Just read an article about longtime FSU boosters

Being livid at FSU over the stadium renovations

First long time boosters with seats between the 35 yard line were given one chance to ante up for new club seats. If they declined the offer, they were ghosted and they found out their re-assignments when it was publicly announced

Second, the total seating capacity after the renovation will drop below 70,000. They don’t know exactly yet (not sure how they are still figuring this out - fsu education I guess). But they think it will be in the 67-69K range.

The university is blaming narrow bleacher seats that need to be widened and the fact that FSU’s surrounding population (w/i 150 mile radius) is dwarfed by every other program that’s won a national championship in the last 20 years.

Anyway, everyone is pissed and the rumor is that between FSU hitting all their big donors up for stadium renovations and the other big donors getting the shaft on seating that the NIL money has really dried up and they are having a really hard time bridging this year to revenue sharing

And that’s a big problem because they had to hit the portal hard again this year.

Now here is my assessment of their situation, and it now makes more sense understanding what’s going on behind the scenes.

Maybe Norvell pulls a rabbit out of his hat. They did upgrade at QB (Castellanos>DJ), but I don’t think he was in their top 5 or even top 10 targets when they went shopping in the portal. It reeks of a scrambling budget buy. Otherwise, I think they have another mish-mash patchwork team that doesn’t look better on paper than they team the trotted out last year.

I’m glad we got most of the big facilities work done pre NIL, because the game has changed and facilities are much less important factor now that you can pay players

bretfsu®

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Feb 13, 2025, 8:32 PM

Bottom line - yes, many long time boosters and season ticket holders at FSU are upset.

The situation is the stadium needs serious renovations and upgrades. If you've ever attended a game you understand. The bathroom and concessions are horrible. But, it is much more than that.

Universities understand that with virtually every game on TV, going to the game has to be more than jsut to see the game. Fans need to have an "enjoyable experience." People who pay big bucks for season tickets (including mandatory booster fees) don't want to sit on steel bleachers that remind you of a high school game.

So, FSU, understandably, decided to upgrade the facilities and make it more like "a professional stadium." To do so it is taking 18 months (1 full season) and losing about 12,000 seats.

Here is the problem: In order to keep a season ticket, your booster contribution must increase. Your new seat may be a downgrade from your current seat, even if your booster contribution increased.

That in itself is enough to cause considerable pushback.

Now, if you listen to the FSU administration you will hear how hard they have worked to explain to every season ticket holder (individually) what the new situation was going to be and what their options were and how much each option would cost.

But, if you listen to irate ticket holders, you hear that the communication is not timely nor clear. They say they are asking questions and can't get answers or are even being told one thing then a month or two later told something else.

I'm neither a season ticket holder nor a booster, so I don't know first hand what is happening.

But, I do know that many long time season ticket holders have decided just to not renew their tickets because they are too expensive. (And, that is how they will manage to lose 12,000 seats.)

It's a tough situation. Everyone wants FSU to compete at the highest level. In order to do so it takes money. That money has to come from somewhere. Tickets are a significant part of that. FSU fully expects to significantly increase revenue even with the loss of 12,000 or so seats. (I don't recall the exact projections, but it in in the 7 figures range, maybe even 8.)

Growing pains are called "pains" for a reason.

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Just read an article about longtime FSU boosters

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I'll tell you what I know, and what I speculate.

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