I'm writing this letter to express my sincere disappointment in the distribution of this year's men's basketball season tickets. Coach Seth Greenberg has always said that he is trying to build a program here and I believe that he has made outstanding progress toward that end, finally building Virginia Tech into a winning basketball program. Not only do I expect this season to be a successful one, I expect to finish in the top tier of the ACC. I expect the team to compete with the Dukes and North Carolinas of college basketball. I admire the job Greenberg has done here at Virginia Tech.
He has repeatedly touted the importance of fans to the success of the program and I take pride in being one of those fans. For the past two years I have purchased season tickets and have only missed a few games, one being the heartbreaking loss to Miami because I could not get out of bed. I braved the ice storm to watch us defeat Maryland in OT.
I watched on TV in disbelief as Duke made a miracle half-court shot to win the game in Cameron Indoor. I've been there with the team through the highs and lows. When we were selected for the NIT tournament last season I bought tickets the instant they went on sale, fearing that I would not be able to get one of the tickets Greenberg and the coaching staff generously donated, then waited in line from the time we were allowed to sit outside of Cassell for the games in order to get the best seats. I had already planned out my way back to Blacksburg to attend the rivalry game between UVa and Tech in the middle of winter break.
Today I was deeply disappointed when I spoke to friends, some of whom have never even been to a basketball game or have never purchased tickets in the past, and learned they had received season tickets this year. I personally feel that some extra weight should be apportioned to those students who supported the program in the past, when the team was not as successful as Greenberg hoped for and demanded.
It is unfair that students who have never supported the basketball program in the past are assigned tickets ahead of those whose loyalty extends beyond wins and losses. Student tickets should have first gone to those who purchased tickets in the past. After that, a lottery should have been opened for first-time ticket buyers with tickets distributed according to a descending hierarchical order from seniors to freshman. This process could continue year after year.
Each year, as students graduate, tickets are opened for freshmen and those who chose to not purchase tickets in the past. I understand that everyone wants to be a part of the success of the team, but this is the last chance for seniors to attend games, while freshmen still have three more years.
I am a senior this year, and will graduate in the spring. This is my last chance to attend Tech basketball games, but I will miss them for the first time in three years because of a misguided season ticket policy that operates without consideration to the attribute that must form the cornerstone of any fair and sensible ticketing policy: loyalty.
I am not angry, but I am disappointed. I was really looking forward to watching the talented group of players on this year's roster. I know a combination of their talent and Greenberg's adept coaching is a recipe for success and I would have loved to have been a part of that success.
I am profoundly disappointed in the decision to allow a random lottery to determine who gets to attend basketball games this season. I hope you consider the dangerous implications this holds for our fanbase. Alienating the true fans who unfalteringly attend games regardless of how good Tech is, how insignificant the game, how lackluster the opponent threatens to reward fair-weather fans instead.
Those who stuck around to the end to make Cassell a true home court advantage, those who helped "Bring Lane Stadium inside Cassell Coliseum" have the greatest stake in the maintenance of that atmosphere and are best able to provide it. For the sake of future generations of Hokie Basketball fans, I implore you to consider changing your methods for distributing season basketball tickets.
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I'm not going to lie - I'm getting really tired of the petulance displayed by a good portion of the student body every time season ticket sales don't work out the way they want them to. I mean, get over yourself - the undergraduate student population alone is almost 20 times larger than the student season ticket allotment. No matter how the ticket office slices it, some people who 'ought to be entitled' to tickets ahead of other people simply aren't going to get them. The great thing about the current system is that it is completely random - which is the only means of providing an equitable outcome for all students. Life ain't fair - and ticket sales are part of life. Besides, you can drink more beer watching the games in Hokie House. . ..
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Okay, the multiple whining letters/comments are a little overboard, but it is ridiculous. No it shouldn't be random anymore. Our program has become very popular and will only become more so. It's time to institute a policy where students get tickets based on past attendance. NC State does this and I am sure many others do. It would be fair and by the time you're senior you'd definitely be able to say you've been to a hand full of games.
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