IU ticket prices rise

Much to the chagrin of senior Hunter Marks, he will have to pay more to get season tickets for the IU men’s basketball team this year.\nThe Los Angeles native has become a Hoosier basketball fan during his first three years in Bloomington, so he will pay the extra $53 for the ticket package. Marks expressed concern when told the price would be $278, up from the $225 price tag last year.\n“I am not happy that the prices went up again,” he said. “But I love IU basketball, so I guess I will have to pay more.”\nTickets are on sale now at the IU ticket office on the north side of Assembly Hall. Currently, students will get 16 regular season games and two exhibition games, four more regular season games than were on last year’s package. However, if demand is over the 7,000 allotted seats, students will get fewer games. The money for the missed games would be refunded. Groups of up to eight students can sit together by turning in a form to the ticket office.\nWhile there is a $53 dollar increase in the cost of season tickets, it is not as large as the $99 dollar increase last year. The cost per game remains relatively the same as last year. \nAnd students are not the only constituency of IU fans who are helping the athletics department’s budget. General admission tickets will also increase in price, and starting this season, faculty will get seats from a priority points system.\nIU Student Association President W.T. Wright said he expected tickets would cost more this season.\n“The increase is not a surprise to me, but I hope students will still find (buying tickets) feasible,” he said.\nWith the athletic department undertaking two big construction projects along with the normal operating expenses, Wright said the decision was likely made for the bottom line.\n“I realize it is a financial issue and that money does not grow on trees,” Wright said.\nThe fact that the money will go toward the athletic department does not take the sting away from Marks.\n“I wish it was so, but they didn’t ask me how to come up with a solution,” Marks said.\nOther students share Marks’ feelings, but are too focused on the high expectations for the team this season. Senior Clayton Glover said having a top-ranked team makes him willing to pay more money this season for tickets.\n“The tickets are expensive, but I am a huge IU basketball fan,” Glover said. “We have a Top 10 team, so the games should be even more fun this year.”\nEach ticket group will get to experience the different seating options at Assembly Hall, sitting behind the basket, in the main concourse and in the balcony. There has long been desire for a student section around the basket, something Wright and his IUSA administration would like to accomplish.\n“I’ve met with the Athletic Council and I am trying to set up a meeting with (IU Athletics Director) Rick Greenspan to see what is possible this year,” Wright said.