[ WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
94 percent renew UH
football season ticketsSchool officials say increases in
other football revenue will easily
make up for the drop
Around 94 percent of last year's season-ticket holders for University of Hawaii football renewed for the upcoming season, according to figures released by UH yesterday.
The $6.4 million question is whether that is a good enough base to reach the athletic department's revenue goal from football ticket sales for the next fiscal year.
UH's 2004 Schedule
Home games at Aloha Stadium, 6:05 p.m.
Sept. 4 Florida Atlantic Sept. 18 at Rice Oct. 2 Tulsa Oct. 9 Nevada Oct. 15 or 16 at UTEP Oct. 23 San Jose State Oct. 29 at Boise State Nov. 6 Louisiana Tech Nov. 13 at Fresno State Nov. 20 Idaho Nov. 27 Northwestern Dec. 4 Michigan State
"It's a good start given all the factors involved in the decision-making process for our season-ticket holders and we're looking forward to new sales that are still going on right now," athletic director Herman Frazier said in a news release.
A little more than 21,000 of the 23,384 season-ticket holders from last season renewed for this fall's eight home games during the specified period for doing so in April and May. Around 800 new season tickets have been sold since they were put on sale June 14, Frazier said. Sales continue through Aug. 6.
Last year, 97 percent renewed their season tickets.
"Our renewals might be down, but revenue from pay per view is up," UH spokeswoman Lois Manin said.
Revenue could also increase despite a potential slide in total ticket sales because ticket prices (and premium donations) have gone up.
"The number 21,800 means we are only 2 percentage points from having 100 percent of our season tickets renewed from 2003," Frazier said. "That, to me, indicates that we have a quality product that people are willing to invest in whether it be in attendance or through pay per view."
According to figures released by UH last week, football tickets, including premium seat donations, accounted for $5,094,704. Another $628,000 came from pay per view.
Football ticket sales account for the biggest chunk of each year's revenue.
Total revenue this fiscal year (ending June 30) was $16,969,811 with $18,436,000 in expenses.
After operating at a deficit the past two years, UH expects to be $1,823,992 in the red at the end of the fiscal year.
A five-year recovery plan submitted by Frazier to the Board of Regents projects $6,400,000 in football ticket sales for 2004-05, plus another $800,000 in pay per view.
The plan also includes cutting sports expenses by 4 percent across the board.