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The Syracuse POST-STANDARD's Donnie Webb reported that Syracuse Univ. (SU) recently launched "an initiative called 'Fans First,' which plans to reward its base of season-ticket holders with new perks while addressing longstanding complaints about ticket prices, curt ushers and fans being told to sit down by others." SU marketing exec Michael Veley, on the new program: "This is an acknowledgement on behalf of the athletic department to say, there is a problem, we want to correct that problem and in order to correct it, we need your input." The program is in response to declining attendance, as "football crowds have declined in nine out of 12 years, [and] basketball in 10 out of 12." In '02, SU football attendance was 41,139, "its lowest average since 1986 and its third straight year of decline." Meanwhile SU averaged 17,029 for men's basketball, the lowest average since '80-81. SU AD Jake Crouthamel said that "Fans First" has "five objectives: Better convey the university's appreciation to fans, Increase attendance at football and men's basketball games, Improve the game atmosphere, Enhance customer service and Develop a systematic program to reach out to the community to receive feedback." SU has raised season-ticket prices for football by $4, but is also "offering a discounted season ticket of $99 for seats in the upper rows of the east end zone." SU is also creating the "O-Zone," a section in the lower east end zone where fans can "stand and cheer without being told to sit down." Additionally, Crouthamel said that SU "wants to take better care of its season-ticket holders and will offer more perks such as savings on single-game tickets, a VIP card for discounts at 12 area businesses, and an appreciation day where they can purchase half-priced tickets to the North Carolina or Rutgers games for $13" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 4/24).
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