Nov 2, 2006 11:58 pm US/Mountain
CU Makes Changes To Get More Football Tickets Sold
by Shaun Boyd
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) ―
The a href="http://search.cbs4denver.com/?__LOGIC=911§ion=News&SearchString=University+of+Colorado">University of Colorado's football team may set a record for its last two home games for the lowest attendance at any Big 12 conference game.
Revenue from football ticket sales for this year is $400,000 below the budgeted amount so the university is making changes to turn things around.
CU football coach a href="http://search.cbs4denver.com/?__LOGIC=911§ion=News&SearchString=Dan+Hawkins">Dan Hawkins' record may be 1-8 but in Boulder, he's still the man.
There are loyal fans but maybe no one can compare to Jack Mitchell who has been a season ticket holder of 52 years.
"It always gives me a thrill still to see that buffalo run out on the field and hear the band playing," Mitchell said.
These days Mitchell is in a minority. There are 8,000 fewer season ticket holders today than just four years ago.
"Eventually you do say enough is enough," said Thomas Denning, a former season ticket holder. "We got tired of seeing the university getting dragged through the mud and seeing the ineffective leadership at the highest levels basically doing nothing. Who wants to support that?"
Denning was a season ticket holder for 13 years and gave up his seat this year along with 98 other club seat holders.
"We just didn't do a good job of connecting with them so I'll take responsibility for that," said athletic director a href="http://search.cbs4denver.com/?__LOGIC=911§ion=News&SearchString=Mike+Bohn">Mike Bohn.
In all fairness, the scandal, the schedule, and the record haven't helped.
"Winning is a big part of it but it's not the only part," Bohn said.
In order to win back fans, Bohn said upgrades to the stadium are in order. There will be 20 percent discounts next year on season tickets, family packages, $10 seats and for the first time, online ticketing.
"We've got to do a better job with our major employers in the area, we've got to do a better job with our sponsors," Bohn said. "The areas for improvement are so numerous. We've got to demonstrate to them that game day environment in Boulder is amongst the best in the country and it is."
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