UH may bump premium fees for football, volleyball

Premium seating The University of Hawai'i Board of Regents will consider a proposal to increase the premium fee charged on top of the face value of some football season tickets at Aloha Stadium. Source: University of Hawai'i

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

Season-ticket holders may have to pay more in premium fees to watch Tim Chang and the Warriors. Advertiser library photo • Oct. 19, 2002

And fans who purchase single-game tickets to both sports would also face price increases of $5 to $10 over three years in most categories under the new proposed ticket pricing schedule that goes before the regents Thursday.

Athletic department officials, who yesterday declined comment, have previously described the increases as "overdue" and "necessary" to reverse a two-year deficit budget and keep the school's 19 teams competitive.

Under the proposal, which has been aired at a public hearing, UH would realize approximately $350,000 in additional football revenue this year and $35,000 more from volleyball. By 2005, football is projected to bring in nearly $1.1 million more than last year, and volleyball an additional $105,000 through the price hikes.

If the proposal is approved, the price hikes would be reflected in the statements UH hopes to send out to football season-ticket holders next month.

Other sports could eventually be in line for price hikes.

Football season-ticket holders currently pay from $25 to $50 on top of the face value of the season tickets. Rainbow Wahine volleyball fans pay $40 above face value for the opportunity to sit in desirable locations.

Under the athletic department's proposal, those sitting in some Aloha Stadium locations would pay as much as $220 at the end of a three-year period.

Volleyball season-ticket holders would see an incremental increase to $60 this year, $80 in 2004 and $100 in 2005.

Even by 2005, however, the top categories will still be less than the $300 currently required of members of Koa Anuenue, the athletic program's umbrella booster group.

UH officials have discussed trying to bring premiums in line with Koa Anuenue charges within five years, but the current proposal does not address premiums past 2005.

Tier system for tickets

Football season tickets range from $77-135. Rainbow Wahine volleyball season tickets are $100-$155.

Fans who purchase single-game tickets would not have to pay the premium, but would face price hikes in most price ranges depending on the caliber of opponent. UH has proposed a four-tier system in football and a three-tier plan in volleyball.

For example, the price of single-game sideline seats for opponents from Bowl Championship Series conferences such as Alabama would rise from the $28 that was charged last year to $38 in 2005. The price of a Tier IV opponent, such as Division I-AA Appalachian State, would jump from $19 to $24.

In volleyball, the price for Tier I opponents, which are categorized as "top 25 level" teams, would rise from $14 for seats in the lower arena to $19.

One prominent exception to the football price hikes would be season tickets in the North end zone where prices would drop from the $117 that was charged last season to $99 this year. By 2005, those seats would still cost only $109.

UH officials said 80 percent of the premium charge may be tax deductible. UH students will be exempt from premium seat donations.

Athletic director Herman Frazier did not return calls to The Advertiser yesterday and aides said he would not comment until after the regents meet.

UH began premium seating two years ago with a $10 to $25 surcharge on some football season tickets and raised the premium from $25 to $50 on some last year.

Jessie Hoomalu, a long-time season-ticket holder in football, said the proposed hike is "unfair for season-ticket holders, especially those who have tickets in more than one sport. Season ticket holders who have had their seats for years should receive a break."

Following a $1.5 million deficit for the last fiscal year, and a projected shortfall of more than $1 million this year, Frazier has, in the past, lamented UH's late introduction of premium seating, saying "Fresno State has been doing it (for) 20 years. I was selling $500 premium seats (at Arizona State) in the '70s. If you were on the 50-yard line in the loge, you paid $500 in the '70s. Now, some of those people are paying $3,000 and $4,000."

Advertiser staff writer Brandon Masuoka contributed to this report.