Oklahoma nearly perfect with season ticket renewals

Oklahoma has a 99% season ticket renewal rate for the 2009 season.

Oklahoma University, fresh off finishing as the College Football National Runner-up last season, has achieved a 99% renewal rate for the upcoming 2009 season. This extraordinary ticket renewal rate has also enhanced their ability to fundraise, creating revenue off donors searching for better seats and to give back to the program.

The 99% renewal rate applies to the 77,000 season tickets the program sells annually. Those who wish to purchase a season ticket must make a donation to the Sooner Club, which in turn will award priority points. The tickets are then allocated by availability and the amount of priority points obtained. These points are accumulated in a variety of ways, including 3 points for every $100 donated, loyalty points for consecutive years of holding season tickets, as well as capital campaign giving and numerous other activities.

While it certainly helps to have a football team that ranks nationally nearly every year, Oklahoma has done a wonderful job getting donors excited and giving back. In turn, the athletics department made an announcement in June that they would be giving $7 million back to the university in support of academic programs.

For more information on the Sooner Club, the economic impact of one home football game in Norman (estimated to by $8.8 million), and other information, click here.

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Clemson leverages Spring Football game to benefit good cause

Clemson University used their Spring Football game to support employees who will struggle financially with a furlough. Image via Wikipedia

As budgets are shrinking at universities around the country, a popular way to handle cutting costs has been to institute a furlough for university employees. During this time, an employee is required to take a certain amount of time off without pay, essentially a mandatory leave from work.

While many employees are not happy to take a furlough, some can get through the year with the reduced income. However, some are not as lucky. Clemson University, a school who recently instituted a furlough, has found a unique way to handle this situation.

On the urging of new Head Coach Dabo Swinney, the school placed orange colored “All In” barrels throughout the concourse during the Spring Football game. The 24,000 people in attendance helped raise over $7,000 dollars to be donated to the One Clemson Furlough Fund. Clemson University, after recieving the money, has assembled a team of fund managers to disperse the money among applicants.

This is a great example of a department building relationships across the campus by donating funds to be used for those who are less fortunate. At many colleges, the academic side of campus can be hesitant or reluctant to support athletics. However, displays of such generosity go a long way to creating friends on the academic side of the university and enable the university to work together to get through tough economic times.

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