UWM’s cheapest season-ticket prices go up

A new pricing structure will leave some UW-Milwaukee men’s basketball fans paying nearly 75% more for season tickets next season and others paying 42% less.

The changes come because the UWM athletic department consolidated its three lowest-priced tiers. Instead of $75, $130 or $185 options, the cheapest season ticket is $130.

“The $75 seats were in the corner sections last year, and essentially we just wanted to move season ticketholders out of those sections and get (the crowd) more centralized and lowered,” said Chris Zills, assistant athletic director-strategic communications.

“We’re still the best deal in town, from the perspective of how much you’re paying to watch basketball.”

Past season ticket-holders were apprised several weeks ago of the pending changes, which were spelled out to the public Tuesday, when 2018’19 information went online.

Even with the increase, the lowestpriced season tickets average less than $9 per game. Single-game seats started at $12 last season.

The most expensive court-side seats are $575 for the season, plus a $225 donation. Prices for the top three levels ($575, $270 and $240) did not change, although the required donation ($225, $125, $50, respectively) is now per-seat rather than per account.

The changes come amid turnover within the program and, according to NCAA statistics, declining attendance. Last season Pat Baldwin became the program’s third head coach in three years, and since the season ended he has lost five scholarship players to transfer.