Regular season ticket holders who want to keep their seats in Tiger Stadium for the 2004 football season must meet a payment deadline before the end of the month.
The LSU Tradition Fund, which the Athletic Department introduced last August, is required for the purchase of about 40,000 seats, said Brian Broussard, ticket manager for all LSU athletics.
The deadline for ticket holders to pay at least one-half of the new fund is March 31.
The pricing varies based on the location of seats. The fee ranges from $85 per end zone seat to $400 per seat between the 25-yard lines, Broussard said.
Despite the increase in prices, the ticket office said it expects most season ticket holders to come back.
“We expect the renewal rate to be very high,” Broussard said. “Close to 95 percent, for sure.”
In his March 4 Cyber-Side Chat, Athletics Director Skip Bertman said the Tradition Fund “will generate approximately $7.5 million per year for LSU athletics.”
Along with the Tradition Fund, the University’s Board of Supervisors also voted to make all tickets one uniform price.
Those who receive their season tickets through Tiger Athletic Foundation are not affected by the new surcharge.
“We have our own donations attached to our tickets,” said Bobbie Grand, public relations officer at TAF. “Our season ticket holders do not pay the Tradition Fund.”
Marc Bitner has been a TAF season ticket holder for the past four years.
“As a TAF member, the new charge will not affect me,” Bitner said.
Those who do not pay at least half of their required contribution by the deadline will not be able to renew their tickets. Ticket holders who do not want to renew have the opportunity to transfer their tickets into the name of anyone they wish. That deadline also is set for March 31.
“Less than half of the seats in Tiger Stadium will be affected,” Broussard said. “No student seats will be affected at all.”
Revenue generated through this new fee is being used for construction — including the remodeling of the West Upper Deck of Tiger Stadium, renovations to buildings and other facilities around campus, and possibly the future renovation of the baseball stadium.
“The University as a whole will benefit from the revenue from this new fund,” Broussard said. “We want people to see LSU in the best light as possible — on the athletic side and the academic side.”
Despite the benefits of the new fund, some have expressed opposition to the ticket donation increase.
This past fall, University law student Donald Hodge filed a lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors arguing the Tiger Stadium ticket surcharge violated Article 7, Section 2.1 of the state constitution in approving the new fee.
Article 7 says, “Any new fee or civil fine or increase in an existing fee or civil fine imposed or assessed by the state or any board, department or agency of the state shall require the enactment of a law by a two-thirds vote.”
In November, a state judge ruled in favor of the Board of Supervisors. Hodge appealed to the Louisiana Supreme Court in January.