Q. Explain how the new Tigers Unlimited Fund (TUF) ticket priority program for football will work.
A. The new program will be similar to those in most sports and entertainment venues today with seats priority priced, which means the amount of the priority donation is based on the location of the seats. As you can see on the included chart, most seats in the lower level between the 30 yard lines will carry a $500 per season ticket priority donation. The next level of seats will carry a $350 per season ticket priority, and other season tickets will carry a $220 per season ticket priority.Q. How does this new TUF ticket priority system compare with the football ticket costs at other SEC schools?
A. Our priority donation requirements will still be less expensive to Auburn fans than to the fans of five of the other schools in the SEC.
Q. Is the TUF contribution tax deductible?
A.Yes. Section 170(1) of the Internal Revenue Code sets values for university ticket priority payments. 20% is allocated to the ticket priority and 80% is a charitable deduction. Visit www.tigersunlimited.com for more information.
Q. What are you doing with the money?
A. This will allow us to improve facilities for our student-athletes and fans, thus remaining competitive with our rivals in the SEC and nationally.
Auburn has won or tied for the SEC Western Division football title for four of the past five years. We expect to continue and enhance that high level of competition. To do so, we must continue to support our players and coaches with top-notch academic and training facilities.
We are committed to ensuring that all Auburn teams have the facilities and support to compete at the highest possible level.
In addition, debt service on the stadium renovation and other facilities is a significant part of our budget. This and other factors have impacted our budget.
Q. The current ticket priority program is based on the cumulative amount contributed and the consecutive number of years a ticket buyer had been in the program. Are these factors eliminated in the new program?
A. The new program will continue to reward loyalty to Auburn. No one will lose their seat location as long as they contribute the priority donation appropriate for those tickets.
The new priority program will continue to consider cumulative contributions to Auburn Athletics. To secure seats in a higher priority section, first seats must become available. (There must be some attrition to have an opportunity to get $500 or $350 seats). Second, your cumulative priority must be higher than anyone else who wants to secure seats in that priority section.
Q. How did you determine what the priority level would be on each section of seats?
A. We studied more than 25 other similar schools and came to the conclusion that a three-tier system would best fit our needs. Our objective was to develop a program that is as fair as possible to TUF members.
Q. If my seats have been in a premium section ($500, for instance) and I decide to drop down to a lower level ($300 or $200), how will my new seat locations be determined?
A. It will depend on what seats become available in the $220 and $350 level as well as where your cumulative priority puts you in line with other ticket buyers.
Q. Will my years of loyalty as a season-ticket buyer be considered in my seat locations, if I change from a higher-priced location to lower contribution level?
A. Yes. If you indicate a desire to move to a lower priority section (and seats become available in that section), your cumulative total of donations to TUF will determine your priority status for that section. That priority will be used for any seat assignments that become available.
Q. What if the premium ($400) section is over-subscribed? Will people in the best seats in the next ($300) section get bumped?
A. No. You will only be given the opportunity to contribute the $400 priority donation if three conditions are met:
- You notify us that you want $400 seats;
- Seats are available in the $400 level; and
- Your cumulative priority places you ahead of other fans desiring to move to the $400 level.
TUF members will receive a mailing this fall that will allow them to indicate their priority seat preferences for 2006. That renewal card will give each season ticket buyer the opportunity to check a box that will let us know they would like to move up to a higher level. We will accept no money until we know that seats are available.
Q. What if a premium section is under-subscribed? Will those seats go to contributors in a lower-priced section?
A. We are very confident that the premium seats will be filled.
Q. If my family has been buying season tickets through the Greater Auburn Fund and the Tiger Unlimited Fund for many years, shouldn't there be some equity or "points" that allows us to keep our seat locations?
A. Auburn University and Tigers Unlimited remain committed to the loyalty aspect of our priority system. Under the new system, no season ticket holder will lose their existing seats as long as they continue to participate in the donation program for their section.
Q. If I have been a TUF-10 or TUF-6 and decide to buy fewer season tickets, can I keep the same locations for my remaining seats?
A. Yes. Under the new system, the priority donation for each seat will be valued individually. So if you have been a TUF-10 and only want to purchase eight tickets, you will only be asked for the priority donation for eight tickets. If you want to buy fewer tickets than you did under your old priority, you can do so and keep the same seat location by giving the priority donation for the number of season tickets you wish to buy.
Q. Where does Auburn rank in operating budget for athletics among SEC members?
A. Auburn's operating budget last year was about $47 million, the eighth largest in the SEC. Even with the revised football ticket priority system, Auburn's budget would be comparable to those of Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Alabama. The schools with the highest athletic operating budgets, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, and Florida, each have budgets significantly over $60 million.
Q. Is there really a connection between budget levels and success across the entire athletic program?
A.Winning championships and educating students are goals that come with a cost. It is no coincidence that the four schools with whom we compete most directly for SEC championships - Florida, Tennessee, LSU and Georgia - are the SEC members with the highest athletic operating budgets.
