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ECU Pirate Club FAQ’s
What is the purpose of the Pirate Club?
The East Carolina University Educational Foundation, Inc. (Pirate Club) is the fund-raising and friend raising arm of East Carolina University’s Division 1 Athletic programs. Contributors to the East Carolina University Educational Foundation, Inc. are members of the Pirate Club.
How do I join the Pirate Club as a new member or how do I renew my current membership?
You can sign up online at ecupirateclub.com, call the Pirate Club office at 252.737.4540, contact your local Pirate Rep, or send a request for membership materials to:
ECU Pirate Club
Ward Sports Medicine Building, Suite 304
Greenville, NC 27858
Is my contribution to the Pirate Club tax deductable?
Yes, the current federal income tax law allows an 80% charitable contribution deduction on contributions to educational institutions. As a result of such contributions, the donor receives preferred seating benefits for athletic events. Contributions which neither directly nor indirectly result in the result of preferred seating rights are fully deductable for Federal income tax purposes. Donors should consult their tax advisors for detailed information.
What is the minimum gift required to purchase season tickets?
All gifts are appreciated. In order to be considered a member of the ECU Pirate Club, donors would need to join at a minimum of $100 (Crew level). However, if you have graduated from ECU within the past 3 years, you can join the Young Graduate Program and pay as little as $50 to become a member. Please contact the Pirate Club office at 252.737.4540 or visit the ecupirateclub.com to see if you qualify for a Young Graduate membership.
What are the benefits of joining the Pirate Club?
Perhaps the greatest benefit of joining the Pirate Club is the understanding that your contribution creates educational opportunities for the student-athletes who represent East Carolina University. In addition, Pirate Club members are given priority on ticket availability and seat locations for all ECU Athletic events. This priority extends to football, basketball and baseball games, bowl games, conference and post season tournaments, and other special athletic events. Also, dependent upon the donors giving level, Pirate Club members receive priority parking for athletic events, recognition in game day programs, and access to pre and post game hospitality events and socials.
How do I join the Student Pirate Club and what are the benefits?
The Student Pirate Club (SPC) is an organization that promotes student involvement in ECU Athletics and is committed to supporting all ECU Athletic programs. To join the SPC a student must be enrolled at ECU and pay all fees. Students can join by visiting www.ecupirateclub.com or by calling the Pirate Club office at 252.737.4540. Benefits of joining the SPC include priority to pick up tickets for football and basketball games, full membership of the Pirate Club at the Crew Level ($100.00), ECU facility tours, meetings and socials with teams and players, accumulation of priority points, t-shirts, membership cards and decals.
How do I join the Young Graduate Pirate Club and what are the benefits?
The Young Graduate Pirate Club is comprised of individuals who have graduated from ECU within the past 3 years. Those who have graduated within this time frame are encouraged to join the Young Graduate Pirate Club at a fraction of the cost of other members. There is a minimum contribution of $50 to join at the Young Graduate level (first year graduates); however Young Graduate members can contribute at any level they choose. Also, those that give at the Young Graduate level will receive a contribution to their account from the Pirate Club. Please visit www.ecupirateclub.com to view a breakdown of the giving levels offered for Young Graduate members. The benefits of joining at this level are the discounted membership rates, discounted season tickets, and the accumulation of priority points.
How do I become a Pirate Club Rep?
The Pirate Club Rep system was created to assist Annual Fund drives in recruiting and retaining active and inactive members. The Pirate Club currently has over 400 Reps throughout North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. If you would like to know more about becoming a Pirate Rep, please contact Mark Hessert at hessertm@ecu.edu or Erica Wilson at wilsone@ecu.edu.
What are priority points and how are they awarded?
In an effort to more equitably serve Pirate Club members, a priority point system was developed and implemented in 1993 by the ECU Educational Foundation Executive Committee. The priority point system determines ranking for season ticket assignments and acquiring tickets to high demand events, post season tournaments and championships, bowl games and other special events. It is also used to assign Pirate Club benefits including priority parking and requests for seating upgrades.
For each $100 given to the Pirate Club Annual Fund, the donor will receive 2 priority points. Points are also awarded to donors who give continuous years, those who give over $5,000, those who give towards Capital Campaigns, and those who buy season tickets for athletic events. For a complete breakdown of priority points and how to acquire them visit www.ecupirateclub.com.
Do I have to be an ECU Alumnus to join the Pirate Club?
No, you do not have to hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from ECU to join the Pirate Club. All ECU fans are encouraged to join the Pirate Club and support the “team behind the teams.”
How do I contact the Pirate Club?
You may contact the Pirate Club by calling us at 252.737.4540, email us at contact@pirateclub.com, or visit our office at the Ward Sports Medicine Building, Suite 304, Greenville, NC 27858. We enjoy the opportunity to meet with donors face to face.
Billing
How do I change my mailing address?
You may change your mailing address online by logging into your online Pirate Club account or by calling the Pirate Club at 252.737.4540.
What dates do automatic billings occur?
Bank drafts occur on the 1st and 15th of each month or on the following business day. Credit Card drafts occur on the 10th of every month or the following business day. Payroll deduction (ECU Employees Only) occurs on the 15th and 30th of every month or the following business day. NOTE: Automatic billing will continuously occur until the Pirate Club is notified in writing by the account holder.
How can I make a payment towards my pledge?
You may make a payment towards your pledge by logging into your online Pirate Club account, contact the Pirate Club at 252.737.4540, or by mailing your contribution to
ECU Pirate Club
Ward Sports Medicine Building, Suite 304
Greenville, NC 27858
Can I do a payroll deduction or a monthly draft?
Yes, forms may be acquired by contacting the Pirate Club data entry department at 252.737.4540.
Can I increase my pledge amount during the year?
Yes, you may increase your pledge at your discretion. NOTE: All pledges must be paid in full by the end of the calendar year.
Why does my payment show ECU Educational Foundation, Inc. instead of Pirate Club?
The East Carolina University Educational Foundation (Pirate Club) is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Thus, when a transaction is processed with the Pirate Club it will show up as the East Carolina University Educational Foundation.
How do I stop my payroll deduction or monthly draft?
Please notify the Pirate Club data entry department by email at info@pirateclub.com. Explain your request in detail and include the words “draft changes” in the subject line. If you have any further questions regarding this matter you can call the data entry department at 252.737.4540.
Pirate Club Events
Who do I contact to make reservations to attend pre-game hospitality events or other Pirate Club functions and socials?
Throughout the year the Pirate Club hosts many events including pre and post game hospitality socials, the annual scholarship fundraiser, football and basketball kick off parties and golf tournaments. While many events are held on the campus of East Carolina University, other events are hosted by local Pirate Club chapters.
If you would like information regarding pre and post game hospitality socials, please email Shannon Padrick at padricks@ecu.edu. You may also contact Shannon if you would like to know more information about the Annual Scholarship Fundraiser.
To learn more about the chapter football and basketball kickoff parties and chapter golf tournaments, please email Derek Denton at dentond@ecu.edu or Erica Wilson at wilsone@ecu.edu.
To find a Pirate Club event near you, visit the Pirate Club calendar online.
Sporting Events
What is my timeline to purchase football season tickets?
April 1st is the priority deadline for both Pirate Club donations and football season ticket orders. All Pirate Club season ticket holders purchasing full price season tickets will keep their seat location, within a five (5) year assignment period, provided they renew by the priority deadline and maintain/ improve their Pirate Club Annual donation level. Economy plan/non Pirate Club season tickets are NOT guaranteed same seats year to year, due to growth of Pirate Club priority tickets. New orders will be assigned in Pirate Club priority order to seats not reordered by the April 1st deadline. NOTE: 50% of pledge must be paid by this time, excluding donors on automatic draft.
I understand football seating will be reassigned in Dowdy-Ficklen stadium in 2010, please explain this process and how it will affect me as a Pirate Club member?
Beginning in 1993, the Executive Committee of the ECU Educational Foundation voted to begin reassigning seats for football, men’s basketball, and baseball every five (5) years. The advantage of re-evaluating priority seating every five years is that it will help guarantee the integrity and fairness of the priority points plan and give a donor the opportunity to improve seating every five years based on the priority points he/she has accumulated.
The Pirate Club is currently weighing all options regarding priority point levels and seating assignments. Please continue to check ecupirateclub.com for news and updates regarding priority seating assignments.
Do Pirate Club members get priority on seats for sporting events?
Pirate Club members are given priority on ticket availability and seat location for football, basketball, and baseball games, bowl games, conference and post-season tournaments, and other special athletic events. The number of season tickets that may be purchased for priority seating is shown on the Gift Level Chart for each level of giving. The Pirate Club priority system is used for the allocation of all seating assignments.
When should I receive my Pirate Club membership packet (i.e. membership cards and decals)?
Membership packets are mailed out every Friday beginning April 1st.
How do I purchase individual home game or away game tickets?
You can purchase individual home game or away game tickets by calling the ECU Ticket Office at 1.800.DIAL.ECU or by visiting ecupirates.com.
NOTE: Away game tickets are dependent on how many the Pirate Club is allocated by the host University.
How do I purchase football season tickets if I am a current Pirate Club member?
You can purchase season tickets by calling the ECU Ticket Office at 1.800.DIAL.ECU or by visiting ecupirates.com. Please have your Pirate Club number handy when fulfilling your order.
How do I purchase football season tickets if I am a NEW Pirate Club member and have never purchased season tickets before?
When you sign up as a new member of the ECU Pirate Club you will be assigned a Pirate Club number. You will use this number to purchase tickets for any ECU Athletic event via the ECU Ticket Office at ecupirates.com or by calling 1-800-DIAL-ECU.
When should I expect to receive my football season tickets and parking pass?
Football tickets and parking passes are mailed out in separate packages. They will both be mailed out approximately three (3) weeks prior to the kickoff of the 2010 football season.
How do I purchase post-season tickets?
In the event ECU becomes bowl eligible, tickets will be offered to Pirate Club members based on the Pirate Club priority system. The availability of tickets varies per event.
When do I receive my media guides?
Football: August 2010
Basketball: November 2009
Baseball: February 2010
NOTE: In order to receive a media guide for the above sports, you must be a donor at the Golden Pirate level or above and a season ticket holder.
Please explain the different parking areas for season ticket holders at ECU Athletic Events?
Football
2010 Parking Changes
2010 will mark the first time for football parking changes since 1999 when the Club Level and Gold Lot opened.
White Lot: In 1999, all accounts wishing to continue to park in the White Lot were required to increase to the Purple Pirate level. Effective in 2010, this minimum requirement will be increased to the Golden Pirate level for the White Lot, in addition to the Gold Lot and Purple Lot. Any accounts acquiring parking in any of these three lots after 1999, must maintain the annual donation it took to gain access.
Elmhurst School: At the request of the Pitt County School System, Elmhurst School will now be either allocated by a reserved zone and/or reserved space to have better accountability of members using this lot.
Carol Belk Lot: With the growth of parking at this location in 2009, next season the Carol Belk Lot will be split into two (2) zones. One zone will use the entrance at Oglesby Drive only and the other zone will enter the main Curry Court entrance.
Skull & Crossbones Parking: All members at this giving level will be reassigned parking in Lower Minges, Clark-LeClair, Williams Jungle or Elmhurst School lots provided they meet the minimum priority points total of 115.
Purple Pirate Parking: All donors will qualify for any of the Skull and Crossbones level options, plus either the Gray Lot or Blue Lot, based upon availabilty and priority points
Golden Pirate Parking: All donors will qualify for any of the Purple Pirate level options, plus either the Gold Lot or White Lot, based upon availability and priority points.
Jolly Roger Parking: All donors will qualify for all the options at Golden Pirate, plus if one purchases six (6) or more season tickets, a second parking pass may be purchased for either Elmhurst School or the Carol Belk Lots.
Scholarship Parking: All donors will qualify for all Jolly Roger options; plus may purchase a second parking pass at either the Williams Jungle or Lower Minges Lot provided they buy six (6) or more season tickets.
Sabre Parking: All donors will qualify for two (2) reserved parking passes in a primary lot based upon the purchase of six (6) or more season tickets.
Elmhurst RV Parking: Must meet the minimum requirements to park at Elmhurst School and purchase an RV parking pass ($200.00).
VIP Lot RV Parking: Must meet the Skull & Crossbones minimum priority point total of 115 or more points.
ADA Parking: Currently, almost 90 parking spaces are being used to provide Pirate Club members with accessible parking. These spaces are located in the Gold Lot, Blue Lot, Purple Lot, White Lot and Elmhurst School. In 2010, we expect to expand to some spaces in the Lower Minges Lot. All ADA parking will be allocated based upon a combination of annual giving level and priority points.
2010 Parking Fee: All Buccaneer and Skull & Crossbones level donors will be charged $60 for a parking pass this year. Elmhurst School and RV parking will remain the same for 2010.
Basketball
All donors at the Skull and Crossbones level and above who purchase season tickets qualify for parking privileges. The Purple and Gold Lot (reserved) provide parking on a first come, first serve basis. The Gray, Blue, Orange, and Gold Lot (spaces 1-143) are numbered spaces. To qualify, donors must be at the Jolly Roger level or above with a priority ranking of 800 or better or at the Sabre Level. Donors that qualify will receive a free parking pass.
Baseball
Parking is available to Purple Pirate level donors and above for baseball season ticket holders. Donors that qualify will receive a free parking pass.
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