Boulder – The University of Colorado will not raise season-ticket prices for football in the wake of a 2-10 season and is eliminating more than 2,000 seats from the required donor seating area.
“We believe historically fans who attend games become donors,” CU athletic director Mike Bohn said Thursday at his quarterly media roundtable. “Our ticket prices are not below the Big 12 average. We didn’t want to go to our loyal fans who have stayed with us in tough times of late and hike the ticket prices.”
CU is holding the line despite attempts to reduce a departmental deficit.
The renewal deadline is March 1, but fans can designate March, April or May to actually make the payment. A more fan-friendly process has been instituted, with direct phone numbers for ticket renewals.
“We’re in position to be more aggressive with our sales effort and more grassroots to build a season-ticket base,” Bohn said. He cited a home schedule next season that includes Florida State, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
The season packages remain within a range of $235 to $355 for six home games, as well as the Colorado State game at Invesco Field at Mile High, although CSU is the host school.
Some sections in the upper level in the south end zone requiring a $25 donation will now accept voluntary donations. Bohn said the decision was made based on feedback from ticket holders.
In 2006, there were 3,729 seats available without a required donation, and the area has been expanded to 6,378.
Bohn also announced a resumption of the series with Washington for 2015-16. CU’s nonleague schedule is nearly complete through 2013; there are single openings in 2008, 2010 and 2011. Any future games with Division I-AA foes are highly unlikely because of a lack of TV interest.
Basketball search
Bohn reiterated he will not remove lame-duck men’s basketball coach Ricardo Patton before the end of the season and will have a salute to Patton at the home finale March 3 against Nebraska.
Patton announced his resignation before the season started, effective at the end of the season. Bohn said the longer-than-usual search time frame has allowed the staff to conduct extensive meetings with former players, high school coaches, donors and students for feedback.
Bohn won’t set a deadline for naming Patton’s successor relative to the Final Four (when hirings typically occur) because of availability issues. He will not exclude a candidate with NBA ties.
Another budget hit
Weather-related basketball cancellations and delays will cause a budget hit. Bohn estimated the extra night spent at Texas A&M by the women’s team cost CU more than $5,000 in charter airplane fees and additional meals and lodging. CU arrived for the game but A&M would not open the gym during an ice storm.
Footnotes
Bohn approved track coach Mark Wetmore’s dismissal of an undisclosed number of track athletes and suspension of several others for off-the-field conduct violation.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
