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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Ticket price hikes called reasonable


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Carl Clapp

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A proposal to raise the maximum limits on the prices the University of Hawai'i may charge for tickets to its athletic events drew no significant opposition at a sparsely attended public hearing on campus last night.

Six speakers asked questions and offered comments but none opposed a plan that could go to the Board of Regents as early as next month.

The most noticeable increase would be a jump from $38 to $50 on the price of some individual sideline seats for the Sept. 2 football game against Southern California.

Some premium seat charges in football, women's volleyball, men's basketball, men's volleyball and baseball could jump by as much as $20 per ticket over a period of years, if approved by the board.

In addition, some seats for students might no longer be free.

Associate athletic director Carl Clapp said the new price ceilings, if approved, would likely remain in place "from three to five years or so."

A veteran season ticket holder in four sports who identified himself only as "Rodney" said the proposals were "pretty reasonable."

Basil Sparlin of the men's volleyball booster club, said, "I understand what they are trying to do and I don't think it is unreasonable."

But Sparlin said "how they manage that whole right pricing to get the maximum revenue but not drive people away is a tricky business for them. I don't envy them having to do it."