Colorado University Athletics
CU-CSU Football Returns To Denver
DENVER ? The Metro Denver Sports Commission (MDSC) announced today that this year’s football game between instate rivals University of Colorado and Colorado State University will return to INVESCO Field at Mile High for the first time since 2003.
The schools will meet this Sept. 9, with kickoff already set for 3 p.m. MDT in a nationally televised game on College Sports TV (CSTV).
The universities signed a three-year agreement with MDSC and INVESCO Field insuring the game will stay in Denver through 2008. The agreement includes options that could extend the deal to 10 years. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. After this year, the game will be played the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 1, 2007, and Aug. 30, 2008).
“We are excited to play a role in bringing the state’s premier college football event back to Denver,” said Jon Schmieder, executive director of the MDSC. “We see an opportunity to create a greater sense of community involvement by hosting several special events around the game.”
“We salute the leadership efforts of the Metro Denver Sports Commission for its commitment to building upon this marquee college sporting event and creating a memorable community event for student-athletes, fans and alumni,” CU athletic director Mike Bohn said.
“It’s a great rivalry, so this is a great venue to showcase college football in Colorado. I’m excited to play a game at INVESCO Field at Mile High,” CU head coach Dan Hawkins said. I was at both (Denver Bronco) playoff games and sensed the excitement and electricity of the stadium. I want to see what it’s like for a college game when the stands are split in half for both schools, much like a bowl game.”
The MDSC has formed a Local Organizing Committee, chaired by board member David McReynolds, to host several community events including a golf tournament and a coaches’ kickoff luncheon.
Additionally, the game will feature an enhanced tailgating program. For the first time, CU and CSU fans will each have separate, designated tailgating areas in the parking lots surrounding INVESCO Field. Pregame festivities will include pep rallies and a parade of the two teams through their respective tailgates two hours before kickoff, creating an atmosphere similar to Auburn’s “Tiger Walk.” Details of the events will be developed through the organizing committee in the coming months.
General ticket information for University of Colorado season ticket holders and fans that follow the Buffaloes:
? Colorado State game tickets will be included in CU’s season ticket packages. Prices range from $235 to $355, plus variable donation levels for assorted premium seating (information at www.CUBuffs.com). Season ticket holders may apply for additional CSU game tickets when submitting their renewal form this spring.
? Seating will be allocated based on CU’s priority point system.
? The athletic department will sell full season ticket packages through July 31, 2006; on Tuesday, August 1, single game tickets will be available for the Colorado State game as well as all six home games at Folsom Field in Boulder.
? Once available, single game tickets for Colorado State are priced at $55 (reserved seats) and $85 (club level seating); if suites become available, those prices will be announced at a later date.
? A ticket price of $15 for University of Colorado students for the game (limit one per student) has been established, with the student sale to be conducted later this spring. The student allotment is 7,500, and it is not part of the student season ticket package for home games at Folsom Field.
Other particulars of the new CU-CSU agreement include:
? Prior to playing of the 2008 game, CU has the option of selecting Boulder as the site of the 2009 game; if so, CSU shall be paid $650,000 in a combination of the face value of 3,000 game tickets and the remainder in cash (CSU has until July 15, 2009 to purchase an additional 2,000 tickets at full face value).
? If CU exercises its option to play the 2009 game in Boulder, CSU has the same option to host the 2010 game in Fort Collins; if so, CU shall be paid $650,000 in a combination of the face value of 3,000 game tickets located in permanent seating and the remainder in cash (CU has until July 15, 2010 to purchase an additional 2,000 tickets at full face value).
? If CU does not exercise its option to play the 2009 game in Boulder, CSU shall not have the option to move the 2010 game to Fort Collins.
? REVENUE SPLIT: Ticket and other available revenue (excluding suite sales revenue) for any games played at Invesco Field will be split 55 percent to Colorado and 45 percent to Colorado State.
? TELEVISION RIGHTS. All television rights and fees are property of the designated home institution; however, if the 2008 game in broadcast by a Big 12 Conference television partner, CU has agreed to pay CSU $100,000 as a rights fee. This is due to the dramatic difference in rights fees that are paid to the respective conferences (CU?Big 12, CSU?Mountain West).
? In the event that either institution cancels for the games specified in the new agreement, the party canceling shall forfeit $650,000 unless there is mutual consent provided in writing.