[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]

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UH football fans
upset over Fresno
State date switch

Season ticket holders who accept
refunds will lose their tickets
and seating seniority

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By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com

University of Hawaii football season ticket holders will be able to get a refund for the Fresno State game that was switched from a Saturday evening to a Friday afternoon to accommodate national television.

But it will come at a price: Their season tickets and their seniority for renewing those tickets.

Because season tickets are sold as a package, UH officials say a portion of that package, such as a single-game ticket, is non-refundable.

However, UH will refund the money spent for the entire package. Once returning the season package for a refund, though, the ticket holder will forfeit any accrued seniority status on the ticket list and will have to re-apply as a new season ticket holder instead of as a renewing fan.

"They can either accept the tickets or not,'' said UH associate athletic director Jim Donovan. "The policy has been in effect for two decades. It's on the back of the tickets, that game dates and times may be changed to accommodate television.

"We're not happy about this, either. But we had no choice. ESPN said 'No Hawaii-Fresno State game, no ESPN deal for the conference. Hugh (Yoshida, UH athletics director) has made the commitment that this is the only game that's being changed this season.''

The change from a 6:05 p.m. start on Oct. 27 to a 4:05 p.m. start on Oct. 26 for the UH game against Fresno State was announced June 21. Since then, both the athletic department and ticket office have received several dozen complaints.

There is a precedent. UH did not issue refunds when a home game in 1998 against Arizona was moved to a Thursday afternoon to accommodate ESPN.

Last month, Yoshida said the refund matter was being reconsidered. However, the anticipated loss of revenue was estimated upwards of $250,000.

As of a week ago, about 25,000 season tickets had been sold. Sales, which began on May 29, will continue through the end of the month, according to Donovan.

Season ticket packages to the public this season range from $77-$135 for eight home games.

"Our season ticket holders get a discount by buying the package,'' said Donovan. "They almost get the eighth game free.''

The cost of a single-game ticket runs from $11-$19. For "premium games" (Air Force and Brigham Young this season), it's $16-$24.

There is also a "premium seat donation'' that ranges from $12-$25 for the three lower levels on the sidelines and the loge level of the south endzone.

Seniority plays a part in the ticket renewal process. Theoretically, the longer someone has season tickets, the better the seats. On the renewal form, ticket holders are asked if they'd like to retain their seats or "upgrade" to another section at Aloha Stadium.

Season tickets have not yet been mailed. The tickets, normally sent in July, will not be mailed until late August or early September this year.

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UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii