Wednesday, December 16, 2015 | Football, Chris Harry
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The ticket price hike allowed the UAA to maintain a pledge made two years ago not to increase contribution fees to its 13,500 boosters for three years.
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The University Athletic Association Board of Directors approved a slight increase to season ticket prices for the 2016 football season during its biannual meeting Wednesday.
With no new revenue streams projected in the 2016 budget, the board signed off on a modest increase for both Gator Booster season ticket-holders and UF student season-ticket holders. The ticket price hike allowed the UAA to maintain a pledge made two years ago not to increase contribution fees to its 13,500 boosters for three years. The student increase will be the first since 2011.
Jeremy FoleyTickets for the 2016 season go on sale Jan. 12.
"These additional dollars will allow us to continue to maintain a high-level athletic program in our 21 sports," UF athletic director Jeremy Foley said. "Our students are very important to us. They create a special environment at all our venues and we try to maintain reasonable prices for them. That's the reason why this is the first increase in four years."
For boosters, prices will go from $300 to $330 per season ticket (or $4.28 per game) and produce approximately $1.4 million in revenue. Student prices will go from $105 to $140 (or $5 per game), yet both will remain in the median range relative to other Southeastern Conference programs.
Foley said it was worth noting the UAA did not consider changing the status of student men's basketball tickets -- which will remain free -- despite the $65 million renovation of the O'Connell Center currently underway and scheduled for completion in December 2016.
In other meeting developments:
* An update on the progress of the projected $25 million renovation to Farrior Hall was given by Chip Howard, executive associate AD for internal affairs. The project will expand the UAA's home to the Hawkins Center for Academic Excellence from its current 35,000 square feet to 82,000, with Phase 1 of construction on schedule to be completed in April 2016 and Phase 2 in December '16. "This facility will be completely dedicated to the overall improvement of our student-athletes' personal and academic success," Howard said. "At the end of the day, their success is our greatest victory. Not on the field and not in the pool, but in life. The facility will give them the necessary tools for that success."
*Mike Hill, executive associate athletic director for external affairs, gave a short presentation focusing on the future seating configuration in the O'Connell Center. With a virtual gutting of the arena and conversion from bleachers in the lower bowl and chair backs throughout the facility, Hill said all current season-ticket holders will be reseated based on the basketball Gator Boosters Loyalty Point System, which recognizes both season ticket longevity as well as booster contributions. Literally, he said, some seats fans have had for years will no longer exist. "The reality is everybody is going to have to accept there's going to be change," said Hill, adding the volleyball program will play its home games at Santa Fe Community College next season while the men's and women's basketball teams will barnstorm games around the state in November and December. "But when completed, the O'Dome and its amenities are going to be so much better. We'll all share in that." The seating of the Rowdy Reptiles, Hill made clear, will not change.
