Auburn Univ. on Thursday said that season-ticket sales for the upcoming football season are down 4.7% "when compared to sales at this time last year," according to Brandon Marcello of the BIRMINGHAM NEWS. AD Jay Jacobs said AU has lost "about $600,000" of potential sales as a result, but scholarship seating levels are at an "all-time high" for the season. Slow sales with "lower-end tickets and a wait-and-see approach for some fans after a 3-9 season (the school's worst in 60 years) are to blame." Jacobs: "Why would you want to pay a (Tigers Unlimited Fund donation) and the price of the ticket if you know you can walk out on the street and get them? ... We certainly expect, if we're successful on the field Saturday, we'll probably end up selling out." Marcello notes the last sellout at Jordan-Hare Stadium was the '11 Iron Bowl against Alabama, and AU is looking to "draw more fans by improving the game-day experience, including improved WiFi access, earlier access to stadium gates and more food options at concession stands inside the stadium." AU has "not increased ticket prices" in the last two years and has "added 2,000 additional tailgating parking spots" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 8/30).
