2026-2027 Season Schedule Thread

Stoolguy

Specialist
I renewed, but I think my gold room days are done. $2k for 2 seats was my max. I can't muster more than that to watch us play D3 and shitty D1 teams. Shameful Mason would attack their season ticket holders like this.
While I can’t speak to everyone’s season ticket prices I know they’re working hard to schedule some bigger OOC games. Hopefully those come through and give a little more incentive to get tickets.
 

Krug92

Walk-On
I renewed, but I think my gold room days are done. $2k for 2 seats was my max. I can't muster more than that to watch us play D3 and shitty D1 teams. Shameful Mason would attack their season ticket holders like this.
We've told the ticket office that we will either buy single game tickets or buy season tickets outside of the seat fee zone for next season. Together (8 of us - 10 seats) we gave the program over $11k last year.

One of our seatmates had paid for his seats without being aware of the changes. He called the ticket office yesterday and asked for (and received) his money back.
 
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The Great PATSby

All-Conference
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Tweeder summarized it best. Despite me continuing to be a season ticket holder for next season, being a season ticket holder has zero benefits. I've been saying it for years.

-You can't resell a ticket without losing money, especially after Ticketmaster taking their percentage in seller fees. The demand is so low that the only way I could sell tickets to games I couldn't go to was to sell them at a fraction of what I paid.

-Mason runs single game promotions throughout the year so that you could easily get around buying season tickets. Black Friday deal 1/2 off singe games. They ran the $15 lower bowl promotion for non-conference games last year which is literally less than what season ticket holders paid. $10 General Admission during winter break and you can sit behind the hoop, 3 rows up no problem.

- Stadium promotions and giveaways are no longer guaranteed to season ticket holders like they used to be.

-The seat fee/Patriot Club donation isn't 100% tax deductible

-There used to be a concessions discount with season tickets. That only lasted a couple years.
 
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jkh1978

Sixth Man
Tweeder summarized it best. Despite me continuing to be a season ticket holder for next season, being a season ticket holder has zero benefits. I've been saying it for years.

-You can't resell a ticket without losing money, especially after Ticketmaster taking their percentage in seller fees. The demand is so low that the only way I could sell tickets to games I couldn't go to was to sell them at a fraction of what I paid.

-Mason runs single game promotions throughout the year so that you could easily get around buying season tickets. Black Friday deal 1/2 off singe games. The ran the $15 lower bowl promotion for non-conference games last year which is literally less than what season ticket holders paid. $10 General Admission during winter break and you can sit behind the hoop, 3 rows up no problem.

- Stadium promotions and giveaways are no longer guaranteed to season ticket holders like they used to be.

-The seat fee/Patriot Club donation isn't 100% tax deductible

-There used to be a concessions discount with season tickets. That only lasted a couple years.
I bought a two-game package. Then SYA came out with their basketball schedule, and now couldn't make the second game. I'm paying ticketmaster twice for buying and reselling the ticket at a loss. I did not like losing money and not seeing the game.
Does anyone know average ticket price across the conference / D1 basketball?
How do the kids get chosen to play at halftime? They kick you out as soon as the game is over. Could we have more kids playing at halftime? Playing on court after the game? Seems like we could bring in more groups, giving them things that cost little or no money, and make new fans out of families.
Concessions have to get better. And season ticket holders should be getting discounts. I don't know what the deal is, but athletics need to be getting a cut, sell more because prices are more reasonable and there's more families coming.
Giveaways need to be guaranteed to season ticket holders. I didn't know that wasn't the case.
There were games, especially WBB, that I didn't want to buy tickets ahead of time and pay ticketmaster. Then something slightly inconvenient comes up, and then I decide to not go to the game. I get frustrated at how hard it is to buy tickets in person at the box office, but also so frustrated at the fees. Either way, I'm starting off frustrated trying to make a purchase.
The IRS changes isn't the fault of GMU, but they have to be able to work with other schools to know creative ways to offer benefits without that rule.
I will continue to not get season tickets, making use of black friday, GA over break, and buying resold tickets.
 

Verdad

Starter
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
I bought a two-game package. Then SYA came out with their basketball schedule, and now couldn't make the second game. I'm paying ticketmaster twice for buying and reselling the ticket at a loss. I did not like losing money and not seeing the game.
Does anyone know average ticket price across the conference / D1 basketball?
How do the kids get chosen to play at halftime? They kick you out as soon as the game is over. Could we have more kids playing at halftime? Playing on court after the game? Seems like we could bring in more groups, giving them things that cost little or no money, and make new fans out of families.
Concessions have to get better. And season ticket holders should be getting discounts. I don't know what the deal is, but athletics need to be getting a cut, sell more because prices are more reasonable and there's more families coming.
Giveaways need to be guaranteed to season ticket holders. I didn't know that wasn't the case.
There were games, especially WBB, that I didn't want to buy tickets ahead of time and pay ticketmaster. Then something slightly inconvenient comes up, and then I decide to not go to the game. I get frustrated at how hard it is to buy tickets in person at the box office, but also so frustrated at the fees. Either way, I'm starting off frustrated trying to make a purchase.
The IRS changes isn't the fault of GMU, but they have to be able to work with other schools to know creative ways to offer benefits without that rule.
I will continue to not get season tickets, making use of black friday, GA over break, and buying resold tickets.
I can't imagine them having events after games - significant costs and logistics to keep arena open/managed for that additional time.

There are general giveaways to first X amount of fans, and there are dedicated season ticket holder giveaways. If you want either and didn't get them, just contact your ticket rep and I would expect them to get it for you. If they don't, Taylor will.

Concessions suck by every metric - price, line wait times, selection and quality. AD is still severely hamstrung by the ridiculous vendor contract they have and lack of control. AD is very frustrated about it, but it's ultimately the school's fault and up to them to make it better. Same could be said about the ticketmaster fees, ideally with growth we can increase staffing and take over control over our own ticket sales.
 

jessej

All-American
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
STH are the 2nd most valuable asset of ANY basketball program, after the donors giving $5k-$10k+ yearly to the program.
Some of you have mentioned one of the main reasons - GMU STH are effectively paying more on a per game basis for seats they could be purchased for less elsewhere. Each game ticket represents a non-tax-deductible donation to the program as those seats are non-sellable at the effective STH price.
Some do it out of loyalty to the program/university and implicitly acknowledge that. But this "overpayment" becomes obvious when the team is not winning or the schedule is poor, or even ligght of the economic/financial situation with the costs of everything rising.

Side note - a friend buys 2 STH seats to GWU bball, he considers 1 of those seats as his donation to the program. Then i can buy that seat from him for the games i want to attend. The other games he gets the extra room benefit of no one sitting beside him.
I saw at least 12 GMU regular season home games last season and paid between $5 and $15 per game. The $15 games were St. Louis, vcu, and Dayton. The $5 games were Alfred, Wofford, Catawba, and New Hampshire. Prior to last season I was purchasing the voucher packs which averaged out to about $11/game but with the price increase it went to almost $20/game, so I sought alternatives knowing that game tix could be had for a maximum of $15/game.

As noted by others, with the ticket specials, free ticket giveaways, the actual value of being a STH and effectively overpaying for tickets is being questioned by some.

I hope the GMU AD/management can find a solution to this problem as i believe it is critical to program growth and success.

And I believe the ticket staff needs a lecture of Non-Linear Pricing Theory.
 

jkh1978

Sixth Man
My fraternity won the spirit award almost every game back then.
Is this still a thing? Why isn't the school promoting the fraternities to visit. Why aren't the fraternities pulling more people out to the game. If its happening, I'm not seeing it besides maybe being listed among the other groups in attendance on the jumbotron. The swimmers draw attention but I wish more groups would be trying to get attention. Just stir up more excitment in the building.
 

The Great PATSby

All-Conference
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Is this still a thing? Why isn't the school promoting the fraternities to visit. Why aren't the fraternities pulling more people out to the game. If its happening, I'm not seeing it besides maybe being listed among the other groups in attendance on the jumbotron. The swimmers draw attention but I wish more groups would be trying to get attention. Just stir up more excitment in the building.

This hasn't been a thing since I started at Mason in 2004. But I do believe Mason is or has hired someone specifically to focus on getting students to come to games.
 

Krug92

Walk-On
Season Ticket Holders just received an email from the ticket office:

Key points:

New fan experience and hospitality upgrades will be announced July 15.

Because many fans wanted details before renewing, the season ticket renewal deadline is extended to July 31.

Season tickets and hospitality will be handled separately.

Renewing only secures your seats.

Hospitality is optional and offered as an add‑on.

After the July 15 announcement, fans will have until September 1 to submit hospitality interest.

Hospitality access will be assigned based on Priority Points, with notifications sent by September 15.

Digital hospitality passes and season ticket activation will occur in mid‑October.

Timeline
July 31 — Final day to renew season tickets while keeping last season’s seat location.

September 1 — Deadline to submit hospitality preferences.

September 15 — Hospitality allocations announced (based on renewal date + Priority Points).

Mid‑October — Digital hospitality passes and season ticket activation go live.
 

sigmanorm

Starter
Got this note from Joe earlier today. Wanted to share with you all.

Much appreciated and yes, we are working on a few communications now. So that you have clarity (and feel free to share) the messages that are being prepared to go out later today will reinforce the timeline that includes that extension. We will plan to release all the pertinent information regarding enhancements to the fan experience for next season including the hospitality areas, access levels and benefits on July 15. Understanding the confusion, we will be extending a grace period for season ticket renewals to the end of July (7/31) allowing for a few weeks to digest the information and make decisions on their season tickets.

For hospitality - announcement will be July 15 and then fans will have until September 1st to make their decision to add the new hospitality program. On September 15, Mason will confirm allocations into these new spaces; allocation will be made based upon priority point order as of September 1st. Seat fees will contribute to priority points (we'll provide a more comprehensive overview on July 15 of an enhanced priority point program), and points will assist in allocations, access to away games and other experiences throughout the season.

I can confirm we are extending or delaying the deadline - all season ticket holders will still have access to their existing seats if they wish to hold off on their decisions until we fully roll out the hospitality options for next season. If folks still want to renew their seats, they can do so but will not be hurt if they want to wait.

Thank you for being candid and providing me with more information to ensure that we are providing a service to the Mason Community. I'll continue to focus and am committed to making sure that you're and the fan bases experience with Mason is top notch.

Feel free to shoot me over any follow up questions.
 

The Great PATSby

All-Conference
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Season Ticket Holders just received an email from the ticket office:

Key points:

New fan experience and hospitality upgrades will be announced July 15.

Because many fans wanted details before renewing, the season ticket renewal deadline is extended to July 31.

Season tickets and hospitality will be handled separately.

Renewing only secures your seats.

Hospitality is optional and offered as an add‑on.

After the July 15 announcement, fans will have until September 1 to submit hospitality interest.

Hospitality access will be assigned based on Priority Points, with notifications sent by September 15.

Digital hospitality passes and season ticket activation will occur in mid‑October.

Timeline
July 31 — Final day to renew season tickets while keeping last season’s seat location.

September 1 — Deadline to submit hospitality preferences.

September 15 — Hospitality allocations announced (based on renewal date + Priority Points).

Mid‑October — Digital hospitality passes and season ticket activation go live.

This is not a coincidence. This email was definitely in response to this thread. The Athletic Dept 100% reads the boards. There's been so many instances where we've been complaining or suggesting on here and then it gets resolved or implemented the next day by the Athletic Dept.
 

sigmanorm

Starter
This is not a coincidence. This email was definitely in response to this thread. The Athletic Dept 100% reads the boards. There's been so many instances where we've been complaining or suggesting on here and then it gets resolved or implemented the next day by the Athletic Dept.
Could be, but also could be from my call with Joe yesterday. I did tell him what everyone was saying on here. Good news is they are listening!!!
 

mkaufman1

Administrator
Staff member
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
This is not a coincidence. This email was definitely in response to this thread. The Athletic Dept 100% reads the boards. There's been so many instances where we've been complaining or suggesting on here and then it gets resolved or implemented the next day by the Athletic Dept.
Haha they do read these boards- I met someone in the Pat Club a few Homecomings ago and said who I was and they were like "Oh I read your Masonhoops.com posts", lol.
Could be, but also could be from my call with Joe yesterday. I did tell him what everyone was saying on here. Good news is they are listening!!!
I am glad they are listening, although I'm not sure why its always people complaining before things go smoothly. At least it seems that way. As I say, I'm like Switzerland because I have no real stake being 250 miles away other than people complaining to me on text message haha.
 

TweederGMU

All-American
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Is this still a thing? Why isn't the school promoting the fraternities to visit. Why aren't the fraternities pulling more people out to the game. If its happening, I'm not seeing it besides maybe being listed among the other groups in attendance on the jumbotron. The swimmers draw attention but I wish more groups would be trying to get attention. Just stir up more excitment in the building.
They haven't done this in probably 15+ years if not longer.

We have beaten this subjective horse to death over the years about focusing on the fraternities and sororities and giving them incentives for the winning organization who gets the most members out for games... at the end the season the AD would give X amount of dollars to their organization or to their charity of choice.

Fallen on deaf ears for years.

You can try asking Marvin for a lunch meeting and bringing this up with him.
 

psyclone

Hall of Famer
It is good that they are responding.

In some ways, they are in a difficult position.
-need to raise more money in order to keep coach, attract/retain players.
-need to increase the STH base & increase game attendance

So they:
-provide steep discounts to games that aren't big draws. That helps get better attendance at those games but STHs see that and realize that they could drop their season tickets along with the annual seat charge to maintain current seat and still attend most games in decent seats at a lower cost.
-Gold Room is popular, so "supply and demand" argues that you raise membership cost, especially give complaints that Gold Room is "too crowded".

Getting the price point right isn't all that easy.
 
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