[ UH ATHLETICS ]
Ticket sales holding steady
The counting is finally done, and Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier said football season-ticket renewals are around the 23,000 projected by associate AD Tom Sadler last month.
Frazier said a media report last month projecting a drastic drop in renewals was based on incomplete information.
"There will be a (news) release on Monday, and the number is much closer to what we told you," Frazier said Friday.
Tomorrow is also the first day of season-ticket sales for new customers, Frazier said.
Around 25,000 season tickets were sold last year. Some holders don't renew every year, and a few more than usual might decide not to purchase the package because of the availability of live Pay Per View broadcasts of the games and/or the increases in premium seat donations.
Frazier and Sadler said they expect any drop to be made up for by new purchases of the seven-game package.
They also expect a revamped computer system that allows 24-hour purchasing and customer service to help improve sales.
More contracts: Now that football coach June Jones' contract is all but signed, Frazier said he will work on others, including those of baseball coach Mike Trapasso and volleyball coach Dave Shoji.
"We've already had preliminary discussions with both of those folks and I think if you watch my pattern you'll see that we'll be able to bring something to closure there soon," Frazier said.
The football assistants have been working without a signed contract for several months. That's just a technicality, since Frazier wants all contracts to begin July 1. What is becoming a concern, though, is that the assistants have not had a raise since Jones put the staff together in 1999.
"We're getting ready to do our fiscal year budget right now and we'll address all those types of issues. That's not something that's going to happen overnight for all these different coaching positions we have. We have to be fiscally sound. But we will phase different programs in," Frazier said. "We think we might be able to give them some kind of bump (this year)."
Camping time: UH assistant coaches Rich Miano (secondary), Vantz Singletary (defensive line) and Mel deLaura (strength and conditioning) are among the instructors at a high school football camp hosted by Hula Bowl Maui next month.
"We created the camp to enhance the community and the image of the Hula Bowl on Maui. Basically we had the game and then nothing else," Hula Bowl marketing director J.W. Kenton said.
There will be a free combine for Maui athletes on July 7, and the actual camp is July 8-10.
A $150 fee includes instruction, two meals a day, a T-shirt, and two Hula Bowl tickets. Housing and other information is available at (808) 874-9500.