The Economy and UH Sports

Ferd Lewis has two articles about how the economy is affecting UH sports. His first article takes a look at declining attendance and possible budget cuts and/or layoffs.

Athletic director Jim Donovan, who late yesterday sent out an in-house e-mail about "belt tightening" to staff and coaches, said, "Our (income) numbers have softened up from about Nov. 1st on and we're looking at ways we can achieve some savings."

Donovan stressed he is not considering cutting any of the 19 sports UH operates, aid to athletes or coaches' positions. "When it comes down to it, we're here for the student-athlete," Donovan said. "Making cuts in those areas can have a detrimental impact for years to come."

Much of the slide in ticket sales came "in the second half of the (football and women's volleyball seasons)," Donovan said. "The two rainy football games really hit us hard. I knew the economy was impacting us when we were playing the 13th-ranked team in the country (Cincinnati) on a sunny day, had just clinched a bowl berth and only (35,309) showed up."

In addition, stock-based endowments have taken "major hits" and contributions have slowed, Donovan said.

Ferd then writes how the athletic department is reducing concession prices to make it a little more affordable to attend games.

Beginning with Saturday's Western Athletic Conference men's basketball opener against Boise State, 105 of the 110 items sold at UH athletic events at the Stan Sheriff Center, Les Murakami Stadium and Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium will be cut from 10 to 20 percent, according to UH officials. Food items will be reduced by 20 percent and alcohol by 10 percent.

Donovan said the impetus for the changes came from his family's experience at a men's volleyball match in March, his first week on the job. Donovan, who had been away from UH for five years, said he was surprised at the $80 tab to take a family of four to the match.

Since then he has set about repricing tickets and looking at other ways to, in his words, "make our events more fan- and family-friendly. We want to make it so fans can go to our events without feeling the hurt in their wallets," Donovan said.