Holder Emails Season Ticket Holders, Talks of Full Stadium, and Asks for Renewals

STILLWATER – As the email was being read across the state, across the country, and in different corners of the World where Oklahoma State football ticket holders reside, down in the belly of the West End Zone some 125 Cowboy football players were lifting hard, doing box jumps, and pushing themselves under the watchful eyes and instruction from Rob Glass and his strength and conditioning staff. The work and the tempo it is being done with in this offseason is something that Oklahoma State should bottle and exhibit on social or internet media for the season tickets to see. I guarantee that would motivate them to click that renewal link even faster.

Robert Allen

A major lift day on Thursday for the football program in offseason training.

This was the first time that athletic director Mike Holder had done a major communication with Oklahoma State fans. We did a story last week showing the video that Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard used to communicate with the Cyclones fans and using the strong football season by Iowa State to congratulate fans on their help, detail where Iowa State is financially and how they are going to handle the shortfall in income due to COVID-19. Pollard also outlined some of the objectives that the athletic department has for the next year and how they want to capitalize on football momentum and make it even stronger.

I think it’s great that Mike Holder reached out to Oklahoma State season ticket holders. His message was considerably more brief.

Robert Allen

The email going out to season ticket holders.

Dear OSU Family,

It has been almost a year since COVID-19 halted the Big 12 basketball tournament and transformed each of our lives. As we continue to navigate the health and financial challenges the pandemic has presented, we look back with gratitude for your loyal support while looking forward with hope and optimism.

As we prepare to open our spring sport seasons, we are also planning for the 2021 football season. While we do not know what the world will be like in September, we are encouraged by health officials’ current outlook on fall conditions. In accordance with OSU’s plans to hold in-person classes this fall, we are taking informed steps to reunite in Boone Pickens Stadium with a full capacity for the 2021 season. We also plan to return to reserved POSSE parking with lots opening at 8am.

To ensure the safest possible gameday experience, we will continue to follow guidance from health experts and adjust gameday safety protocols as we get closer to kicking off the season.

We have made several efforts to provide a more accommodating ticket renewal process this year. We have extended the renewal deadline from spring to June 30 and have extended the latest final payment plan installment date to August 2.

We continue to be reminded how much we miss watching our teams play when the stadiums are full of energy. Let’s commit to wearing orange and supporting our Cowboys in-person this season.

Thank you for your continued investment in the recruitment, performance, and futures of our student-athletes.

Stay safe, wear orange, and let’s win together!

Mike Holder

Director of Athletics

Robert Allen

Holder signed the email to season ticket holders.

There is no mention of where Oklahoma State is with regard to lost income and budget shortfall. There are no details on what the department did to attempt to curb the COVID-19 impact or plans to come back from it. Oklahoma State did finish 8-3 with a bowl win over tradition-rich blueblood program Miami, Fla. and signed a strong recruiting class, but no mention on building on momentum or a compliment on how football and medical staff handled their business and overcame many obstacles in the pandemic season.

It's a start and Oklahoma State fans know that season tickets purchased for football are the best investment they can make in the OSU athletic department and all sports overall short of a major donation to the department with no strings attached. Football season tickets are the lifeblood of athletic departments like Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Kansas State and even the wealthier Big 12 schools such as Oklahoma and Texas.

There should be more coming, but Oklahoma State fans hopefully see the need to follow Mike Holder’s request and renew those season tickets and hope that Boone Pickens Stadium can be at full capacity for fall 2021.