Are You Not Entertained? Stanford Offers Money-Back Guarantee On Football Tickets

The problem: Stanford has a newly-refurbished $100 million football stadium, but can't seem to fill it. Solution: Money-back guarantee on tickets! "Yes, we'd be idiots NOT to try it!" Apparently the organic hot dogs on whole wheat buns weren't enough, so the Cardinal are offering to give a full refund on season ticket plans if their brand of fancy pants, I'm-going-to-be-a-doctor-so-who-needs-this-anyway football fails to entertain you.

The deal works like this: New season-ticket and new "Family Plan" buyers can ask for the "Gridiron Guarantee," and if unsatisfied with the "entertainment value" at season's end, the cost of the season tickets will be refunded. "It's good motivation for us, but that motivation is already there," Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said. "We definitely want to give fans their money's worth."

This really is a groundbreaking move; the only thing similar that I can think of in professional or college sports is the Boston Red Sox guarantee of getting pummeled within an inch of your life if you wear another team's cap or jersey. In the two seasons since the stadium has been remodeled, Stanford has won only two home games, and has no sellouts. The 55,000-seat facility averaged only 39,000 (announced) per game last season, and had 7,000 unsold tickets for Notre Dame. One caveat to the money-back plan, however. In order to get the refund, all tickets must be turned in before the the USC game on Nov. 15. Stanford Football Banking On Bold Ticket Guarantee [SFGate]