's hard to recruit because "the airport is too far away".

 

[NWICY]

People act like it is their God given right to go out and slam a couple of beers while missing decent chunks of the game.

It's not?

 

[yowza]

This has been the party line, but i've always been dubious of it.

Yeah, its a perk, but I'd guess very few are doing it just for the privilege of buying a beer at an inflated price. Most are purchasing it because of the other amenities- climate controlled areas, easier access to restrooms and concessions, etc, You'll see a lot of families and kids in these club areas (obviously the kids aren't drinking beers), and I think the climate control option in particular makes it an easier sell for some of these families who may not want to be in the heat and\or cold for 4 hours.

They could just do premium or expanded beverage offerings in the SEZ and just the common stuff to the masses. Ways to differentiate it for sure.

 

[IcSyU]

BS. We aren't talking every night of the year. We are talking what.........5 Saturdays? And the ISU athletic department or whoever fronts the cost can't afford that? Like I said BS. And did I say..............BS!! The ISU AD is swimming in money. Maybe not UT or Alabama money.....but we aren't talking building a new stadium. We are talking paying a bunch of college kids to make game day go smooth. JP must have received his talking points from CPR. You know...the guy who said it's hard to recruit because "the airport is too far away".

The ISU AD has never in the history of the school been "swimming in money." When you look at how the budget has increased that's relative when our peer institutions are seeing the same.

And didn't we have to take a loan from the University general fund for COVID?

Also, beer in the stadium is a terrible idea. It's different in places with garbage tailgating but we have plenty of time to slam beers pregame. I'm pretty sure no one is going to die from missing beers 13-15 on the day.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Not sure why reentry has anything to do with the decision to sell alcohol in the stadium at all.

You have to. With the increased insurance and staff costs you can't allow people to go out and have 'free' beers at halftime. You undercut yourself.

In stadium sales and re-entry can't coexist.

 

[t-noah]

Then you have to kill re-entry which pisses people off. There isn't an easy solution here since re-entry has been a thing for years longer at JTS than it has anywhere else.

Help me here, I've been out of state for some time. By 're-entry' you mean that ISU allows fans to leave the stadium (some presumably, to have a drink), and then come back in?

If so, how would that really be a problem with alcohol sates in the stadium? ...I'm probably not seeing this right.

 

[CyGuy5]

Help me here, I've been out of state for some time. By 're-entry' you mean that ISU allows fans to leave the stadium (some presumably, to have a drink), and then come back in?

If so, how would that really be a problem with alcohol sates in the stadium? ...I'm probably not seeing this right.

If you let people go out to drink at halftime, they aren’t going to be buying alcohol (or at least as much of it) in the stadium

 

[theshadow]

You have to. With the increased insurance and staff costs you can't allow people to go out and have 'free' beers at halftime. You undercut yourself.

In stadium sales and re-entry can't coexist.

The liability alone...well, that guy bought 2 beers in the stadium but he had 8 beforehand and another 2 at halftime. Whose fault is it that he crashed on the way home?

 

[wxman1]

The liability alone...well, that guy bought 2 beers in the stadium but he had 8 beforehand and another 2 at halftime. Whose fault is it that he crashed on the way home?

FWIW I have been told that ISU's general counsel is becoming more conservative which is part of the driver of the reduced tailgating hours and I wouldn't be surprised if it was part of if not the driver of the SEZ divider wall.