UH proposal raises
prices for ‘preferred’
sports seats

The largest increase would affect
certain stadium loge seats

Better seats for Hawaii athletics? Better get ready to pay.

The price of success will come at a price, under the proposal by the University of Hawaii to raise premiums for "preferred sections."

The largest increase -- $3,500 to $15,000 this season and rising to $5,000 to $20,000 in 2007 -- would affect 1,000 seats in the loge level at Aloha Stadium, some 670 of which are currently held by season-ticket holders. The remaining seats are used by UH, state government and the stadium authority.

The athletic department has introduced a proposal that, if successful, could realize $4 million to $5 million for a program that has operated in the red for the past three years. The goal is to be able to increase the athletic budget to about $24 million from $19 million, providing scholarships for the 21 sports and upgrading facilities.

The cost of scholarships is estimated at $4 million for this school year. It covers room, board, books, fees and medical.

Some 50 people attended yesterday's public hearing at the Wong Hospitality Suite, some giving emotional testimony against being relocated from seats they have had since the stadium opened in 1975. Others had their fears assuaged when told they would keep their seats in the Stan Sheriff Center by meeting the minimum donation.

"I've missed four games in 32 years," said David Ellis, who has season tickets in the loge section. "We're not high rollers. We have the seats because no one wanted them back then, when no one was going to games.

"There's 26 of us, and we'll go watch the game together -- at my house where the beer is cheaper."

The proposal still has to be approved by the Board of Regents, which meets Thursday.

"We all sympathize with the season-ticket holders who have supported the program for years," said Steve Goodenow, on the board of directors of Ahahui Koa Anuenue, the umbrella booster organization, "but we had to look at the least form of disruption. It was the loge section.

"We know that there's a 5 to 10 percent turnover every year in tickets (at the stadium) in all sections. We know there will be seats available (for the displaced loge fans), and they could end up with better seats."

The affected loge sections are G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, GG, HH, JJ, KK, LL, MM, NN and PP. The other sections will also have premium-seat charges, ranging from $35 to $200 this season and eventually raised to $60 to $230 by 2008.

The Stan Sheriff Center and Les Murakami Stadium premium seating will also have increases. Men's basketball and men's and women's volleyball will all go to $100 this coming season and $80 for baseball.

"This is for the future," said Don Murphy, vice president of Koa Anuenue. "The athletic department has to have the revenue. And these moneys go to all sports, not just football."

UH athletic director Herman Frazier emphasized that the revenues generated will go to scholarships and not to other budget areas, such as coaches' salaries.

"When material such as this comes out, the tendency is to become alarmed," Frazier said. "There's always high anxiety when people are displaced. The bottom line is this is a way to generate revenue to continue having the athletic program we have."

Parts of the proposal must still be approved by the Board of Regents.

Those currently holding seats in the preferred-seating areas will receive notice of the increase and benefits associated with the additional price. Payments will be due by June 30.

The Ali'i-, Anuenue- and Director-level packages includes loge seats, parking and other benefits. There are sections where no donation is required.