Photo taken by Eva Sinelnikov
At Vanderbilt, student section tickets for athletic games are free for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students. During the first football game of the season, Vanderbilt’s student section was packed. The demand of spirited Commodores greatly exceeded the supply of student seating, therefore sections P and Q had to be closed off. However, as the season goes on, the demand for student seats at football games tends to dwindle.
To access student tickets, Vanderbilt students simply go online and download a free ticket to their phone, but what would happen if Vanderbilt began charging for student football tickets?
At schools across the US, students often have to pay for tickets to sporting events due to overwhelming demand. Within the SEC, Vanderbilt University and the University of South Carolina are the only two that do not charge students for tickets. At public Big 10 schools, season passes can cost as much as $200 and the resale market prices to the most sought out for games rise to $300 or even $400 for single tickets. Certain private schools, such as Boston College, charge students for a joint football, basketball and hockey season pass for $200. While Vanderbilt sporting events seem to be free, those extra costs are covered in the student services fee (an added cost of attendance that is separate from tuition), acting almost as a tax of about $1,600 (at the time of writing) which aids student organizations, the recreation center, on campus events and, of course, sports games.
The demand of a certain good or service reflects an individual’s ability and willingness to pay for said product. Given that Vanderbilt student tickets are free, the monetary value of attending a football game isn’t often considered by students. In a survey of 10 students, 50% noted that they rarely attend Vanderbilt football games. Of the five, two noted that they would not be willing to pay for student tickets. While responses varied, the survey brings up questions of: what is the elasticity of demand for football tickets? Does it depend on how well the team is doing or how much the students enjoy the experience of watching the game live? How many students would rather watch games on TV instead of paying?
If Vanderbilt began charging students directly, the effect would be in accordance with the Law of Demand: the increase in price leads to a decrease in demand, and vice versa. As Economics 1010 teaching assistant Camelia Pele put it, “If someone only wanted to go because it was free, the price increase doesn’t change their beliefs, it only changes whether they get a ticket or not.”
Following the Alabama and Kentucky games, a new spirit and excitement around football ignited in the Vanderbilt community. I think the student body will now prioritize attending the games and cheering on our Commodores, and while it is unlikely that Vanderbilt will begin charging for student tickets, we as students might value them more than before.
