LSU football fans may have to reach a little deeper in their pockets to purchase tickets for upcoming seasons. LSU Athletic Department has proposed a three-year funding plan to the LSU Board of Supervisors that increases required contributions to the Tradition Fund for season tickets and raises the price of individual game tickets by $5. Under the proposal, student ticket prices remain unchanged. According to data from theAthletic Department, the plan in its entirety is expected to boost Tradition Fund revenue from $8.9 million in 2007 to $17.5 million in 2010. The Tradition Fund, which differs from the 12 percent of Tiger Stadium seats controlled by the Tiger Athletic Foundation, was introduced in 2003 and accounts for 43,000 seats. LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman said the fund greatly helps the $70 million athletic department budget, which is operated without student fees or state tax dollars. LSU last bumped ticket prices in early 2006 after hurricanes Katrina and Rita disrupted the athletic department’s budget. The proposal, set to go before the Board’s Athletic Committee on Thursday, would nearly double required donations to purchase season tickets in prime areas. The plan would increase lower bowl sideline seats within the 20-yard-lines from the current $500 contribution to a $950 contribution by 2010. Lower seats within the 20-yard-lines brought in $3.5 million in revenue during 2007. By 2010, those seats will produce $6.65 million in revenue. Nearly 45 percent of Tiger Stadium seats are located within the endzone. These seats required a $105 donation in 2007 but will be bumped to a $210 contribution by 2010. Data from the LSU Athletic Department shows the increase is in line with other Southeastern Conference schools such as Tennessee, Florida and Alabama. Tennessee fans are required to pay $2,500 for the best sideline seats while Alabama fans shell out $1,500 for similar seats. Florida recently introduced a plan that by 2010 would require $1,000 donations for prime sideline seats. “We’re just catching up with the big boys now,” Bertman said. “But we’re moving at warp speed.” Bertman said he expects full support from the Board and is not concerned about upping prices because of his faith in LSU’s football program. “LSU is the best team in the Southeastern Conference,” he said. “I would assume that we will continue our success. It doesn’t mean that you’ll win the national championship every year or guarantee double-digit victories, but we’ll get results. I am guaranteeing a good football team.” Bertman said $1.5 million in revenue will go toward building a new band hall for the Tiger Marching Band. “Our band has the worst facilities in the SEC,” Bertman said. “We don’t think it’s necessarily the Athletic Department’s responsibility, but we really wanted to help.” Next season the Tiger Band will move from the northwest corner to the north endzone. Bertman said fans in the west upper deck have previously been unable to hear the Tiger Band, despite numerous sound engineering attempts. LSU ticket manager Brian Broussard said the move will not eliminate any student section tickets. Rather, students will move to the band members’ previous seats.
—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]