When the University of Arizona’s “financial crisis” was first revealed in the fall, UA president Robert C. Robbins said increased ticket prices would be one of the solutions to help the athletic department get out of the red.
The increases are substantial. For men’s basketball, the average price for a season ticket will go up about 20% next season. For football, the average increase is about 17%. For women’s basketball, it’s about 7%.
Season-ticket holders received notification of the increases Thursday. The email from Arizona Athletics included the following message:
“With the continued success of our programs, high demand for season tickets and our commitment to provide the resources our programs need to compete for championships, we will be implementing ticket price increases and benefit level adjustments for the 2024-2025 season.”
The UA athletic department has been operating in a deficit for several years. Robbins told the Faculty Senate in December that, since about 2018, the university has loaned the department about $86 million. Robbins recently decided to part ways with Athletic Director Dave Heeke; his last official day is Friday.
“The model of college athletics is broken,” Robbins told the Star this week. “The patient is in the ICU and is in critical condition.”
The increases in season-ticket prices for men’s basketball range from 16.8% to 20.4%. One example: A season ticket in the “C Middle” section — between the baselines — is going from $1,290 to $1,550, an increase of 20.2%.
The increases in season-ticket prices for football range from 6.7% to 27.3%. The smallest increases are for the highest-priced tickets, such as skyboxes (7%). Most of the biggest increases are for the lowest-priced tickets, such as eastside economy (27.3%).
The increases in season-ticket prices for women’s basketball range from 4.2% to 9.8%. The highest-priced ticket — “Reserved A” — is going up by $20.
Robbins estimated in December that season-ticket prices for men’s basketball and football would rise by 25%.
Purchasing men’s basketball season tickets for areas A-F requires a one-time capital-campaign contribution that can be paid over five years. The contributions for areas A, B and D are rising. A is going from $75,000 to $100,000; B is going from $50,000 to $75,000; and D is going from $10,000 to $15,000.
The UA also has added a new donor level for the Wildcat Club. The “Ruby & Sapphire” level, which costs $100,000, provides members with benefits such as a dinner with Arizona coaches and its athletic director, sideline passes for two football games and team-signed memorabilia.
Three Wildcat Club benefit levels will require increased donations: The Button Salmon level is going from $5,000 to $6,000; the Directors level is going from $2,500 to $3,000; and the Coaches level is going from $1,000 to $1,500.
Interim athletic director Mike Candrea is expected to address ticket prices and other issues at a news conference next week.
“We thought the future was gonna be brighter as a member of the Big 12. … I think this is a very exciting deal for us.” — Arizona president Robert Robbins; Video by Justin Spears/Arizona Daily Star
