Although the return to Invesco Field at Mile High for the Colorado-Colorado State game is financially lucrative for both schools, there is no contract for Denver beyond 2008.
Denver will host the rivalry the next three seasons, starting Sept. 9 and then reverting to Labor Day weekend.
Robert Cohen, chairman of the Metro Denver Sports Committee, said Wednesday the goal for the game is to create a “bowl atmosphere,” including designated tailgate areas for each side, a kickoff luncheon and golf tournament.
CU athletic director Mike Bohn said a sellout would gross $1.6 million for his school compared with $1.1 million if the game were in Boulder. CSU would gross $1 million with a Denver sellout. The MDSC is looking for a title sponsor to defray game-day expenses.
CSU hosts this year’s game and the 2008 game, with CU playing host in 2007. Bohn said he wouldn’t commit at this time to Denver for 2009.
“It’s our trigger,” Bohn said. “Clearly we have high expectations for this game.”
The schools have an option to extend the series 10 years.
“In a perfect world, we’d have it in Boulder every year, but that’s not fair or respectful of our relationship with Colorado State,” Bohn said. “We reserved the right after three years to evaluate that.”
The tickets will be split 55-45 percent in CU’s favor, based on respective home-stadium seating capacity. The split is the same as previous years in Denver. All seats will be $55 except for club level ($85) and student seating ($15). Single-game sales begin Aug. 1, after season-ticket sales get priority.
“Our players appreciate being part of a great experience. It’s something special,” Rams assistant head coach Mick Delaney said. “Plus 25,000 more people can see the game in Denver (than in Boulder or Fort Collins), and that makes it a special event.”
Delaney subbed for Sonny Lubick while the head coach is in Minnesota, where his son, Marc, is undergoing cancer treatment.
CU coach Dan Hawkins said he had mixed feelings about a neutral site, but “if Mike tells me we’re playing in Aspen in 2 feet of snow, then we are playing in 2 feet of snow.”
Although discussions between the schools have been ongoing, CSU athletic director Mark Driscoll said the MDSC stepped in Thanksgiving weekend. There was no written agreement before that to extend the series.
“They helped make it work,” Driscoll said.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
