Colorado Announces Season Ticket Prices, Schedule

BOULDER - The University of Colorado announced the completion of its 2011 football schedule along with season ticket prices and the renewal process Thursday.

All but one game on CU's schedule this fall, its inaugural season as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, has been known for months.  The one open date, earmarked for a home game on Sept. 10, will in fact be a non-league game against a Pac-12 member, with California confirmed to  play at Folsom Field to complete a home-and-home series between the two; the Buffaloes played in Berkeley last Sept. 11. 

The Pac-12 Conference office approved of CU and Cal playing the game as a non-league affair to fulfill the contractual obligations.  The last time Colorado played a conference school with the game not counting in the standings was in 1923 versus Northern Colorado when both were members of the 11-team Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Thus, California joins the previous announced visits to Boulder by Washington State (Oct. 1), Oregon (Oct. 22), Southern California (Nov. 5) and Arizona (Nov. 12).  A sixth game, the annual rivalry contest with Colorado State at Denver's Invesco Field, will be included in CU's season ticket and is set for Sept. 17.  No game times or television arrangements are known at this time, but the first three weeks of the season should be finalized by June 30.

Season tickets are one again priced on five different levels; while there will be a small increase for selected season tickets this year (two levels), most locations will see a decrease in price.  For Level 1 and Level 2 tickets, the price will be $403, or $67 per game; however, since the ticket package is for six games and not seven, the overall price is the same as in 2010.  With the move to the Pac-12, some sacrifices had to be made and in CU's instance, that worked out to just five home games in Boulder this fall; school officials desire six games in Boulder annually and are working to that end in future scheduling.

Level 3 season tickets will cost $375, or $80 less than last season; the price for Level 4 is $225 ($95 less), with the cost for Level 5 set at $120, though is available for a limited time and is in honor of CU's move to the Pac-12; tickets at that level last year cost $235.  Donations for all levels are unchanged; a complete look at the pricing structure:

The seating process for the CSU game remains the same as in 2010, with all season ticket holders in the Folsom Field bowl initially located into upper level seats at $55; they then have an option to upgrade to the lower level for $90.  Club seat holders (Flatirons and East Side) will shift into $110 club level seats at Invesco, and have the option to downgrade if they choose.

CU last raised football season ticket prices ahead of the 2009 season, with small tweaks for the three mid-levels in 2005.

There is one adjustment for approximately 20-percent of season ticket holders.  In 2004, athletic officials developed a donor benefit seating plan for selected seats in Folsom Field.  Depending on the seat location, season ticket holders contributed a seat donation between $25 and $300 per seat, in addition to the cost of the ticket. Some reserved seats in the south end of the stadium do not require a donation and student reserved seats have never and will not require a donation.

Due to the challenges associated with the complexities related to implementation of the seat donation, a commitment was made to delay charging approximately 1,200 season ticket holders the seat donation for three years.  The seat donation waiver for these individuals was extended two years beyond the original three-year time period.  Given the move to the Pac-12 and the fact that all other individuals sitting in the same sections are paying the seat donation, in the interest of fairness and consistency the seat donation for these fans will be implemented beginning this fall. 

Current and retired faculty and staff will have an option to move to Section 220 (located on the second deck at the 20-yard line) and pay only the cost of the ticket with no seat donation.  All other individuals will be assessed the seat donation if they want to sit in a premium section where one is required.

Season ticket holders are now able to immediately renew their seats online at www.cubuffs.com/tickets; those fans renewing online by the March 25 deadline will be entered in drawings to win CU Athletics apparel.  Those interested in becoming season ticket holders will be able to get on the wait list, also starting immediately, and will be placed into seating assignments once the renewal process for current season ticket holders is completed.