After 25 years of season tickets to Aggie Football, I was informed today by the 12th Man Foundation that they will no longer be accepting matching gifts from my employer. As such, I am unwilling to double the amount of my donation to an organization who it seems has zero loyalty. Good luck to you all, but I think my Saturdays and my money will be better spent elsewhere.
Goodbye Texas A&M Football
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Last: 1 hr ago by Middleto
But why?
your money will 100% be better spent elsewhere.
A&M is going to be a 7-5 (ish) team every year for the rest of your life, with or without your money.
The biggest difference will be that the roster will turn over once/twice per year as the "kids" will be going through a revolving door chasing bags of money. But at least those bags won't be filled with your money....
A&M is going to be a 7-5 (ish) team every year for the rest of your life, with or without your money.
The biggest difference will be that the roster will turn over once/twice per year as the "kids" will be going through a revolving door chasing bags of money. But at least those bags won't be filled with your money....
When they call you back later in the year wanting your money, tell them what I did two years ago: Everyone else is getting paid, I want to get paid too. Then state your appearance fee.
They said there was "a change in policy"...bigjag19 said:
But why?
They said my company did not match gifts to athletics. That is nothing new, and has been the case for well over 10-15 years (since before my kids were born). However, they informed me that was not an issue and to just send a letter stating that the request from my company should come from Texas A&M rather than the 12th Man.
So apparently I just became expendable. Like I said, it's no big deal. I have better ways to spend my time, but it's just disheartening to have to explain to my kids why we won't be continuing this fall tradition that they have always known since they were babies.
you can still go to every game without donating
just buy tickets week to week
just buy tickets week to week
I'm aware of this - but I have tickets on the east side - 45 yard line first deck. I'm not going to be able to touch tickets in that area and frankly, after being treated this way, I am not sure I want to attend anymore Aggie Athletic events. Maybe after time passes, but right now I have a really sour taste in my mouth that I don't see going away anytime soon.Matsui said:
you can still go to every game without donating
just buy tickets week to week
It's much easier being a casual "fan," lol. There is no loyalty to the fan at all so why do we owe them anything? Watch games if you want, go from time to time as entertainment, but do not get emotionally invested
Players and coaches will come and go and are in it for the coin so there is no need to be loyal to them at all. They, for the most part, don't care about the school or the fan anymore. If the team wins, fun ... if not, who cares.
Players and coaches will come and go and are in it for the coin so there is no need to be loyal to them at all. They, for the most part, don't care about the school or the fan anymore. If the team wins, fun ... if not, who cares.
AgBQ_95 said:I'm aware of this - but I have tickets on the east side - 45 yard line first deck. I'm not going to be able to touch tickets in that area and frankly, after being treated this way, I am not sure I want to attend anymore Aggie Athletic events. Maybe after time passes, but right now I have a really sour taste in my mouth that I don't see going away anytime soon.Matsui said:
you can still go to every game without donating
just buy tickets week to week
That really stinks man but all we are to them are dollar bills. A&M doesn't care about anything but money and DEI.
AgBQ_95 said:They said there was "a change in policy"...bigjag19 said:
But why?
They said my company did not match gifts to athletics. That is nothing new, and has been the case for well over 10-15 years (since before my kids were born). However, they informed me that was not an issue and to just send a letter stating that the request from my company should come from Texas A&M rather than the 12th Man.
So apparently I just became expendable. Like I said, it's no big deal. I have better ways to spend my time, but it's just disheartening to have to explain to my kids why we won't be continuing this fall tradition that they have always known since they were babies.
This sounds like it's your company not wanting to donate to athletics. Not that the 12th Man won't accept the money.
It's also possible that with NIL and accounting procedures changing that the athletic department can't accept donations from companies for just any reason. It could be that the NIL complicates things with sponsorships and having a company donation tied to a fan instead of an athlete complicates things.
I wouldn't punish yourself by not attending games, just adjust your expectations of where you're going to sit.
Quote:
This sounds like it's your company not wanting to donate to athletics. Not that the 12th Man won't accept the money.
this.Quote:
This sounds like it's your company not wanting to donate to athletics. Not that the 12th Man won't accept the money.
i'm also confused by the OP. Why do you care if your employer does a match?
Demand continues to rise so they have to find ways to get the "little guys" to self exit the system.
People on here can bash me for being a 40-year t-shirt Aggie, but I haven't been hemorrhaging money for mediocrity my whole life. I'll continue loving the Ags, the rollercoaster rides, the few moments of glee and many moments of disappointment; but I won't be one of many that are flushing money down the drain to do so.
I spent many, many years allowing the success or failure of TAMU sports impact my daily happiness.
Letting go of that has made me a better person, and I still enjoy watching and celebrating when they do well.
I highly recommend it.
Letting go of that has made me a better person, and I still enjoy watching and celebrating when they do well.
I highly recommend it.
Life is much better on fall Saturdays when all the Aggies losing does is make me upset for a few hours. If I also had to deal with knowing I spent thousands of dollars as well, I would be livid.
12th Man probably never should have been enabling you to skirt the rules for your employer's company match all those years.
Can't imagine their compliance was too keen on that.
Can't imagine their compliance was too keen on that.
Let's look at a ratio 8/4 - so 2 wins per loss should be expectation.
The match should be 2/1.
The match should be 2/1.
My employer quit matching back in the early 1990's.
My employer said it was because the "donation" was tied to my seats.
A&M tried to work with them, but my employer (a Fortune 500 company) did not want the potential tax issues associated with donations.
Consider yourself fortunate it lasted as long as it did.
https://12thmanfoundation.com/about-us/faq/index.html#:~:text=Previously%2C%20Internal%20Revenue%20Code%20section,became%20effective%20January%201%2C%202018.
My employer said it was because the "donation" was tied to my seats.
A&M tried to work with them, but my employer (a Fortune 500 company) did not want the potential tax issues associated with donations.
Consider yourself fortunate it lasted as long as it did.
https://12thmanfoundation.com/about-us/faq/index.html#:~:text=Previously%2C%20Internal%20Revenue%20Code%20section,became%20effective%20January%201%2C%202018.
Quote:
The 12th Man Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Philanthropic donations that are not tied to ticket purchases may be up to 100% tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in 2017 may affect part of your donations to the 12th Man Foundation. Previously, Internal Revenue Code section 170(1) allowed for an 80% charitable deduction for donations given resulting in a right to purchase seating in athletic venues. The new tax bill has eliminated this charitable deduction and became effective January 1, 2018. Donors should consult their tax advisor to determine the deductibility of their gift. The Foundation will provide a tax receipt at the beginning of each year.
Are you referring to the OP, or the TMF enabling themselves to skirt the rules for the "lifetime" seats they sold to endowed members in 1983 and beyond.Diggity said:
12th Man probably never should have been enabling you to skirt the rules for your employer's company match all those years.
Can't imagine their compliance was too keen on that.
Some of us have never had an employer to match our donations. Don't expect a lot of sympathy from that quarter.
As a lol Poor I'm having a hard time stirring up sympathy for you.
AgBQ_95 said:Matsui said:
nm
Are you going to tell them that it's because you're indignant and decided on your own to no longer attend A&M games?AgBQ_95 said:They said there was "a change in policy"...bigjag19 said:
But why?
They said my company did not match gifts to athletics. That is nothing new, and has been the case for well over 10-15 years (since before my kids were born). However, they informed me that was not an issue and to just send a letter stating that the request from my company should come from Texas A&M rather than the 12th Man.
So apparently I just became expendable. Like I said, it's no big deal. I have better ways to spend my time, but it's just disheartening to have to explain to my kids why we won't be continuing this fall tradition that they have always known since they were babies.
You do realize, through your righteous indignation, that the issue has to do with a change in IRS policy, and not the Athletic department personally insulting you, right?
But indignant drama is so much more fun I guess.
But indignant drama is so much more fun I guess.
to the OP...
I would not give up on sitting in similar seats for the 2025 season
the home schedule is fairly lackluster -- especially in comparison to recent seasons
there will be lots of tickets available
I would not give up on sitting in similar seats for the 2025 season
the home schedule is fairly lackluster -- especially in comparison to recent seasons
there will be lots of tickets available
This kind of reminds me of my coworker *****ing to me about our company not matching his "donation" for his kids select baseball. He didn't get the response out of me that he expected.
I find that I can purchase tickets on the day or week of most games that I want to attend without any issue. If I cannot find a ticket to the game, then it is probably better to watch it on tv anyway. So, even if you discontinue purchasing your season tickets (as I did several years ago) that should not impact how you spend your saturdays.
This post is so confusing. Did your employer finally realize they were donating to a football program so that you could have better season tickets to a football game? Or did the 12th man just decide that there were unwanted tax implications they were violating? Without some sort of alternate explanation I'd just say, congrats on beating the system for a while, and move along. Your indignation is tone-deaf
I'm not giving this school another cent. I gave enough during my 4 years
rsf0626
In what way were you "treated"?Quote:
after being treated this way, I am not sure I want to attend anymore Aggie Athletic events. Maybe after time passes, but right now I have a really sour taste in my mouth that I don't see going away anytime soon.
Didn't get something you wanted worked out with your own employer, are blaming the 12MF for that, and wanted them to magically make that issue go away?
The 12MF will always accept your money, or your employer's money. If there's something going on with how your employer is treating matches, that ain't on the 12MF.
Sounds like you have an administrative issue on your side, and you want the 12MF to pretend it doesn't exist.
I'm glad a lot of you guys have gotten to this point.
It was the ND game for me specifically. After almost 3 decades of watching this futility, I have snapped and realized….we aren't ever going to win anything. Bring in Nick Saban, pay 100 million dollars for whatever 5 Stars you want. It's just not going to happen. Go enjoy your non-football life.
It was the ND game for me specifically. After almost 3 decades of watching this futility, I have snapped and realized….we aren't ever going to win anything. Bring in Nick Saban, pay 100 million dollars for whatever 5 Stars you want. It's just not going to happen. Go enjoy your non-football life.
Once I got older and realized that I enjoyed dove hunting with my dad way more than watching A&M football games, my life got a lot less stressful and much more enjoyable. I usually don't even check the scores until well after the games. If they win, I'm excited for the team and fanbase. If they lose, I just go back to drinking and hanging out by the campfire. Obviously, I want the team to be successful and follow their progress, but I stopped giving money and going to games ten years ago.
How much was the per seat donation?
I'm looking to upgrade this year, and DGAF how upset people are thinking Aggie Football / Athletics owes them anything. You made the choices, nothing is guaranteed. Geezus, some people sound like Gen Z.
I'm looking to upgrade this year, and DGAF how upset people are thinking Aggie Football / Athletics owes them anything. You made the choices, nothing is guaranteed. Geezus, some people sound like Gen Z.
This....rsf0626 said:
I'm not giving this school another cent. I gave enough during my 4 years
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