University of Tennessee Athletics
Fact Sheet
April 6, 2004
* Effective with the 2004 football season, individuals with sideline grandfathered season tickets may retain a maximum of two (2) non-donation based (grandfathered) sideline seats. Beginning with the 2006 season all seating currently classified as "grandfathered" on the east and west sidelines (sections A, B, C, AA, BB, CC, R, S, T, U, V, W, RR, SS, TT, UU, VV, and WW) will require a minimum annual donation. Sideline grandfathered ticket holders who do not wish to make annual contributions to retain their previous sideline location may choose to transfer their grandfathered "status" to available seating in the endzones.
* No one will be kicked out of Neyland Stadium. This phased approach will provide grandfathered season ticket holders with sideline seats several options:
- They have the opportunity to keep two non-donor tickets in their current location and move the rest to an endzone location.
- They can join the VASF at an annual contribution rate that is approximately 20% - 35% of "market value".
- They can transfer (at the current donation level) their sideline seats into a child or grandchild's name, which gives them an opportunity to take care of the next generation.
- They can move their seats to an endzone location without making a donation.
* Only 1,000 people will be affected by this change this year.
* Non-donor based (grandfathered) sideline season tickets may not be held in corporate or company names. Effective with the 2004 season, all sideline corporate or company tickets must be tied to an active VASF account.
* Over the next 15-20 years, Neyland Stadium will require between $50-100 million in renovations and upgrades such as bathrooms, concession areas, concourse spaces as well as structural issues that go along with having an 80-year old-stadium. The funds generated by this change will provide additional funds to put towards much needed renovations.
* Schools such as Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Auburn, Florida and Kentucky all have seating priority programs for their premium seat locations.
Facts about ticket allocation at Neyland Stadium:
There are 76,496 season tickets in Neyland Stadium:
- Approximately 30,400 season tickets, or 39% of Neyland Stadium season ticket holders, are grandfathered
- Approximately 22,700 season tickets are held by donors to the Volunteer Athletic Scholarship Fund (VASF)
- Approximately 6,900 season tickets are held for faculty and staff
- Approximately 16,500 season tickets are provided to the alumni association for university development purposes
- Approximately 14,000 tickets are held for student allotments
- 9,500 tickets are held for visiting teams
