Colorado University Athletics
Bohn Touches Most Bases In Roundtable Discussion
February 16, 2010 | General, B.G. Brooks
BOULDER - The University of Colorado will not raise its 2010 season football ticket prices, athletic director Mike Bohn announced Tuesday during a roundtable discussion with media that regularly cover the Buffaloes.
Bohn called CU's 2009 season ticket pricing structure "family friendly pricing that was really received well . . . ," and he saluted Buffs fans for "helping us meet our budget number with football tickets."
Football ticket prices last season were raised from $50 per game to $58 in two of five designated areas, with all other prices for seats at Folsom Field remaining the same as in 2008.
CU's 2009-10 athletic department budget is about $45 million, and Bohn said due to the harsh national economic climate, "to be able to grow our budget . . . probably is optimistic."
CU's assistant coaches, Bohn said, likely will see their salaries frozen in 2010, but he added the athletic department will follow the university's lead on that matter.
"Campus hasn't made that determination, but I would anticipate that that would probably be the case," he added. "Our coaches have been great; I can't think of a coach across the board who has been over budget in the last two years."
Home football attendance averaged 50,088 in 2009, the second-highest figure in the past four seasons. In 2008, the Buffs played before an average of 49,476 fans. The 2007 figure was 50,509 and 46,053 for the previous season.
Two of the stadium's 41 luxury suites were sold last month and Bohn anticipates "a capacity environment this fall with our suite holders . . . we're in the process of renewals right now; this year's prospects are very exciting for us."
The majority of the suites are sold on an annual renewal basis, Bohn said.
"When you look at those numbers you begin to get a sense of the confidence we have in the loyalty of our fan base . . . I have a lot of faith in our fan base," he said. "I think we're going to have a continued support for our football program. I think the basketball program this season embodies that as well. So we couldn't be happier with our fan base, and we recognize the tough economic times that are out there.
Bohn will participate in several "dialogue discussions" with fans on several upcoming occasions to "engage with us and talk about the program, the future, where we want to go and their long-term support and how important it is to us."
A "50 for 50" donation campaign - or 50 donors contributing $1 million each - has been publicly discussed and acknowledged by Bohn as being on his "wish list."
Bohn's take on the subject: "It would be great to put something like that (together). Do we look for million dollar donors? We do constantly . . . but we also have a very significant role for the donor that buys a season ticket, to the volunteer, to the individual game ticket purchaser. And that's really the model that's working for us and has worked . . ."
A more viable fund-raising campaign, he said, is "Glory Colorado" - an enterprise that finds the department "working hard with our foundation people and leaders and major donors to try and formulate an opportunity for us to build a model based on traditional fund-raising campaigns, where we have top donors and donors at other levels."
Bohn said CU has been "in the silent phase of 'Glory Colorado' campaign for some time now."
Other topics discussed by Bohn during the nearly hour-long session included:
- CU-COLORADO STATE TICKET ADJUSTMENT
The CU-CSU football game returns to Invesco Field at Mile High this season. It will be CSU's home game, but also will be part of CU's season ticket package.
Ticket prices are based on four pricing levels, with stadium season ticket holders billed in Level 3 ($55). But they will have the opportunity to upgrade to Levels 1, 2 or 4.
Season ticket renewal letters, offering more information on the upgrade plan, are scheduled to be mailed this week. Fans also will have the ability to renew their season tickets on-line, as well as by telephone.
Bohn said the seating adjustments for the Sept. 4 game at Invesco was "put together in collaboration" with CSU officials, CU ticket and development staff "based on feedback we've received. It's user friendly for them to be able to put that together."
- 2010 EXPECTATIONS FOR FOOTBALL, DAN HAWKINS
CU's football program will be under the microscope - locally and nationally - this season. Coach Dan Hawkins begins his fifth season with an overall record of 16-33, with only one postseason appearance (2007, Independence Bowl)
"There's no question the expectations are high, and they're high because Dan has set them high," Bohn said. "I think Dan has a lot of confidence in his team and the continued growth (and) competitiveness of his team.
"Despite what some people think, I think our home schedule is perfect for the situation that we're in right now. Dan has consistently proven that he's been able to get his team ready to win big home games."
CU's 2010 home schedule includes Hawaii, Georgia, Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech and Kansas State.
Continued Bohn: "There's no question that we have big expectations (for the 2010 season), but again, that's something that Dan's helped set the stage for. And his team's up for that. Fans have big expectations as well and I have big expectations for Dan to continue what he's been of late - focused on football . . . winning and representing (CU) with a great deal of pride and being very competitive."
- JEFF BZDELIK'S FUTURE, PRACTICE FACILITY GROUND BREAKING
Men's basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik has two years remaining on his original five-year pact. Bohn said he and Bzdelik briefly discussed his contract last year.
Bzdelik, said Bohn, "has been so focused on his team, he wants to earn it (an extension). I salute him for that, and at the appropriate time after the season, I hope we have to opportunity to visit with him about it."
He said Bzdelik has distinguished himself with his game-day abilities, his off-court efforts for the Buffs program and his recruiting.
"Every day, Jeff's roots (at CU) get deeper and deeper," Bohn said. "He's touched by the fan support, the student support, the excitement generated on game day and the great league we play in . . .
"In my opinion, those things mean a lot to Jeff. He knows how hard everybody here is working along with him, and that touches him."
However, Bohn said he would not be surprised if Bzdelik was pursued "by the NBA or any major opening across the country."
But Bohn indicated he was betting on Bzdelik's "love for Colorado" keeping him at CU. "Who wouldn't want to be around a great community like Boulder - healthy, happy, fun?"
With six games remaining in his third season, Bzdelik's overall record is 32-55. The Buffs have not reached the postseason in his two previous seasons.
Groundbreaking for CU's new basketball/volleyball practice facility is set for March 25 at 12:30 p.m. at the north end of the Coors Events Center.
The facility, to be built adjacent to the Events Center, will cost about $10.8 million and will be funded with private monies raised by the athletic department. Bohn said the project is not yet fully funded: "We will be using some resources that the athletic department has generated through other sources."
He also indicated that an announcement on naming rights could be forthcoming: "We're not in position to announce it at this time, but we would anticipate something like that coming together."
The expected completion date is approximately 11 months after construction begins - or April, 2011.
- SPECULATION ON CU'S FUTURE CONFERENCE AFFILIATION
Perhaps the current hottest topic on the national college scene is league expansion and subtraction - who might leave what conference and who might join another.
CU is listening, but no official calls have been made.
A charter member of the Big 12 Conference, CU unofficially has been linked to possible expansion by the Pacific-10 Conference. That league's television contracts - a prime piece in any expansion scenario - expire in 2011-12.
Bohn, of course, has stay attuned to the issue. He's communicated with Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe, as have all other Big 12 athletic directors.
"That's a national issue right now - the speculation associated with league affiliation," Bohn said. "We're committed to the Big 12 Conference, we're committed to being competitive in the Big 12 Conference.
"However, there is a different feel right now about movement across the country. So, obviously, we're mindful of that and we're trying to do everything we can to insure we're supportive of the Big 12 . . . but speculation right now is a big distraction for us because it's simply that."
While the Big Ten and Pac-10 have been the two conferences expansion speculation has centered on, Bohn said "to be honest with you, the Big 12 is talking about where do we expand, where do we look for opportunities as these things come together?"
Bohn expressed a "great deal of confidence" in Beebe and his leadership. He also said CU chancellor Phil DiStefano was on campus in 1994 when the Pac-10 issued a formal membership invitation to CU and was declined.
"That experience will bode well for us. We'll just have to kind of monitor it as much as we can," Bohn said, adding that CU's fan base and academic standing will be of great benefit "regardless of what league we're in . . .
"We have not called the Pac-10 or the Big Ten and they have not called us. Again, we're focused on being a great member of the Big 12 Conference."
Bohn believes Big 12 ADs and administrators recognize the Southeastern Conference's recent TV agreements "have created a gap for us, and we're working every day to try and close it."
The "gap" is considerable: The SEC recently signed a 15-year TV agreement with ESPN that will pay $2.25 billion. Also, the league has a 15-year deal with CBS worth $825 million.
"Again, that's why I salute Dan and his staff," Bohn said. "They understand that; they're working hard with our TV partners for every opportunity for us to be able to feature our great league."
Asked to project a timeline when the pieces might begin coming together nationally for new conference affiliations, Bohn said his "personal sense" was this summer.
"But again, that's mere speculation, that's a guess. I don't have anything to back that up with - no invitations, no discussions, nothing. But if I had to guess, that would be my guess."
- CU'S AD ON HIS FUTURE
In April, 2005, Bohn signed a five-year contract - one of six multi-year pacts permitted by CU - to succeed Dick Tharp as athletic director.
Bohn received an extension in November 2007 during the tenures of former CU President Hank Brown and former Chancellor Bud Peterson that was approved by the school's Board of Regents. Bohn's contract now expires in November, 2012.
"I'm a Boulder native, I love (CU) and what we're doing here," Bohn said. "I recognize that we haven't achieved the level of scoreboard results as many people would like us to, but I am extremely proud of everything we've been able to do.
"I'm very proud of the staff we have (and) the synergy with president (Bruce) Benson and Phil DiStefano. I'm going to do everything I can to ensure that my tenure at (CU) is as long as possible. But I don't get to determine that."
Bohn said he loves the university's direction and believes Boulder and the Front Range are "vibrant . . . I'm enjoying working hard to build something we can be proud of. The partnerships we're building are designed for long-term relationships . . ."
Bohn emphasized the program "is bigger than the AD, the football coach, the basketball coach . . . it's about the kids, the program, the university, the community and the constituents that we touch. That's what it's about . . .
"Our passion, and my passion, for what we're doing has never been higher. Is that based on competitive results? Yeah. But it's also based on continued progress of what we're putting together."
- ETC: Bohn thanked Steamboat Springs and the city's planning committee "that's really busted their tails" in preparation for the NCAA Ski Championships (March 10-13). "The people of Steamboat make that a special (event) for us," Bohn said . . . . Members of CU's 1990 co-national championship team will be back in Boulder for the Buffs' game on Oct. 2 vs. Georgia. CU is working with Nike on commemorative jerseys associated with the '90 team. Bohn also said the school will continue with the tradition this fall of adding members to the Hall of Fame . . . . Bohn saluted Boulder for being named the "happiest city in America" in a recent national poll. "We take great pride in that distinction - no other BCS representative in the country can say that," he said. "When our fan base in engaged at Folsom Field, in a part of our game-day experience, it's something special. It's something we're proud to hang our hat on."
