2015 Season Ticket Renewal Letter to Eagle Nation from Athletic Director Tom Kleinlein
1/7/2015 12:28:00 PM | Football, Athletic Foundation
STATESBORO, Ga. - Renewals for Georgia Southern football season tickets are in the mail and donors will need to renew by April 14th to keep their seats for the 2015 season.
The 2015 schedule will feature six home games, one more than the 2014 season. Georgia Southern is pleased to announce that we did NOT increase any season ticket prices for this coming year even though we have six home games this year versus the five we had last year. However, there are some changes to the minimum donation required for certain season ticket sections and parking passes.
The season ticket renewal invoice included in the packets state the amount owed if a season ticket holder/donor renewed at the same level as this past year. Season ticket holders/donors have the option to change/modify the number of season tickets and parking passes to fit their budgets.
Below is a letter from Athletic Director Tom Kleinlein explaining the changes for the 2015 season plus a FAQ. For questions or more information please contact the Athletic Foundation at 912-478-5520.
Letter to Eagle Nation from Athletic Director Tom Kleinlein:
Dear Eagle Nation,
Thank you for the amazing support you have provided this year to our Georgia Southern Football team. Your support, whether through the purchase of season tickets, by making a gift to our program or following our team on the road, you helped get us to where we are today, your 2014 SUN BELT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!
We are constantly striving to do what we can to reward your loyalty and passion for the Eagles. Our message is simple…we want to be transparent and equal across the board to ensure that our donors and season ticket holders are being treated fairly. Therefore, with approval from our GSU Athletic Foundation Board, we have made improvements in several different areas to benefit you, our donors and season ticket holders.
We are pleased to say that we did NOT increase any season ticket prices for this coming year even though we have six home games this year versus the five we had last year. Most of the required annual donations for season tickets remain the same as well. The only annual donation requirement increase is in our Club Level sections of 105, 106, 108 and 109 from $600 to $1,200. Sections 105, 106, 108, and 109 are considered premium seating and with this change, all premium seating at Paulson Stadium now has a $1,200 minimum donation requirement.
Currently our billing cycle for annual fund benefits is a year behind. The donations that you make for your season tickets go towards our annual fund which is used to pay our student-athlete scholarship costs. We are currently using 2014 annual funds to pay for 2014's scholarships instead of using 2014 annual funds to pay for 2015's scholarships. The scholarships are paid by the Athletic Department the first day of the fiscal year which is July 1st. Therefore, we need all annual funds paid in FULL by June 30th of each fiscal year. For this year only, donors will have six months, instead of the customary 12 months, to pay for the 2015 annual fund donation. Starting July 1, 2015 donors who wish to be on a 12 month payment plan can do so for their 2016 annual fund donation. Now with the improvement in the billing cycle, all donors and season ticket holders will receive their benefits after they have already paid in full. In the past some donors received their benefits with a promise of paying off their annual fund pledge but failed to do so. So to be equitable across the board, no benefits will be mailed out unless your annual fund pledge is paid in full by June 30. This improvement will also give the GSU Athletic Foundation and ticket office plenty of time to address any problems with your benefits or tickets well before the opening kickoff.
We believe our tailgating experience to be one of the best not only in the Sun Belt Conference, but in all of college football. We want to continue to have this experience as we know that it is important to you as loyal fans and donors. Our pre-paid parking allows you to enjoy a hassle-free, guaranteed space on gameday so that no matter when you arrive at Paulson Stadium you always know where you are parking. For us to keep this great tailgating experience we are making some improvements to the system so that ALL of our loyal fans and donors are being treated fairly. From this point forward, everyone who is parking in a certain lot will be paying the minimum donation required for that space. In the past this has not been the case. We want all of our fans and donors to know that the person beside them is paying the same minimum donation requirement as they are. In addition, as a donor increases their annual fund donation level, the more parking passes they will have the opportunity to purchase. All parking passes will require the minimum donation based on the lot of the donor's choice plus a $110 parking fee. For example, a donor at the Bronze Eagle donates $1,200. They will have the opportunity to purchase one parking pass in any lot for $110 (parking fee). If a donor wishes to purchase additional parking passes, they will pay the required minimum donation for the lot of their choice plus a $110 parking fee. This donation is in addition to the donation a donor has already made for their annual fund pledge. So if the donor at the Bronze Eagle level wants two parking passes in the Blue Lot they will get one pass for $110 (already paid their initial donation of $1,200), plus they will pay another $1,200 for the minimum donation required for the Blue Lot and the $110 parking fee, making their total $1,420. Our parking fee has a slight increase of $10 because of our increased costs associated in printing and mailing season tickets and parking passes. Again, our goal is to be transparent and fair in everything we do as a department.
The Bishop Club pregame social has been improved as we will now open doors TWO hours before kickoff (previously one and half hours prior) with the pregame social ending ONE hour prior to kickoff. This will allow our staff more time to transition from the pregame social to the Bishop Club season ticket holders, allowing the season ticket holders to be in the Bishop Club thirty minutes prior to kickoff. In addition, to have access to the Bishop Club, you must be a season ticket holder along with the required minimum donation of $1,200. We will give each account one pass to the Bishop Club per season ticket purchased.
There are a number of improvements to the current benefits chart. We have added several different benefits that will give you, our donors, more bang for your buck. The added benefits include the opportunity to purchase certain parking passes, courtside seats at basketball, special recognition in the game program and on the stadium video board, etc. We also think we have strengthened the benefits between levels to provide a reason for you to want to go from one benefits level to the next.
There is an immediate need for an improved priority point system. Priority points provide an equitable method of allocating Athletic Foundation benefits that exist in limited quantities. The benefits of supporting athletics through the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation will be equitably distributed among donors based on: season tickets (years of purchase and number of tickets purchased), giving (cumulative lifetime giving and annual giving), lifetime points (GSU alum, former GSU student-athlete, planned gift) and service points (time served on the athletic foundation board and other athletic department boards, etc). The priority point system's purpose is to offer fair access to high-demand/low-supply benefits to our faithful Eagle supporters. The current priority point system only takes into account annual fund contributions and annual fund years. We need a priority points system that is a lot more encompassing and one that rewards our donors for longevity, loyalty and service. The priority point system is very valuable as it will be used to determine the priority list for football bowl tickets, away football game tickets, Sun Belt Conference tournament tickets, NCAA tournament tickets and special athletic events.
Again, we are constantly striving to do what we can to reward your loyalty and passion for the Eagles. We want to be transparent and equal across the board to ensure that our donors and season ticket holders are being treated EQUITABLY. We believe we have accomplished this by the improvements we have made. Thanks for the loyalty and support from you it is integral to our success. We look forward to seeing you at Paulson Stadium this coming fall as we defend our Sun Belt Conference championship and attempt to secure the program's first ever bowl appearance. If you have any questions about your ticket, parking and donation renewal please call the GSU Athletic Foundation at 912-478-5520.
Hail Southern!
Tom Kleinlein
Director of Athletics
Frequently Asked Questions:
I was grandfathered in last year with my 80 points. Why did my donation requirement increase?
Those who were grandfathered in during the 2014 football season were only grandfathered in for that particular year. For the 2015 football season, all donors/fans must meet/exceed the minimum donation requirement in order to receive season tickets and/or parking in their desired location.
Last year I didn't have to pay a minimum donation requirement in order to purchase more than one parking spot. Why do I have to pay a minimum donation this season?
As part of our changes for the 2015 season, there is a minimum donation requirement plus a parking fee for each parking spot. The opportunity to purchase multiple parking spots will depend on the donor's donation level.
Why do I have to be at a certain donation level to get more than one parking spot this year?
We consider parking privileges to be a premium benefit to our donors. We are rewarding our annual donors at the higher levels of giving the opportunity to purchase additional parking spots in our tailgating lots for the 2015 football season.
Why are the priority points changing?
The priority point system's purpose is to offer fair access to high-demand/low-supply benefits for our faithful Eagle supporters. The current priority point system only takes into consideration annual fund contributions and annual fund years of giving. We need a priority points system that is more encompassing and one that rewards our donors for longevity, loyalty and service. The priority point system is very valuable as it will be used to determine the priority list for football bowl tickets, away football game tickets, Sun Belt Conference tournament tickets, NCAA tournament tickets, and special athletic events. You can see the new priority points system calculation and breakdown in your season ticket renewal packet.
Why is there a prorated donation for season tickets?
Your initial donation allows you the opportunity to purchase up to four season tickets. The prorated donation requirement is to make seat purchases a fair/equitable process for all of our donors/fans. If you have, or would like to purchase more than four season tickets, you will need to pay an additional prorated donation per season ticket. For example, if you purchase five season tickets in the Eagle Club, the minimum donation requirement is $1,200 and will cover up to four tickets. For the fifth season ticket, you will need to pay an additional $300. This additional $300 is the prorated donation amount for each additional season ticket purchased in the Eagle Club. Each prorated donation amount is one-fourth of the minimum donation requirement for each section (minimum donation requirement divided by 4).
Will my donation cover both tickets and parking?
Yes, your donation is will cover both season tickets and parking. Your minimum donation requirement is determined by location of your season tickets and parking and will reflect the great donation requirement. For example, if you have a parking spot in the Blue Lot ($1,200 Level) and seats in Section D ($600 Level) your required donation would be $1,200.
Last year, if we renewed season tickets early we were guaranteed a three year price lock. Why is my total increasing?
The three year price lock is still in effect for your season ticket price, for the 2015 season. There was no increase in season ticket prices even though there is an additional home game this coming season. There are a few increases in donation levels, which may be the reason why you are seeing an increase in your total bill for 2015.
Why do all of the Club Level seats now require a $1,200 donation?
The only annual donation requirement increase is in our Club Level sections of 105, 106, 108 and 109 from $600 to $1,200. Sections 105, 106, 108, and 109 are considered premium seating and with this change, all premium seating at Paulson Stadium now has a $1,200 minimum donation requirement.
Why did GATA Club and Young Alumni move sections?
We needed to expand our midlevel seating capacity and the only way we could accomplish this was to move the GATA Club and Young Alumni over one section from MM to NN.
Why did the Family Plan Grass Hill move locations?
The Family Plan Grass Hill is moving to make it easier for families to take advantage of the Field of Dreams and the Eagle Fun Zone. Both of these areas are located at or near the Ted Smith Family Football Center of Paulson Stadium.
Why can I no longer pay my donation over a 12 month period?
Currently our billing cycle for annual fund benefits is a year behind. The donations that you make for your season tickets go towards our annual fund which is used to pay our student-athlete scholarship costs. We are currently using 2014 annual funds to pay for 2014's scholarships instead of using 2014 annual funds to pay for 2015's scholarships. The scholarships are paid by the Athletic Department the first day of the fiscal year which is July 1st. Therefore, we need all annual funds paid in FULL by June 30th of each fiscal year. For this year only, donors will have six months, instead of the customary 12 months, to pay for the 2015 annual fund donation. Starting July 1, 2015 donors who wish to be on a 12 month payment plan can do so for their 2016 annual fund donation. Now with the improvement in the billing cycle, all donors and season ticket holders will receive their benefits after they have already paid in full. In the past some donors received their benefits with a promise of paying off their annual fund pledge but failed to do so. So to be equitable across the board, no benefits will be mailed out unless your annual fund pledge is paid in full by June 30. This improvement will also give the GSU Athletic Foundation and ticket office plenty of time to address any problems with your benefits or tickets well before the opening kickoff.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channelsfacebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, call 1-800-GSU-WINS or visit GSEagles.com.
The 2015 schedule will feature six home games, one more than the 2014 season. Georgia Southern is pleased to announce that we did NOT increase any season ticket prices for this coming year even though we have six home games this year versus the five we had last year. However, there are some changes to the minimum donation required for certain season ticket sections and parking passes.
The season ticket renewal invoice included in the packets state the amount owed if a season ticket holder/donor renewed at the same level as this past year. Season ticket holders/donors have the option to change/modify the number of season tickets and parking passes to fit their budgets.
Below is a letter from Athletic Director Tom Kleinlein explaining the changes for the 2015 season plus a FAQ. For questions or more information please contact the Athletic Foundation at 912-478-5520.
Letter to Eagle Nation from Athletic Director Tom Kleinlein:
Dear Eagle Nation,
Thank you for the amazing support you have provided this year to our Georgia Southern Football team. Your support, whether through the purchase of season tickets, by making a gift to our program or following our team on the road, you helped get us to where we are today, your 2014 SUN BELT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!
We are constantly striving to do what we can to reward your loyalty and passion for the Eagles. Our message is simple…we want to be transparent and equal across the board to ensure that our donors and season ticket holders are being treated fairly. Therefore, with approval from our GSU Athletic Foundation Board, we have made improvements in several different areas to benefit you, our donors and season ticket holders.
We are pleased to say that we did NOT increase any season ticket prices for this coming year even though we have six home games this year versus the five we had last year. Most of the required annual donations for season tickets remain the same as well. The only annual donation requirement increase is in our Club Level sections of 105, 106, 108 and 109 from $600 to $1,200. Sections 105, 106, 108, and 109 are considered premium seating and with this change, all premium seating at Paulson Stadium now has a $1,200 minimum donation requirement.
Currently our billing cycle for annual fund benefits is a year behind. The donations that you make for your season tickets go towards our annual fund which is used to pay our student-athlete scholarship costs. We are currently using 2014 annual funds to pay for 2014's scholarships instead of using 2014 annual funds to pay for 2015's scholarships. The scholarships are paid by the Athletic Department the first day of the fiscal year which is July 1st. Therefore, we need all annual funds paid in FULL by June 30th of each fiscal year. For this year only, donors will have six months, instead of the customary 12 months, to pay for the 2015 annual fund donation. Starting July 1, 2015 donors who wish to be on a 12 month payment plan can do so for their 2016 annual fund donation. Now with the improvement in the billing cycle, all donors and season ticket holders will receive their benefits after they have already paid in full. In the past some donors received their benefits with a promise of paying off their annual fund pledge but failed to do so. So to be equitable across the board, no benefits will be mailed out unless your annual fund pledge is paid in full by June 30. This improvement will also give the GSU Athletic Foundation and ticket office plenty of time to address any problems with your benefits or tickets well before the opening kickoff.
We believe our tailgating experience to be one of the best not only in the Sun Belt Conference, but in all of college football. We want to continue to have this experience as we know that it is important to you as loyal fans and donors. Our pre-paid parking allows you to enjoy a hassle-free, guaranteed space on gameday so that no matter when you arrive at Paulson Stadium you always know where you are parking. For us to keep this great tailgating experience we are making some improvements to the system so that ALL of our loyal fans and donors are being treated fairly. From this point forward, everyone who is parking in a certain lot will be paying the minimum donation required for that space. In the past this has not been the case. We want all of our fans and donors to know that the person beside them is paying the same minimum donation requirement as they are. In addition, as a donor increases their annual fund donation level, the more parking passes they will have the opportunity to purchase. All parking passes will require the minimum donation based on the lot of the donor's choice plus a $110 parking fee. For example, a donor at the Bronze Eagle donates $1,200. They will have the opportunity to purchase one parking pass in any lot for $110 (parking fee). If a donor wishes to purchase additional parking passes, they will pay the required minimum donation for the lot of their choice plus a $110 parking fee. This donation is in addition to the donation a donor has already made for their annual fund pledge. So if the donor at the Bronze Eagle level wants two parking passes in the Blue Lot they will get one pass for $110 (already paid their initial donation of $1,200), plus they will pay another $1,200 for the minimum donation required for the Blue Lot and the $110 parking fee, making their total $1,420. Our parking fee has a slight increase of $10 because of our increased costs associated in printing and mailing season tickets and parking passes. Again, our goal is to be transparent and fair in everything we do as a department.
The Bishop Club pregame social has been improved as we will now open doors TWO hours before kickoff (previously one and half hours prior) with the pregame social ending ONE hour prior to kickoff. This will allow our staff more time to transition from the pregame social to the Bishop Club season ticket holders, allowing the season ticket holders to be in the Bishop Club thirty minutes prior to kickoff. In addition, to have access to the Bishop Club, you must be a season ticket holder along with the required minimum donation of $1,200. We will give each account one pass to the Bishop Club per season ticket purchased.
There are a number of improvements to the current benefits chart. We have added several different benefits that will give you, our donors, more bang for your buck. The added benefits include the opportunity to purchase certain parking passes, courtside seats at basketball, special recognition in the game program and on the stadium video board, etc. We also think we have strengthened the benefits between levels to provide a reason for you to want to go from one benefits level to the next.
There is an immediate need for an improved priority point system. Priority points provide an equitable method of allocating Athletic Foundation benefits that exist in limited quantities. The benefits of supporting athletics through the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation will be equitably distributed among donors based on: season tickets (years of purchase and number of tickets purchased), giving (cumulative lifetime giving and annual giving), lifetime points (GSU alum, former GSU student-athlete, planned gift) and service points (time served on the athletic foundation board and other athletic department boards, etc). The priority point system's purpose is to offer fair access to high-demand/low-supply benefits to our faithful Eagle supporters. The current priority point system only takes into account annual fund contributions and annual fund years. We need a priority points system that is a lot more encompassing and one that rewards our donors for longevity, loyalty and service. The priority point system is very valuable as it will be used to determine the priority list for football bowl tickets, away football game tickets, Sun Belt Conference tournament tickets, NCAA tournament tickets and special athletic events.
Again, we are constantly striving to do what we can to reward your loyalty and passion for the Eagles. We want to be transparent and equal across the board to ensure that our donors and season ticket holders are being treated EQUITABLY. We believe we have accomplished this by the improvements we have made. Thanks for the loyalty and support from you it is integral to our success. We look forward to seeing you at Paulson Stadium this coming fall as we defend our Sun Belt Conference championship and attempt to secure the program's first ever bowl appearance. If you have any questions about your ticket, parking and donation renewal please call the GSU Athletic Foundation at 912-478-5520.
Hail Southern!
Tom Kleinlein
Director of Athletics
Frequently Asked Questions:
I was grandfathered in last year with my 80 points. Why did my donation requirement increase?
Those who were grandfathered in during the 2014 football season were only grandfathered in for that particular year. For the 2015 football season, all donors/fans must meet/exceed the minimum donation requirement in order to receive season tickets and/or parking in their desired location.
Last year I didn't have to pay a minimum donation requirement in order to purchase more than one parking spot. Why do I have to pay a minimum donation this season?
As part of our changes for the 2015 season, there is a minimum donation requirement plus a parking fee for each parking spot. The opportunity to purchase multiple parking spots will depend on the donor's donation level.
Why do I have to be at a certain donation level to get more than one parking spot this year?
We consider parking privileges to be a premium benefit to our donors. We are rewarding our annual donors at the higher levels of giving the opportunity to purchase additional parking spots in our tailgating lots for the 2015 football season.
Why are the priority points changing?
The priority point system's purpose is to offer fair access to high-demand/low-supply benefits for our faithful Eagle supporters. The current priority point system only takes into consideration annual fund contributions and annual fund years of giving. We need a priority points system that is more encompassing and one that rewards our donors for longevity, loyalty and service. The priority point system is very valuable as it will be used to determine the priority list for football bowl tickets, away football game tickets, Sun Belt Conference tournament tickets, NCAA tournament tickets, and special athletic events. You can see the new priority points system calculation and breakdown in your season ticket renewal packet.
Why is there a prorated donation for season tickets?
Your initial donation allows you the opportunity to purchase up to four season tickets. The prorated donation requirement is to make seat purchases a fair/equitable process for all of our donors/fans. If you have, or would like to purchase more than four season tickets, you will need to pay an additional prorated donation per season ticket. For example, if you purchase five season tickets in the Eagle Club, the minimum donation requirement is $1,200 and will cover up to four tickets. For the fifth season ticket, you will need to pay an additional $300. This additional $300 is the prorated donation amount for each additional season ticket purchased in the Eagle Club. Each prorated donation amount is one-fourth of the minimum donation requirement for each section (minimum donation requirement divided by 4).
Will my donation cover both tickets and parking?
Yes, your donation is will cover both season tickets and parking. Your minimum donation requirement is determined by location of your season tickets and parking and will reflect the great donation requirement. For example, if you have a parking spot in the Blue Lot ($1,200 Level) and seats in Section D ($600 Level) your required donation would be $1,200.
Last year, if we renewed season tickets early we were guaranteed a three year price lock. Why is my total increasing?
The three year price lock is still in effect for your season ticket price, for the 2015 season. There was no increase in season ticket prices even though there is an additional home game this coming season. There are a few increases in donation levels, which may be the reason why you are seeing an increase in your total bill for 2015.
Why do all of the Club Level seats now require a $1,200 donation?
The only annual donation requirement increase is in our Club Level sections of 105, 106, 108 and 109 from $600 to $1,200. Sections 105, 106, 108, and 109 are considered premium seating and with this change, all premium seating at Paulson Stadium now has a $1,200 minimum donation requirement.
Why did GATA Club and Young Alumni move sections?
We needed to expand our midlevel seating capacity and the only way we could accomplish this was to move the GATA Club and Young Alumni over one section from MM to NN.
Why did the Family Plan Grass Hill move locations?
The Family Plan Grass Hill is moving to make it easier for families to take advantage of the Field of Dreams and the Eagle Fun Zone. Both of these areas are located at or near the Ted Smith Family Football Center of Paulson Stadium.
Why can I no longer pay my donation over a 12 month period?
Currently our billing cycle for annual fund benefits is a year behind. The donations that you make for your season tickets go towards our annual fund which is used to pay our student-athlete scholarship costs. We are currently using 2014 annual funds to pay for 2014's scholarships instead of using 2014 annual funds to pay for 2015's scholarships. The scholarships are paid by the Athletic Department the first day of the fiscal year which is July 1st. Therefore, we need all annual funds paid in FULL by June 30th of each fiscal year. For this year only, donors will have six months, instead of the customary 12 months, to pay for the 2015 annual fund donation. Starting July 1, 2015 donors who wish to be on a 12 month payment plan can do so for their 2016 annual fund donation. Now with the improvement in the billing cycle, all donors and season ticket holders will receive their benefits after they have already paid in full. In the past some donors received their benefits with a promise of paying off their annual fund pledge but failed to do so. So to be equitable across the board, no benefits will be mailed out unless your annual fund pledge is paid in full by June 30. This improvement will also give the GSU Athletic Foundation and ticket office plenty of time to address any problems with your benefits or tickets well before the opening kickoff.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channelsfacebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, call 1-800-GSU-WINS or visit GSEagles.com.
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