FOOTBALL TICKET 2008 FAQS
CONTENTS
I. Reasons for the change
II. Alumni ticket lottery
III. Game selection
IV. Ticket lottery eligibility
V. Applying for tickets online
VI. Donating to the Alumni Association
VII. Ticket cost and OSUAA allotment
VIII. OSUAA season ticket recipients
1. Why did you change the old system?
In recent years, as the Alumni Association's ticket allotment has declined and ticket requests have increased, flaws in the Association's long-time system emerged. Last year, 10,000 Alumni Association members were denied tickets to games and another 10,000 were moved from a conference game to a non-conference one late in the process. After hearing concerns from nearly 1,000 Association members last summer, we decided to take a critical look at our process, given the realities we face with our ticket allotment and increasing alumni demand.
2. Who determined these policy changes?
Last summer, we had more than 1,000 Alumni Association members contact us and relate their opinions regarding our football ticket application process and policies. Among the main concerns expressed about the system were that the system was confusing, lacked transparency, and did not treat all members equally. These concerns were considered by a cross-departmental committee of OSUAA staff, which compiled a list of recommended policy changes. These changes were presented to the Department of Athletics in late February, and the changes were approved in April. Although we were not able to address every concern registered by every Association member, we were able to address the major common concerns that grew out of their communication with us.
3. Why did you get rid of the consecutive years criteria used in the past to determine ticket priority?
There are a few reasons for this change:
• The consecutive year's criteria were used only to determine a "cut" line for a particular game. For example, last year a member had to have accumulated 18 years of purchase to qualify for the Michigan State game. Anyone below that number was either moved to another game or denied tickets. Since we do not receive an equal number of tickets for each game, this created an inconsistency in the policy's implementation. Plus, if you were bumped from your initial game, the consecutive years criteria was not used to determine whether you had priority at getting tickets to a substitute game. Thus, there were instances where people who had accrued fewer consecutive years were able to get tickets ahead of those who had more.
• The Athletics Ticket Office, which maintained the records on consecutive years of purchase, could not vouch for the accuracy of all the data.
• Tying criteria to consecutive years of application was not equitable for all Alumni Association members who did not have the opportunity to accumulate many years of purchase.
4. What happens if I do not apply this year?
There is no penalty if you do not apply. In the past, applying in consecutive years allowed you to accrue seniority. However, since we are no longer using the consecutive year's criteria, there is no penalty if you do not apply in any given year. Each year, a random lottery, not consecutive years, will determine who gets to go to games.
5. Why did you do away with the alphabet breaks to determine game availability?
The alphabet break system could negatively influence your chances at getting a game ticket. For example, last year the Alumni Association had more tickets for the Youngstown State and Akron games than it did for the Wisconsin or Illinois games. Thus, if you were grouped into the Wisconsin or Illinois game, you had a lesser chance of getting tickets than someone who fell into the alphabet break for the YSU or Akron games.
6. Why did you do away with the Michigan lottery?
All active dues-paying members of the Alumni Association should have an equal chance to attend a game, so the Michigan lottery was folded into the regular lottery. Although we recognize the magnitude of the Michigan game, we do not feel that members should be treated differently as it relates to having a chance to get tickets to a particular game.
7. Is the system going to stay this way or is it going to change every year?
The Alumni Association will continue to look for ways to refine its football ticket procedures and make sure that these policies are meeting the needs of Association members. But it is not anticipated that there will be major changes in the policies from year to year.
1. How will the Alumni Association ticket lottery work?
Active, dues-paying members of the Association who apply for the lottery by May 31, 2008 will be entered into a random ticket lottery. The Athletics Ticket Office will conduct the lottery, which randomly assigns members who applied for tickets to the game they get to attend. When all available tickets are assigned to members who applied, the lottery ends. Those who are not matched with a game will be notified that they have not been selected to attend a game.
2. What are my odds of winning the lottery and getting tickets to a game?
It is difficult to determine anyone's chances in the lottery since it will be dependent upon how many Alumni Association members apply for the lottery. That total varies greatly from year to year based on a number of external factors (quality of home schedule, team expectations, etc.).
3. How many Association members apply for tickets each year?
There is great variance in the amount of Alumni Association members who apply each year. It is generally more than half of our membership, but you can usually expect that applications will increase greatly in years that the Michigan game is held in Columbus.
4. If I apply online and my credit card is billed, should I assume that I won the ticket lottery and will get tickets to a game?
The Athletics Ticket Office has agreed not to charge credit cards until it has been determined through the lottery that you are getting tickets, unless you have made an online donation (please see Section VI, Donating to the Alumni Association). However, you should never assume you are getting tickets to a game until you receive either e-mail or U.S. mail notification from the Athletics Ticket Office that says you have won the ticket lottery and what game you will receive tickets to. Until you receive that notification, you should not assume you are getting tickets.
5. If my check is cashed, should I assume that I won the ticket lottery and will get tickets to a game?
No. The Athletics Ticket Office has agreed not to cash checks until it is determined through the lottery that you are getting tickets. However, if you submit a check that includes both the $130 ticket fee and a donation to the Alumni Association, that check will be cashed after the lottery. If you do not win the lottery, the Athletics Ticket Office will mail you a check covering your $130 ticket fee within three to four weeks after the completion of the lottery. The remainder of that check total will be transferred to the Alumni Association as a donation. If you submit only a $130 check to the Athletics Ticket Office and are unsuccessful in the lottery, your original check will be mailed back to you within three to four weeks after the completion of the lottery.
6. If I don't get tickets this year, will I have priority next year?
No. Under the new policy, no active, dues-paying member of the Alumni Association will receive special priority in regards to tickets. All members are treated equally and have an equal chance to get a game through the random ticket lottery. Unless the process changes in the future, we will start with a clean slate each year.
7. When will I get my tickets if I win the lottery?
The Athletics Ticket Office typically mails tickets two to three weeks before the actual game you will be attending. You will be notified of your lottery results in July, but will not receive tickets until a few weeks before the game.
8. How will I find out whether I got tickets to a game, and what game I was selected to attend?
The best way to ensure prompt notification of your ticket status is to apply online. This way, you will be notified immediately of your status via e-mail. If you apply by U.S. mail and do not supply the Athletics Ticket Office with a working e-mail address, you will be notified by mail. In that case, your notification will be delivered at whatever speed the U.S. Postal Service can deliver it to your preferred address. Notification will be delivered in July.
9. If I am applying for the lottery in May, why won't I receive notification until July?
There are two main reasons. First, season-ticket allocations for Buckeye Club, Presidents Club, faculty/staff, and students are made during June. The Alumni Association lottery will not be held until those ticket decisions are made, something that will provide certainty in the lottery results. Also, the Athletics Ticket Office is transitioning to a new ticket system in June.
10. What if I win the lottery and get tickets to a game that I cannot attend?
When you apply for tickets, you are making a commitment to accept the game you are awarded. Once you have been awarded tickets to a game, those tickets are yours. Neither the Alumni Association nor the Athletics Ticket Office can switch your game, take your tickets back, or refund your money.
1. What does the Alumni Association do with the tickets in its allotment?
This year, the Alumni Association is receiving an allotment of 71,000 tickets for the upcoming season. The great majority of the tickets (62,000) will be dispersed to members as a part of our member-benefit ticket offering. To be clear, these 62,000 tickets represent 31,000 pairs of tickets, and 31,000 filled alumni orders.
Additionally, the Association has 9,000 other tickets (4,500 pairs) that are used for various purposes. Roughly 1,000 of those tickets are distributed to alumni and friends in conjunction with various Association events including Board of Directors and Alumni Advisory Council meetings, the Advocates Fall Event, the Alumni Leaders' Conference, the Alumni Awards and Homecoming. The rest of the tickets are divided among our clubs and societies or are used to accommodate alumni visiting campus for Reunion Weekend. The majority of tickets in the Alumni Association allotment are for the Youngstown State (Aug. 30) and Ohio University (Sept. 6) games.
2. Why are alumni being given mostly non-conference games instead of conference games like in the past?
This is not the first year that the bulk of the games in the Alumni Association ticket allotment are for the first two home games of the season. Non-conference games have comprised the majority of tickets that Alumni Association members have received in recent years. Tickets to these games are not included in the student season-ticket package, so there are more of them available to be used by alumni.
3. Why aren't games pre-determined like they were in the past?
The Athletics Ticket Office could not offer a guarantee that games offered in May would be available once season-ticket allotments were made in June. Thus, instead of offering a pre-determined game in May that may not be available in July, all game decisions will be made with the lottery in July. This way, members are assured of getting the game they are told they are going to get.
4. If I am applying for the lottery in May, why won't I receive notification until July?
There are two main reasons. First, season-ticket allocations for Buckeye Club, Presidents Club, faculty/staff, and students are made during June. The Alumni Association lottery will not be held until those ticket decisions are made, something that will provide certainty in the lottery results. Also, the Athletics Ticket Office is transitioning to a new ticket system in June.
5. What if I want to sit with my friends or my family at a certain game?
Since games are chosen randomly, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get the same game as friends or family. However, if you want to request to sit with other Alumni Association members who are applying, you must apply online and enter the Ticket ID and Account Name of the person(s) with whom you would like to request group seating in the "Comments/Group Seating Requests" section." However, this is no guarantee of group seating, and the Athletics Ticket Office will make those seat determinations based on the availability of the seats requested.
IV. TICKET LOTTERY ELIGIBILITY
1. Who is eligible to apply for tickets under the Alumni Association allotment?
Active dues-paying members of the Alumni Association as of March 1, 2008, are eligible to apply for tickets in the Alumni Association allotment.
2. My wife and I are both single members of the Association, will we both get applications?
Yes. In the past, ticket applications were "householded" meaning that each household received one application even if two members of the Association lived there. Since this approach was not equitable to all active, dues-paying members of the Alumni Association, we've changed the system so that all members receive an application.
3. Why aren't joint members of the Association allowed to get two applications?
Tickets are a finite resource and we need to make sure we do everything we can to ensure that as many Alumni Association members as possible have a chance to get a ticket. Joint memberships count as one membership, so only one application will go to those with joint memberships.
4. If someone gets tickets in conjunction with an Alumni Association special event, are they still eligible to get tickets in the random lottery?
Yes. If you are participating in any of the Association's special events, you can get tickets in conjunction with that event and not have it affect your eligibility for the random ticket lottery. However, people are only eligible to get tickets through one of their constituent groups. For example, if you are a student, a member of faculty/staff, or a member of the Buckeye Club or Presidents Club, you cannot get tickets through that group and through the Alumni Association.
V. APPLYING FOR TICKETS ONLINE
1. Why are we being asked to register and pay online instead of via U.S. mail?
To protect ticket applicants from identity theft, the university is asking its units to start phasing out the storage of credit card numbers, copies of checks, or canceled checks. By using an online payment method, ticket applicants are much more protected from identity theft or having their information shared without their knowledge. Although the Athletics Ticket Office is accepting paper applications this year if a member has no way of applying online, Alumni Association members must apply online next year. Thus, we are strongly encouraging all members of the Association to set up a ticket account this year so they are prepared for next year's transition to a paperless system. This will ensure you are able to apply in the future. This year's ticket application packet includes detailed instructions on how to set up your account and apply for tickets online at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
2. If my spouse and I applied for tickets in the past, can we use the same Ticket ID and e-mail address when we apply for the lottery?
No, you will need to set up a new account using a new Ticket ID and a new e-mail address. When you receive your football ticket information, your Ticket ID will be listed above your name on the enclosed card. You should look at your spouse's card and your card and identify which of you has been awarded the existing account number. If you have a new account number, you will have to go online and set that new account up, using both the Ticket ID and PIN number that is in red above your name on the enclosed card. Each account also must have a separate e-mail address associated with it, or you will not be able to successfully activate the account and apply for the lottery.
3. I don't have regular access to a computer or an e-mail address so how will I be able to register online?
Although we understand that some people do not use computers regularly, there are ways you can get that access. You might first check with your family or friends who have computer access and ask for their assistance in setting up an online account. Also, most public libraries offer computer access for those who have valid library cards. The library staff on site can assist you in doing what you need to do. You also may contact your local Alumni Club or your affiliated Alumni Society to see if someone in that organization can provide assistance.
4. How will I find out whether I got tickets to a game, and what game I was selected to attend?
The best way to ensure prompt notification of your ticket status is to apply online. This way, you will be notified immediately of your status via e-mail. If you apply by U.S. mail and do not supply the Athletics Ticket Office with a working e-mail address, you will be notified by mail. In that case, your notification will be delivered at whatever speed the U.S. Postal Service can deliver it to your preferred address. Notification will be delivered in July.
5. When I enter my Ticket ID and PIN, it says I have no applications available. Why?
This means you may not have already registered an account with the Athletics Ticket Office. And will need to first register before you can apply. To register an account, click on the bar that says "Register Now," which is located on the Season Renewals page.
6. What if there is no PIN on the card in my ticket package?
That means you have previously purchased tickets through the Department of Athletics Web site and already have a PIN (password). To retrieve your existing password, click on the "Forgot Password" link and follow the prompts. A new PIN (password) will then be delivered to your e-mail account. Unless you have changed your e-mail, that should do it for you. If you have changed your e-mail, or if for some reason these instructions don't work, please contact the ticket office at 614 292-2624 or at athletic.tix@osu.edu.
7. I am an AOL user and I am having a hard time logging onto the Athletic Ticket Office Web site. What can I do?
AOL uses an older browser model and sometimes it has a difficult time connecting with the Ticket information page during high traffic times. You can either wait to log on during a low-traffic time, or you can use an alternate Web browser such as Internet Explorer. If you must use AOL as your browser, you may need to change a system setting to allow your browser to accept "cookies." For detailed instructions on how do enable "cookies" on various versions of AOL, visit http://webmaster.info.aol.com/cookieguide.html.
8. When I enter my order, there are only zero dollar amounts listed in the fields where the credit-card charge would be listed. Is this right?
Since credit-cards are not being charged until it is determined whether or not you won the ticket lottery, you will see zero dollar amounts in the price fields when you process your ticket order. For your records, the total charge for two tickets (including processing fees) is $130.
VI. DONATING TO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
1. If I donate money to the Alumni Association, does that improve my chances of getting tickets?
No. Donor history plays no role in determining ticket priority. All active dues-paying members of the Alumni Association as of March 1, 2008, have an equal chance to get tickets in the random lottery, whether they are donors or not.
2. If I donate money when I apply for tickets, where will that money go?
That money will go to fund the member-centered work of the Association and will directly contribute to providing enhanced member benefits. Among the items that could be supported by these donations are member programming, club and society support, student recruitment, and other alumni communications.
3. Will my donation to the Alumni Association be credited as a part of the university's donor recognition program?
Your donation may, or may not be a part of that program. If you have questions regarding your donation, please contact senior director of development and sponsorship, Tony Vidmar, at vidmar@ohiostatealumni.org.
4. How do I make a donation when I apply for tickets?
When you apply online, there is a field available where you can enter the amount of money you'd like to donate to the Alumni Association. Your donation will be billed to your credit card immediately, but your $130 ticket fee will not be deducted from your credit card until the lottery is conducted and it has been determined whether you will get a game or not. If you get a game, your credit card will be charged for the $130 ticket fee. If not, your credit card will only have been charged for the donation. If you are applying by check, add your donation to the $130 ticket-fee total. In that instance, your check will be cashed after the ticket lottery is conducted. If you do not win the ticket lottery, the Athletics Ticket Office will send you a check for the $130 ticket fee and will transfer the donation to the Alumni Association.
5. When will that check arrive?
The Athletics Ticket Office expects to mail all refund checks within two to three weeks of the completion of the lottery. The check will arrive at your house at whatever speed the U.S. Postal Service can deliver it to your preferred address.
6. If I am making a check out to the Athletics Ticket Office, how will my donation get to the Alumni Association?
When the ticket application process is complete, the Athletics Ticket Office will transfer any online or check donations to the Alumni Association.
VII. TICKET COST AND OSUAA ALLOTMENT
1. How much do the football tickets cost?
Tickets are $62 apiece, or $124 for a pair. There is also a $3 service fee per ticket, so the total cost for a pair of tickets for Alumni Association members is $130.
2. How many tickets has the Alumni Association had in the past, and why is the allotment declining?
Last year, the Alumni Association was allotted 89,000 total tickets for the season. This year, our allotment is 71,000. The simple reason for the decline is that demand outweighs supply. As the Department of Athletics has adjusted to its needs, our allotment has been adjusted to accommodate other constituent groups.
3. Does the Ohio State Alumni Association get fewer football tickets than other college alumni associations?
Few alumni associations in the Big Ten offer a football ticket opportunity as a part of their benefit's package. However, some do offer limited ticket opportunities. The University of Michigan, for example, allots 8,000 tickets for its Alumni Association.
4. How can I be assured of receiving tickets?
No university entity, including the Alumni Association, offers a guarantee of receiving tickets as a part of membership in the organization. However, organizations like the Presidents Club and the Buckeye Club do offer the opportunity to apply for tickets. Information on the Buckeye Club is available on the Department of Athletics' Web site at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com. Information on the Presidents Club is available on the University Web site at www.osu.edu.
5. Will the Alumni Association ticket allotment decline every year?
The Alumni Association does not expect its allotment to decrease in the next three to five years. However, that allotment is subject to change based on external factors beyond Association control.
VIII. OSUAA SEASON TICKET RECIPIENTS
1. Why do some members of the Alumni Association receive season tickets?
In the late-70s and early 80s, the Association had a policy that allowed those with 15 consecutive years of ticket purchase the option to apply for season ticket packages. That offering was discontinued in the mid-1980s, but those Association members who already had season-ticket packages were allowed to keep them.
2. Does the fact that some members receive season tickets affect my chances of getting tickets?
No. The season ticket allotment is drawn from a separate pool than the 71,000 available to Association members.
3. Did Association members who get season tickets receive an application for a single game this year?
Yes. Those members were inadvertently included in the Association ticket mailing along with all other members. If those members submit a single-game application, it will be discarded and their season-ticket application will be honored.
4. Are these the only people who get season tickets?
No. These Association members who were "grandfathered" in are similar to Buckeye Club, President's Club, Varsity O, and some faculty/staff members who also have the opportunity to apply for season tickets.
5. Can someone receive both season tickets and a single game from the Association?
No. The Athletics Ticket Office only permits individuals to purchase tickets through one avenue. Thus, if someone is a member of the Buckeye Club and the Alumni Association, he/she is permitted to submit an application only through one of these methods. If someone submits two applications for two separate programs, one of those will be discarded.
