slu72 fan

It doesn't sound like much, but four tickets at $450 each results in a $500 tax savings per year. That's enough to matter to me. An other thing to consider is that a number of the blocks significantly exceed 8 seats. Those are the people that have really hosed the system and will be caught. I'm betting if people want seats in the Gold area and have a decent priority number, they'll be OK. The Red seats are going to be a different matter. There's not many of them and, based on the comments here, are going to be in high demand.

The student section is only 1,000. The AD is holding out 500 seats for their use; visiting team allocations, sponsors, recruits, etc.

They believe that the building will be sold out, and I suspect they are probably right. There's only 9,000 seats to sell.

Responding to your post based on what Mark told me, not what I think: 1. They believe their plan will raise more money than having people dovetail onto others, as currently happens. 2. Filling the building is not going to be an issue, if the team performs. That's why we have a new coach. 3.Their plan will raise more money for the AD's general use. They have not indicated that they will accept a check from anyone other than the account holder. So, you won't have a check for IRS purposes. The AD believes that IRS regs are in play here, which is why they've determined to handle this the way they have. Bottom line, they want everyone to set up their own account. David's approach works, but if the account holder leaves, dies, etc. the people giving him "net" checks will be out in the cold.

I agree with your thoughts. They are trying to do this the fairest way, but some won't think so. I've discussed this numerous times with Mark and have concluded no matter what they do some will be unhappy.

I think you're doing the smart thing by calling Mark. I did earlier this morning and posted the info he provided me. I'm not so sure people will pony up donations to their friends for payment to the AD. They will not receive any tax benefit for that.

I just spoke with Mark Wright of the Athletic Department regarding the ticket plan. He indicated that the AD has reviewed IRS regulations and has tried to devise a plan that is equitable, yet assists in building the base of support for the AD. Mark is aware that I am posting this to the message board to assist in helping clear up the issue discussed at length in a previous thread regarding the annual contribution for a premium seat location. Based on this discussion, the current position of the AD is that they will issue a donation letter only to the holder of the account that was used to purchase the seats requiring a donation. Furthermore, the letter will only be for the amount of the check from the account holder. For example, if I purchase tickets for my brother through my account, because I'm higher on the priority than him, if I provide the donation to the AD, the letter will come to me for the full amount. If he sends a check for his portion of the donation, he will not receive a letter for IRS purposes, and the AD has not determined if they will accept the check from him. Again, the purpose is to increase the support base, not have others take advantage of a friend's position. Mark was extremely forthright and willing to discuss this matter. If you doubt the post, feel free to call Mark. I'm sure he'd be happy to discuss this with you. He indicated that public meetings were going to be offered later this year for discussion of the specifics of the plan. A sample of a suite has been set up at Busch and he thought the meetings might occur there.

I'm not sure that what happened with the bricks correlates to the annual donation. I discussed this with Mark Wright several months ago. I have six tickets and my brother typically uses 2 or 3 for each game. I asked Mark if my brother made the contribution for the 2 or 3 he uses would that work and he indicated that I would have to make the donation, since it was in my name. Maybe, they've changed over the last few months, but I haven't heard anything different.

As I understand the plan, if the tickets are in your father's name, he can continue to obtain four. In fact, he may obtain as many eight seats. However, if you sit in an area which requires an annual donation, he will have to make it. If you give him the money to make it that works too, but I disagree with Unca, the school has not indicated that they are willing to identify anyone other than the person whose place was used for seat selection to obtain a tax deduction for a contribution to the Billiken Club. Actually, the Athletic Department is trying to be fair and reward the contributors to the program and not let others obtain premium seats on the coat tails of others. They learned from the Debbie Yow debacle. If you'd like the definitive answer contact Mark Wright at the AD. This is basically the plan he devised.

Don't mean to diagree with you, but you're not correct. I didn't say that RM's hiring caused the type of ticket plan which was introducted this week. All I said was that the amounts changed. If you check previous posts of mine, you will find that for months I indicated this type of plan was forthcoming. The original plan, which I saw twice prior to BS's firing, and had two additional private meetings with the athletic department to discuss it, had donations per seat less than the plan which was distributed this week. If you had the information, you would see, the change, assuming each seat with a required donation is taken, exceeds the reported cost increase of the new head coach's salary. I don't have a problem with this, the fans and the university wanted a change, the fans usually pay for it. All I was stating was that the University actually is paying very little additional, the fans are. That's the way it is in sports. You are absolutely correct about the cost of the season ticket, it did not change from that disclosed last winter and this spring. I have little problem with the new plan, other than some long time supporters will find it difficult to maintain their seat location. I agree that the sight lines throughout the Arena will be much improved. If you believe the end justifies the means, that's OK. As an alum, I think the good father needlessly embarrassed my university and that disappoints me. I visit the city regularly, my company is among the largest supporters of the athletic department, and he has done a great job improving the school. I don't mean to tick you off by posting what I know to be the truth. If you want to send me a pm, I can share with you the original donation levels that were disclosed to me and others. I think the new Arena is going to be fantastic, the coach has made an immediate impact, and the team is shaping up to be outstanding in the coming years.

He's not spending the money. The new ticket plan was revised to accomodate the added costs of Majerus and his staff. The increases to the plan since RM's hiring, raise and additional amount exceeding his salary, in excess of Brad's. It's the ticketholders that are paying for the changes. Not SLU and not the good father. That being said, people wanted a change, so they shouldn't complain about the new ticket policy.

As a member of the Board of the Billiken Club, we were told in March that the annual giving for the seats will be considered as a donation to the Billiken Club. Part of the money is being taken for debt repayment and part is being credited to the Club for their commitment to the Athletic Department. I have not received my package yet, but based on what's reported, the dollar amounts at each level have been raised since the hiring of RM. I guess part of the money is going to be used to offset the additional costs incurred by his hiring. The season ticket price has not changed from what was previously shown to the Board.

He was a cocky, jerk then. Good ballplayer, though.

We played ball together in the old semi-pro league, when we were in college. He's about my age, 57, maybe 56.

Nope

The donation must be given annually to receive your seat location for the 5 year period.

It was supposed to come out the week RM was hired. My guess is they didn't want to diminish the response to the hiring, and they are upping the amounts for certain seat locations.

Unless something other than the price has changed (which I suspect it has from the last discussed levels), they are not PSL's, but annual required giving levels. Every 5 years the arena will be reseated based on the current point levels.

Nice language Unca, I'm going to convert you yet!!

The results around campus speak for themself. However, the good father believes "the end justifies the means". Personally, that's not the way I run my company, nor is it the way a priest should run his.

To answer your question, no the head coach, Derek Thomas, is not leaving. According to Cusamano, the kid was told by his high school coach to not commit to WIU, because it was his first visit. The kid agreed, but upon his leaving did commit to Thomas. Since signing last November, he's reconsidered and has asked to be released. Rammer provided little insight, since Thomas is his friend and he didn't want to comment.

Tom Timmerman's site and the official Billiken website have just announced that RM has inked his first recruit.

You're probably correct, but that's not the way it worked for my daughter 6 years ago.

Yep, no contact by any coaches. Some think that they may respond to telephone calls and visits on campus, but I'm not sure about that. I've been led to believe that a "dark period" is just that, no interaction, but I may be wrong.

Although it is unlikely that we can sign any recruits this signing period, any hope is that either RM has a recruit or two in his hip pocket, or Angres Thorpe has been able to keep a chance at a couple. However, after Monday, coaches are not able to talk to recruits, even though the signing period runs through May 16. How is it that other schools can get this done in a couple of days, at the most, once they determine who they want to hire? Seems to me that the good father's reputation precedes him, and RM wants everything under the sun to protect himself.