Men's volleyball playoff match may not be televised

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The men's volleyball playoff match between host Hawai'i and Long Beach State might not be televised.

Although K5 and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation have reached an agreement to televise the match, UH has final approval.

UH officials will not agree if the telecast will hurt ticket sales for Saturday's opening round of the MPSF playoffs in the Stan Sheriff Center.

"We're in a wait-and-see mode," said Dan Schmidt, K5's programming director.

Yesterday, the 3,900 season-ticket holders were allowed to buy playoff tickets. UH associate athletic director Jim Donovan said about 2,800 tickets were purchased. Walk-up ticket sales begin at 8 a.m. today at the Sheriff Center box office.

UH officials declined to announce how many tickets they must sell before the television blackout is lifted.

Donovan said it costs up to $10,000 to stage a volleyball match in the Stan Sheriff Center. With UH receiving 15 percent of the gross revenue, UH would need to sell about 7,000 tickets to break even.

The MPSF receives the remaining 85 percent of the gross. The revenue from the four first-round matches is pooled, with money used to help defray travel expenses.

Although K5 owns the television rights to UH sports, the playoffs are considered to be an MPSF event. The MPSF is entitled to the entire television rights fee for playoff matches. Schmidt declined to announce the amount of the fee, but it is believed to be considerably less than the average per-event fee of $10,000 that K5 pays to UH.

UH coach Mike Wilton said he does not object to the revenue distribution system for the playoffs, even though the Warriors are expected to draw more fans — and gross more revenue — for their match than the other three playoff matches combined.

"The money keeps the MPSF alive," Wilton said. "Without that money, there's not enough to pay for travel."

Saturday's match will cost Long Beach State about $12,000 in travel, lodging and meals.

Note: Saturday's tickets are $13 (lower level), $10 (upper level for adults), $9 (upper level for seniors), $7 (UH students, ages 4-18). They are available at the Sheriff box office or by calling 526-4400.