Sticker shock! Tennessee student football ticket prices double for the 2024 season

In the wake of a successful 2023 season, one thing is for certain when it comes to Tennessee football games: tickets will be hard to come by, for both regular fans and students.

And that means most fans will be experiencing some sticker shock, with the demand for season tickets skyrocketing. Even student tickets, while still extremely affordable, are doubling in price this year.

Tennessee Athletics sent an email about the upcoming changes to the football student ticketing process, with student tickets jumping from $10 to $20 each for the 2024 season and then up to $25 in 2025. All other sporting events will continue to be free, the email said.

"Starting this fall, Student Life & Athletics are improving student access to all Tennessee Athletics events and enhancing the ticket process," Byron Hughes, Assistant Vice Chancellor & Dean of Students, told Knox News.

"Game day upgrades include Wi-Fi, expanded concourses, new videoboards and a new student entrance opening this fall, Hughes added.

How do UT student tickets work?

Tennessee awards tickets to students based on a weighted lottery, which this year is merging Rowdy Rewards and the Big Orange Tix loyalty system.

"Students attending all athletic events, in addition to football, will now earn loyalty points," Hughes said. "The more events attended, the more loyalty points accumulated, increasing their chance to buy football tickets."

For some games, students can request guest tickets to games. Ticket pricing for guest tickets are face value of the tickets, and vary by game. Student tickets are located in sections D-K in Neyland Stadium. This area has bench seating and holds approximately 11,500 people.

What is the student attendance at Tennessee football games?

Things have definitely changed as far as attendance. In 2019, Knox News highlighted student ticket sales being down by nearly 13.5% compared with the first three home games of the previous season. Student ticket sales had steadily decreased each season since 2016, according to UT Athletics.

In 2020, of course, ticket sales were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with UT restricting attendance at Neyland Stadium to about 25% of capacity.

In 2021, new athletics director Danny White offered a free ticket for each student ticket purchased. Tennessee sold out the student section for its first three games.

Winning seasons tend to sell more student tickets (these totals do not include 415 tickets for the band each game along with 405 tickets for student-athletes):

• In 2020 (3-7), 10,738 student tickets were sold for the season, lower numbers due to the pandemic.
• In 2021 (7-6), 61,862 student tickets (plus 8,694 guest tickets) were sold.
• In 2022 (11-2), 75,991 student tickets (plus 1,190 guest tickets) were sold.
• In 2023 (9-4), 70,295 student tickets (plus 400 guest tickets) were sold.

How do Tennessee student football ticket prices compare to other schools?

According to Hughes, Tennessee football student ticket prices remain among the lowest in the SEC. Here's a breakdown of costs at those colleges:

• University of Florida: Season tickets to six home football games for $175
• University of Georgia: Packages from $30-$40 depending on which games, $70 for the whole season, working out to $10/game
• University of Kentucky: $11-$15 per game, season pass $75
• University of Missouri: $200 for a season pass
• University of South Carolina: Free
• Vanderbilt University: Free
• University of Alabama: $15-$35/game, available only in packages
• University of Arkansas: $115 for a pass
• Auburn University: Packages ranging from $50 for two games to $235 for the season
• Louisiana State University: Packages ranging from $69-$84 ($11.50-$12 per game)
• University of Mississippi: Season pass is $150, an additional $50 for priority seating
• Mississippi State University: $15-$75 per game or $135 for a pass
• Texas A&M University: $400 for a sports pass

Liz Kellar is a Tennessee Connect reporter. Email liz.kellar@knoxnews.com.

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