Mike Holder is crazy. Or genius.
The line between the two is darn thin, and come Thanksgiving weekend, we'll know on which side the Oklahoma State athletic director belongs.
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He took a big gamble Tuesday, announcing that there would be no single-game tickets sales for Bedlam football. This is the biggest annual sporting event in the state and one of the best rivalries in the country. This is a game about bragging rights and divided loyalties and, many a year, a trip to the Big 12 championship game.
And the Cowboys could have their smallest crowd next season when the Sooners come to Stillwater.
Egad.
Don't chalk up Holder as a madman just yet. Hold off on that raving lunatic talk.
Why?
His plan might actually work.
About this time last year, Iowa State decided it would sell no single-game tickets to the Iowa game. If you wanted to see the Big Game, as the corn-fed locals call it, you had to buy a season ticket.
No ifs, ands or buts.
When Iowa's Speaker of the House called and wanted to buy 175 tickets at face value for the Big Game, Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard told him that wouldn't be a problem. All he'd need to do was buy 175 season tickets.
Much like folks here, the good people of Iowa were torn over the idea of having to buy a season ticket to see the in-state rivalry. Some gushed that it was a stroke of marketing brilliance. Others lamented that it was an ill-advised move for the school.
Attendance at the Big Game: 49,516.
That was not a sellout at Iowa State's 50,000-seat Jack Trice Stadium. It was also the smallest crowd to see an Iowa-Iowa State game since the series resumed in 1977.
Thing is, Iowa State still ended up having one of its best years for attendance. The Cyclones' average home attendance was 49,462. They hadn't averaged that many fans in 20 years.
Had their average attendance busted the 50,000-fan mark, it would've been the first time since 1982.
All that despite a team that finished 3-9.
The most season tickets that Iowa State had ever sold was 30,728, but last season, that record jumped to more than 36,000, a 14.6 percent increase.
The most season tickets that OSU has ever sold came in 2004. On the heels of a nine-win, Cotton Bowl season, the Cowboys had 38,674 season-ticket holders. If they have the same kind of success that the Cyclones did, their season-ticket sales will spike to more than 44,000.
But will they?
And what of the average attendance?
It's impossible to know for sure. There are some indications, though, that the success of the season-ticket plan at Iowa State just might be duplicated at OSU.
For starters, OSU has a better product to sell than Iowa State. The Cowboys have been to consecutive bowls and five in the past six seasons. The Cyclones haven't been to a bowl the past two seasons.
Then, there's the excitement factor. Iowa State made the change in ticket policy at a time when its fans were excited about the hiring of new coach Gene Chizik, who was lured from Texas. The fervor at OSU is over the massive upgrades under construction at Boone Pickens Stadium
One of the big differences in the two schools' plans — ticket prices.
OSU's cheapest season ticket costs $294, almost twice as much as Iowa State's. Spending $150 to buy a season ticket to see just one game is a sacrifice, but it's still realistic. Remember, single-game tickets for Bedlam two years ago in Stillwater cost $100, and you can bet they were sold on the street for more than that.
A fan could buy a $150 season ticket, use the big-game ticket, then stomach eating the rest of them.
Doing that with a $294 season ticket isn't as palatable, whether you're a Cowboy or Sooner.
No doubt Mike Holder is rolling the dice with this idea. His plan might backfire in his face, leaving thousands of empty seats for Bedlam and several hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table. Then again, he might have set in motion a plan that will reap millions for OSU.
This is what successful businessmen do. They create demand for their supply, and they sometimes take risks to do so.
Suppose Holder might have learned a thing or two about that from his good buddy Boone Pickens?
The oil tycoon has had some risks bite him in the backside, but he's also made his share of greenbacks. Holder is simply trying to do the same for OSU.
Is he crazy or genius?
We'll find out Nov. 29.
Why does Gary always comment on OSU stories? News flash Gary we could care less about your opinion, which is based on idiocy. You are the definition of a mOUron!
As long at T Boone is willing to pay the bill, OSU has the ability to do this. With Pickens money, they don't need fans at all. This isn't as risky as Jenny or others claim.
We'll find out if this ticket policy is a success long before November 29, Jenny. Clearly, Holder is showing that attendance for the OU game is of secondary importance compared to the number of season tickets sold. He wants to grow the base of season-long supporters even if that means lower attendance for the big game.
Jenni can't do homework, especially Math. That would be to much like right. She doesn't get her facts straight and she writes snippy, stupid articles that are crap and garbage.
Maybe Jenni should do a little bit better homework on ticket prices.
The prices she quotes for Iowa State are not actually seats. That price is for sitting on the grass on the hillside, general admission area with limited restroom and concession facilities. For an actual seat at an Iowa State game for 2008 the season ticket price is $350 for a 6 game home schedule. That works out to $58.33 per game.
You can get a season ticket for OSU for 2008 for $294 in the Family Fun Zone for a 7 game home schedule, which equates to $42 per ticket. Or if you want a better seat a season ticket will cost you $419, an average of $59.86 per ticket. Slighty above what ISU is charging, and for a team that has at least been to and won a bowl game the last 2 years versus ISU's 7-17 record the past 2 years.
Leave it to Jenni to once again not do her research and skew the facts. She is the worst excuse of a 'journalist' that I have ever had the displeasure of reading.
i don't think meth heads like football...they like meth. the only wife beaters i see (notice) at football games....well....never mind. and all schools have their share of rude, classless fans, be it students, alums or trailer park trash, its just that winning programs atrack more of the later.
OSU is trying to make it bigger than it is. It is a big game for them not OU. Once every 6,7 or 8 years they win one and once every 20 years they win two in a row. OOOO Big time NOT!!
"This is a game about bragging rights and divided loyalties and, many a year, a trip to the Big 12 championship game." A trip only for OU. OSU SUX AZZ.
Why do OU fans care about OSU's ticket policy? Holder is trying to get more OSU fans in the seats. I think it is great. I ordered two season tickets today. I can't wait to watch the OU/OSU games with my fellow Cowboy fans!!
Ben, what about all of the toothless rednecks that live on farms and chew tobacco? We know Oklahoma's got plenty of those, and, oddly enough, I don't see them at OU games. Could it be because they're in Stillwater rooting on their beloved Cowboys? I think so. You're the ag school, remember?
Furthermore, these must be some rich meth heads. OSU has to use gimmicks to sell season tickets. OU has to put up a rope for the waiting list.
Everybody loves a winner. You did get that right.
Most of OU's fan base are washed-up meth heads that abuse their wives? Do you really believe that? If you do, that is pretty sad. OU's not the ones having trouble selling tickets and resorting to schemes to try to bring in revenue from their rival's fans. Who sounds like the loser here. Most of the 85,000 plus fans in the stadium on Saturday are middle class or above. The meth-heads aren't there. I will say this, there wasn't reports of OU fans throwing bottles at apposing teams or cheering when another team's player got hurt. Also, I've been to many games at both places and heard the OSU fans cheer when it is announced that OU was losing. It still baffles me that OU fans actually cheer when it is announced that OSU is winning. Whose fans would sound classier to an outsider that knew this?
Wow, Ben, you're really getting somewhere. So, what you're saying (and, you're saying it "factually." Way to go!) is that, "Not all Sooners are meth-heads... but all meth-heads are Sooners." "Not all Sooners are wife beaters... but all wife beaters are Sooners." "Not all Sooners are white-trash... but most white trash Okies are Sooners." Is that what you are factually stating?
I'm sorry Grant, but a lot of of your fan base is white trash. We have some at OSU, but not as much as OU, because you guys win national championships. I am not saying you are a loser, I just meant to say that most of your fan base (ones who didn't attend the university) are probably washed up meth heads who abuse their wives. If you did a study in Oklahoma and asked all of the meth heads which school they would like better, I would guarantee you that more than 90% would say OU. It's a true fact Grant. Find an addict, a spousal abuser and ask them their college preference! And really, my fellow Oklahoman...there are actually poor people outside of Edmond who like OU and happen to smoke crack. They are the losers. Not the OU fans who post on this message board. Right?
thanks ben, may cooler heads prevail....and grant, but i ain't running for president or anything else (even if i might do a better job). i don't need the media scrutiny.
I am no attorney, bu tI wonder if there is not a legal action here based on anti-trust laws. If Holder said no single game tickets available to ANY game, it would seem fair. However, he is creating restraints on trade/commerce and reducing competition (in the market place of tickets) which are key elemts in antitrust laws.
Right Ben. Every OU fan you talk to is either too rich, too drug addicted, too "white trash" or too spousal-abusing. Every OU fan you meet, huh? There's something wrong with all of them that you just don't find at OSU, right? You made a terrific point there, brother. And, you sealed it with a "losers" for good measure. Please. You're a testament to exactly the point I was making. Thanks for your support.
otis good post!! good call, actually.
I love to hear constructive criticism rather than terrible comments about my university. thanks for the thoughts.
you guys miss the point. even osu fans that don't have or want or can use season tickets get screwed in this deal. it would make more sense if osu alums could buy tickets for the game. that would keep the ou fans out but let osu fans in. but as it is everyone that doesn't want to be forced to buy a season ticket for one game misses out. everyone here is just having to good a time jacking with each other. as always plenty of tickets will be available on ebay or wherever for a price. its just to bad there may be alot of empty seats. i would hope holder will work out something to give those seats to underprivledged youth or something rather than have them go to waste. sorry this post was serious. i'll work on it.
Grant-
You would have to admit that more white-trash people like OU than OSU, because they can be fans of something that is idolized in society and not have to focus on their pathetic narrow-minded white-trash lives. My point is, I really don't care about your scoreboard comment. Cause usually when an ignorant OU fan says it to me (not all OU fans are ignorant), they are either;
A. Driving a Mercedes/LandRover/SUV
B. Toothless
C. On Meth/Alcoholic
D. Abused their spouse at some point
I really think you guys might win the scoreboard comment in the game of football, but probably won't win scoreboard in the game of life. Losers.
My favorite are the OSU fans who get mad at OU fans for calling names, like "lOSUr" or "Stoolwater" or "OSUcks," and say "that's just what I'd expect from all those classless OU fans." Then, they proceed to use terms like "Whorman" and "Gooners" and claim that OU is the only school that's ever had a player arrested or a fan that didn't go there or a job with their name on their shirt. Glass houses boys. That's why people use the expression, "scoreboard." Can't argue with a scoreboard. Looking at the scoreboard between these schools, I'm not sure much more needs to be said.... But it's just so darn fun.
To all of you OU types that continually use "aggie" references: Do you think that's an insult? It isn't for OSU folks. Certainly not ones of my vintage that grew up in Stillwater rooting for the Oklahoma Aggies. Pat Jones still wore an O Aggies sweatshirt to games in the 80s. Just thought you'd like to be enlightened. While your thinking about that, what other school do you know besides OU that names it teams after criminals? Sooners were just that, you know!
Holder has proved he knows what he's doing. If you've played/seen Karsten Creek, he doesn't care if you come and play it. It's an amazing course that gets hardly any play due to the high cost...and that's how he wants it. Quality over quantity. That's how we like it at OSU.
So many OU fans act like they had something to do with OU's success. Are you are such failures in life that you have to jump on the Whorman bandwagon to justify your existence and to find some happiness? Actually, that's cool with me. Everyone needs happiness. But stop pissing on others...good grief. What a bunch of tools. No reason to drop t*rds on others. I'm sure your mothers would NOT be proud of you.
Ok, Kenneth. Thanks for your wonderful logic and wisdom. And we lost our best AD, Birdwell, when Boone came to town. He is the man who got Gallagher-Iba's renovation done and had the foundation for our new facilities. Not Holder.
Whomever said it is probably right. Holder probably IS the best AD LosuR has ever had. That's saying what? Any plan that keeps your rust-bucket stadium with new bricks and paint all over it half-empty is folly. Put a better product on the field and and fans will show up.
OSU has had some good years and lots of bad years in football. For many years OSU football was a wasteland. We had a football stadium that looked like a big ugly high school stadium and the lowest budget in the conference. The reason is because the board of regents, administration and fans did not really want it like schools such as the University of Oklahoma. Boone Pickens has decided he wants OSU to be competitive. To build a competitive program you have to have lots of money. Not only large contributions but fan support. We are not going to win a national title anytime soon. Although, we are going to be more competitive on the field, in the classroom and in recruiting. It doesn't hurt my feelings that its going to cost OU fans more to attend a game in Stillwater. I will be purchasing my season tickets and enjoying coming back to the place I graduated. Sports is fun but it is a big business. The days of attending an OSU game for 15.00 are over. Barry Switzer toured these new facilities and stated they are the best sports facilites he has ever seen. I am looking forward to the future success of the program regardless of who our coach or AD is. I will come to games regardless.
Gary, I get it now. You say "losur" and add and OSU in there! Man, you really get excited about that, because you put it on the end of almost every post! Your education as sure got you going places! And Otis, it sure doesnt seem like OU thinks the bowl games are bigger, they can't seem to play anybody close in those. We get it, OU has a stronger football tradition, congrats. Now, take your football championships and 12 total national championship trophys for all sports and go back to Norman. Only there will you find people who care about those.
this is all just too halarious. holders gimmick is to what, sell more tickets, spin attendance levels, assure less ou fans for bedlam...what? and all these posts...... osu people trying to compare a team with no big xii chapionships (or appearences in championship games), no big 8 championships (one tie i think a long time ago), not even close to any national championships with a team that has more then its share of all of the above..... a team with a couple wins in a 6 and 6 bowl with a team that is perenially ranked and in a bcs bowl more often then not, is just too funny. whatever the outcome of holders ploy it sure has provided alot of entertainment. sure bedlam is a big rivalry game. but its always the biggest game for osu. ou has texas, the big xii championship and a meaningful bowl game that is sometimes important, like for the national championship. beating osu only shuts the osu people up for another year. finally one must realize this is not an osu article its a bedlam piece. keep it up all posters i'm getting a kick out of this stuff.
Holy moly this might be the best white-trash post of the year! It made me feel like I was watching "Deliverance," or walking into the gun store with Bruce Willis during "Pulp Fiction." I find it hilarious that OSU fans are pitted as the unintelligent ones. I read things like this and feel sorry for their children. What a loser! Go Pokes!
"Great point Kevin. Keep you hat on and no one will notice. I don’t which is more hilarious. The baseless bravado of oswho fans whose team can’t even beat a yellow light or the living in the past boneheads that want to bring up games from six or seven years ago or Agnes fans bragging about winning the Noendinsightforyourcrappyfootballperformance.com Bowl. Should we as OU fans bring up the overall record of this great rivalry? osuwho fans are like that neighbors yapping dog that won’t shut up even though it has NO reason to bark. I hope oswho fans never stop barking because laughter is the best medicine and they make me feel great.
Roger, Keller - Jan 31, 2008 12:30 PM"
It's a great sight to behold - More pissed off sooner fans than you can shake a stick at. In time - Mike Holder will PROVE to be the best Athletic Director OSU's every had. He's actually already proving it in my opinion.
You people back off Holder. He is a genius. He has a drunk's son running the bball program into the ground, he has Gundy, who's biggest moment to date is a blow up at a press confrence (which is funny beacuse he said it wasn't true that Reid was going to transfer if he was benched and look where Reid is today) and he has eliminated the chance to fill up his stadium for at least one day every other year. I say OSUcks needs to keep him. He is assuring they will never compete for a title in any of the revenue producing sports (not that they ever were going to compete for one in FB anyways since they never have before) and this will cause them to blow through T-Bones money faster than Eddie can down a bottle of Jack and chase it with some Lortab.
Great point Kevin. Keep you hat on and no one will notice. I don’t which is more hilarious. The baseless bravado of oswho fans whose team can’t even beat a yellow light or the living in the past boneheads that want to bring up games from six or seven years ago or Agnes fans bragging about winning the Noendinsightforyourcrappyfootballperformance.com Bowl. Should we as OU fans bring up the overall record of this great rivalry? osuwho fans are like that neighbors yapping dog that won’t shut up even though it has NO reason to bark. I hope oswho fans never stop barking because laughter is the best medicine and they make me feel great.
What's funny is that OSU fans think this is a ploy to keep OU fans out! Its a ploy to get OSU fans to games. The problem is that there aren't that many OSU fans. OSU is still at the level of ISU. Just look at there ticket plan!
I'll be renewing my tickets as soon as possible. Way to go Coach Holder! See you all at Bedlam. Or in the case of some of you cry baby OU fans, maybe you'll see me while watching on TV. Go Cowboys!
I love the OU fans who say its not a rival game. Why come and talk smack then? Just a few years ago, coming off consecutive losses to OSU, you would not say the same thing. So, if OSU beats OU, does that mean it suddenly is a rival game? Good logic my classy OU fans! If you didn't think we were "rivals", then why do you care so much about all of the OSU articles on here? I know this one is directed at both schools, but I don't see OSU fans talking smack until the OU fans come over and start it. Get a life, and talk about something else, like how to win a bowl and NOT be overrated like you are every season. You guys complained when Kelly was hurt in the WVU game, but I didn't see alot of Bowman excuses when you beat us in Norman. Stop making excuses and trying to make yourself feel better because you think your "better".
Mike, maybe it was hard to figure out, but this is not just an OSU article, it is about a game between both schools, even though the OSU A.D. is the focus. The petty and childish fans on both sides need to either grow up or shut up.
"a team with a tradition built on cheating"? OSU was once handed the second worse probation in the history of the NCAA. Also, did I really just read a post from an OSU fan about mullets at OU games? Did I?
Hey guys. Mike's a genius. Stand in Awe. He cuts his own meat. Every Sooner fan pales in comparison. After all, we all have no teeth and mullet hair. We all have wheels on our houses. Why, if we really had a brain, or a sense of style, we'd never be, humph, OU fans.
Mr. Nonsense from Nowhere allegedly cares nothing about OSU athletics, but always reads and responds to any articles about the Cowboys. He needs to quit reading and posting about the Cowboys and spend more time reading and posting about the Sooners and then have more time to grease back his mullet and brush his gums.
You Sooner fans are remedial at best. Last time I checked, last year's game was going to determine who the Big 12 South champ was. How is that not competitive? Also, if we aren't a rival, why are you even posting on OSU articles? Why do you even care? And Gary, next time have your 5 year old write your posts. I'm guessing he the originality and spelling capability to put your feeble thoughts to shame.
I guess since the OSU marketing department took it up the ol' pooper last year with the "World's Greatest Offense" slogan, this year they have deceided to use a more appropriate slogan, "If we can't get our own fans to buy season tickets, we will force other teams' fans to buy our season tickets".
she doesn't mean that it could send OSU to the Big XII game, but she does mean that game has been the deciding factor more than once for OU. 2 years ago if they won, they got in.
Some of what you say MAY BE true Grant. But you have to admit losing to the likes of Boise State...a team that supposedly did not belong in a BCS game, really sucked big time. Then to go back to the same bowl game again this year with an even worse outcome..well at least OSU did beat there "down and out" teams.
Jenni, you are partically correct about business people. The real succesful ones have the best product. If you have the best product they will come. Holder is just preventing OU fans from seeing a great team.
Face it, Kevin. Beating Indiana and down and out Alabama are nothing compared to what beating OU is for OSU. OU beating OSU is ho-hum. That's the point I was making. And, there are years where the OU-OSU outcome doesn't matter as far as the Big XII goes. This past year was one of those.
Mike Holder is a genius:
1. He takes the demand to see a team with tradition built on cheating and turns it right against them.
2. The OU fans who actually get a ticket will have paid through the nose for it and will not likely be the mullet wearing hecklers we all hate.
3. He's minimized (if not eliminated) ebay, stubhub, scalping, etc. for the bedlam game by forcing the brokers to buy season tickets.
4. He's pissed off the uo collective, which from this osu fan's perspective is just great.
Thank you Mike Holder!!!!
Just one more round of Jenni "Garbage". I really wish she would quit writing these little snippy articles and learn to write a clear, concise thought provoking article. I guess that is too much to hope for. Great point Kevin!!
Hey Grant, OSU has won 2 straight bowl games and OU has got there butts handed to them by lesser opponents the past 2 years. Looks like to me OU has treated the Bedlam game as their "bowl" game and then packed it in after the Big XII game. Also, OU had to win Bedlam the past few years to win the south so I think Bedlam does have an impact on the Big XII you morons.
Such an 'aggie gimick' to sell season tickets. Using the 'drawing power' of the Sooners since your team has no 'drawing power'. When holder sells no more than 40,000 season tickets including his other 'gimmick', the Family Fun Zone, it's going to look funny at the boone's farm stadium with 15,000 empty seats. losur
I think she meant that osu has had the chance in the game to spoil OU's Big XII title hopes. With a loss to the ags the Sooners would not have gone to the title game in some years. Of course the ags have not sniffed a title game.
Hey, if you just look at the OU game as OSU's bowl game - which it is, the ticket price (if you were to pay for the season but only go to the one game) isn't so bad.
OSU competes for a Big XII title just like everyone else in the conf. does. Now as to the success recently of that endeavor, not so much. "obnoxious qualities" says Tom in OP. One need not look far for obnoxious qualities if one lives near KU or OU.
For a moment I thought I had missed something until reading these other comments. OSU has struggled to stay competitive in recent years, much less compete for the Big 12 South. It appears to me that this program has developed some obnoxious qualities in the last few years. The ticket thing may be savvy marketing but is terrible public relations. I don't see that Pickens has been good for the program as far as public image goes.
Grant I was thinking the same thing, when has OSU ever competed for a Big 12 south Title. Matter of fact when have they competed for anything other than just to have a winning season. Lately its come down to if they win there bowl game that has determined that.
What is the point of mixing up nouns and adjectives this way? I figure you must have done it intentionally, but when a newspaper columnist abuses the language, it just makes the newspaper-reading public dumber. Please stop.
82
The prices she quotes for Iowa State are not actually seats. That price is for sitting on the grass on the hillside, general admission area with limited restroom and concession facilities. For an actual seat at an Iowa State game for 2008 the season ticket price is $350 for a 6 game home schedule. That works out to $58.33 per game.
You can get a season ticket for OSU for 2008 for $294 in the Family Fun Zone for a 7 game home schedule, which equates to $42 per ticket. Or if you want a better seat a season ticket will cost you $419, an average of $59.86 per ticket. Slighty above what ISU is charging, and for a team that has at least been to and won a bowl game the last 2 years versus ISU's 7-17 record the past 2 years.
Leave it to Jenni to once again not do her research and skew the facts. She is the worst excuse of a 'journalist' that I have ever had the displeasure of reading.
Furthermore, these must be some rich meth heads. OSU has to use gimmicks to sell season tickets. OU has to put up a rope for the waiting list.
Everybody loves a winner. You did get that right.
I love to hear constructive criticism rather than terrible comments about my university. thanks for the thoughts.
You would have to admit that more white-trash people like OU than OSU, because they can be fans of something that is idolized in society and not have to focus on their pathetic narrow-minded white-trash lives. My point is, I really don't care about your scoreboard comment. Cause usually when an ignorant OU fan says it to me (not all OU fans are ignorant), they are either;
A. Driving a Mercedes/LandRover/SUV
B. Toothless
C. On Meth/Alcoholic
D. Abused their spouse at some point
I really think you guys might win the scoreboard comment in the game of football, but probably won't win scoreboard in the game of life. Losers.
"Great point Kevin. Keep you hat on and no one will notice. I don’t which is more hilarious. The baseless bravado of oswho fans whose team can’t even beat a yellow light or the living in the past boneheads that want to bring up games from six or seven years ago or Agnes fans bragging about winning the Noendinsightforyourcrappyfootballperformance.com Bowl. Should we as OU fans bring up the overall record of this great rivalry? osuwho fans are like that neighbors yapping dog that won’t shut up even though it has NO reason to bark. I hope oswho fans never stop barking because laughter is the best medicine and they make me feel great.
Roger, Keller - Jan 31, 2008 12:30 PM"
1. He takes the demand to see a team with tradition built on cheating and turns it right against them.
2. The OU fans who actually get a ticket will have paid through the nose for it and will not likely be the mullet wearing hecklers we all hate.
3. He's minimized (if not eliminated) ebay, stubhub, scalping, etc. for the bedlam game by forcing the brokers to buy season tickets.
4. He's pissed off the uo collective, which from this osu fan's perspective is just great.
Thank you Mike Holder!!!!
What is the point of mixing up nouns and adjectives this way? I figure you must have done it intentionally, but when a newspaper columnist abuses the language, it just makes the newspaper-reading public dumber. Please stop.