UH releases Sugar Bowl fiscal data and travel list

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It cost the University of Hawaii close to $1.3 million to send a 550-member travel party to New Orleans last December for the Warriors football team's appearance in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Download PDF » View the list of those who made the Sugar Bowl trip. (*Adobe Reader or another PDF viewer is required.)

UH's total expenses for its participation in the Bowl Championship Series game were projected at $1.94 million. The school's Sugar Bowl payment is projected at $4.39 million for net revenues of $2.49 million.

The university released its projected financial analysis and the list of those who made the trip yesterday, although not all of the names were made public. The names of 45 members of the Hawaii Government Employees Association were blacked out due to a request from the union.

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The University of Hawaii released its 550-member travel list yesterday for the Warriors football team's trip to New Orleans for the Allstate Sugar Bowl, though not all of the names were made public.

By the Numbers » There were 550 people in the travel party. » Of the 45 people on the redacted Sugar Bowl list, 43 were in the athletic department. The other two were in the band, including the band director. » Projected total expenditures by UH: $1.94 million » Projected Sugar Bowl revenue: $4.39 million » Projected total revenue, including prepayments and reimbursements: $4.43 million » Projected net revenue for Sugar Bowl game: $2.49 million » Six people chose to reimburse the school rather than having their names included on the list.

The list encompasses the UH football team -- including family members -- band, cheerleaders and athletic department staff with about $1.3 million out of the total projected cost of $1.94 million going toward travel expenses.

UH is projected to net $2.49 million out of a payment of $4.39 million from its participation in the Bowl Championship Series game.

The names of 45 members of the Hawaii Government Employees Association were blacked out on the list due to a request from the union, which contended the disclosure would constitute "a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." Most of the names fell under "UH Manoa and Athletics Department Staff," with two under the band.

"This was done on the advice of our legal counsel," UH associate athletic director Carl Clapp said.

"We have released what amounts to our official party. We've made that available as best we can."

UH also did not identify six people who reimbursed the school for their expenses.

"They decided to pay their own personal expenses for the trip, and it is not considered a state expense," UH spokesman Gregg Takayama said. "The list that was made available today includes only those for whom the state paid their way. So they were not on the list."

Takayama said UH Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw decided to release the list Thursday afternoon. It was initially scheduled to be released in the first week of June.

"She wanted to try to clear the air at this point," Takayama said.

"I'm glad we're releasing this information. We're a public entity, and so we need to be transparent and provide the information. This was an issue that existed before I came on board and needs to be taken care of." Jim Donovan / UH athletic director

The list was drawn up under the direction of former athletic director Herman Frazier, who was fired later in January. Current athletic director Jim Donovan was hired in March.

"I'm glad we're releasing this information," Donovan said yesterday. "We're a public entity, and so we need to be transparent and provide the information. This was an issue that existed before I came on board and needs to be taken care of."

The Sugar Bowl payment is sent to the Western Athletic Conference, which then distributes UH's share to the school.

Along with travel costs, the $1.94 million in expenses covers game tickets, ticket office expenses, player gifts, training room expenses, bonuses for the coaches and athletic directors, and promotional costs.

According to "Travel Guidelines" provided by UH, the school offered to pay for immediate family members (spouses and children) of coaches, players, full-time trainers and equipment managers.

The Warriors' roster included 111 players, and the student-athlete and staff list was made of 178 people. Also making the trip were 263 band members, 21 cheerleaders and Rainbow Dancers, 82 athletic department staff members and six from the UH system, including President David McClain.

UH paid $753,645 for three charter flights and another $46,381 for domestic air travel. Housing the travel party at the New Orleans Marriott cost $250,467, and the school distributed $187,591 in per diems and incidentals.

The school spent $39,761 on player gifts (aloha shirts and iPod Touch personal Internet and multimedia devices), and coaches were paid $137,968 in bonuses.

According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia spent about $2.2 million for a travel party of 745 for the game.