Why South Carolina is asking fans to think twice about ticket, donation refunds
The question has loomed if Williams-Brice Stadium will play host to South Carolina football fans this fall. The coronavirus pandemic was already slated to force social distancing measures on any team that is allowed to host spectators.
On Monday, the university athletics department came out with a request, asking fans to consider continuing to donate or keep their season ticket money with the school this year.
The plan came with the catchphrase of “Reinvest. Reward. Refund,” and the title of “Reinvest for Success Campaign.” The school pledged it would refund season tickets for those who couldn’t attend, but asked fans to consider keeping their money with the school, with up to 40 percent of the department’s revenue tied up in tickets, related charges and donations.
“The resources generated on those Saturdays drives both our community and our athletic department,” Gamecocks athletic director Ray Tanner said in a video the school posted to social media. “All of our budgets have taken at least a 15% cut. They’re extremely lean.
“I’m here today to ask those who can to support our student-athletes and reinvest. ... You have always been there when we needed you. Today, we need you more than ever.”
The options outside of refunds include rolling over season tickets or turning the value of those tickets into a tax-deducible gift. Fans have until Aug. 20 to make their decisions.
According to the release, the four options are:
“▪ Forever Loyal: Leaves the entire 2020 donation with the Gamecock Club in exchange for quadruple the number of priority points allotted for that donation and a one-level increase in Gamecock Club seat selections for the 2020-21 seasons. This option gives donors the right to keep/purchase all other season tickets (men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball) for the 2020-21 athletics season.
▪ Loyalty Discount: Leaves the entire 2020 donation with the Gamecock Club in exchange for a 20 percent credit applied to 2021 Gamecock Club renewal dues and triple the number of priority points allotted for donation. This option gives donors the right to keep/purchase all other season tickets (men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball) for the 2020-21 athletics season.
▪ Donor’s Choice: Donors have the option to choose the amount that they would like to donate. Ability to retain men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball tickets with Donor’s Choice plan requires 10% of membership, per sport, paid toward 2020 Gamecock Club membership. Remaining membership donation can be applied toward 2021 Gamecock Club renewal dues or as a refund.
▪ Roll Over: Applies entire 2020 Gamecock Club donation to 2021 Gamecock Club renewal and a 1.5-times bonus of priority points allotted for entire rollover amount.
South Carolina’s efforts are similar to others schools — including Clemson — that have announced campaigns aimed at easing the depth of lost revenue. Both USC and Clemson are expected to request waivers from state government to allow for a limited number of spectators at home games this season.
Tanner a few weeks back said USC’s hope was for around 20,000 fans to be able to attend South Carolina games — or about 25% of the stadium’s capacity.
South Carolina is on track to finish Williams-Brice Stadium upgrades that cost more than $22 million, all aimed at changing some seating over to a tier the school termed “affordable premium.”
The school’s budget projections had around $19.5 million of $127 million of projected revenue coming from tickets, primarily football, and another $12.97 million coming from the Gamecock Club, plus nearly $10 million in “gifts and donations.”
“We know our fans are facing a lot of uncertainty in how this pandemic is impacting all aspects of their lives and livelihoods,” Tanner said in a statement. “Gamecock fans are a big part of our programs, and we want to be as accommodating to them as possible. At the same time, their support of our student-athletes is more important than ever. Over the last few months we have been focused on the well-being of our student-athletes and ensuring the future well-being of all of our programs. We hope that any of our fans who are financially able will join us in sustaining our programs and providing them a foundation on which to build future successes.”
This story was originally published August 10, 2020 at 3:06 PM with the headline "Why South Carolina is asking fans to think twice about ticket, donation refunds."
