Volunteers discover capitalism

at Neyland Stadium, it would take more than giving me a free ticket to get me to go. They would have to pay me. Even if it was my favorite team, 80% of everyone around me were assholes of the worst kind.

I'm not going to chastise someone for cheering but between having the guy directly above me spill his beer on me 3 times and the guy in front of me reminding me about how much better Tennessee was than Texas every play that didn't result in a loss of yards, I was done with the whole ordeal. If the origin of the hatred I carry for the SEC were to be brought up, this would be the example of the typical SEC fan that I would bring up.

But back to topic, the price jump from nothing to $15 is pretty big, regardless of how little it is compared to the other programs in the nation.

I'm currently a grad student at UT(ennessee); I usually comment on Rocky Top Talk, but saw this and thought I could offer some tidbits.  If it's of any interest, here are some of the details in K'ville.

Actually, it's really amazing how they've been able to do it.  UT(ennessee) does not receive any governmental money for the athletic department, except for a stipend for women's sports.  Yet they've been able to keep the student tickets free up until next year (unless you count the $300 student activity fee).  Some other SEC schools will still be free to students next year, so it's not quite as unusual as it seems.  There was the expected groaning on campus today, but everybody will get used to it quickly enough.

The way they avoided your "everybody and their mother" problem with free student tickets was simple.  The Thursday of the week before the game, the ticket office would begin (and in a couple hours, end) distribution.  You needed your student ID to get the ticket and you needed it again to get into the gate, along with the ticket.  (If it weren't for the double-ID check system, I can guarantee you that the situation here would be exactly as you describe.)

And yes, they have a great business school here (9th ranked MBA among public schools by Forbes).  Perhaps that's how they managed to keep the prices so low.  (Again, just kidding.  About the prices, not about the ranking.)

Oh, and the tickets are free in other sports.  I don't know if that'll change in men's b-ball, but I'm skeptical of a change this year.  It's a very long story that I'm sure you don't want to read about.

UVA allows you to go to any sport for free as long as you bring a valid student ID (they scan them - so old ones won't work).  You have to submit to a draw for baseball, but you can just come in for football with your ID.  They can do it because they have a giant hill that will fit all of the students who want to go as long as they're willing to stand on top of each other - which they are for bigger games.

I think the only money that they charge is a mandatory $30 athletics/recreational sports fee.

these students at UT, UVA, etc, pay a "student activity fee" that basically pays for their all-sports pass to basketball, football, baseball, etc.

When I was at A&M, the all-sports pass for students was ~$160, which was a great deal.
That is a lot cheaper than paying a "sports activity fee".

I think you'll find that most school which have "free admission for students w/student ID" charge some type of "activity fee".
The genius of that activity fee is that even students who don't attend any sporting events are froced to pay it, so those schools are receiving revenue off non-attendees.

At least at A&M and texas and other schools with student sports passes, you have an option on whether or not you want to pay to support a program.