Ticket revenue for two of the University of Hawaii’s traditionally most productive sports — football and Rainbow Wahine volleyball — declined in 2017.
Combined, they brought in $315,712 less than the 2016 season, according to UH figures.
Football, which suffered through a 3-9 season (1-7 in the Mountain West), saw ticket revenue drop by $221,282 from 2016, when the Rainbow Warriors reached the Hawaii Bowl and finished 7-7.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Wahine volleyball, which rallied from an 0-3 start to finish 20-8 and reach the NCAA tournament, was down $94,430 for 19 dates.
Athletic director David Matlin told members of the UH Board of Regents last fall that football remains the biggest revenue engine for the 21-team department through various streams, including donations, sponsorships and media rights, and continues to make money, just not as much as in some previous seasons.
As a result, UH expects to continue to operate at a deficit for the current fiscal year that closes June 30.
An NCAA report estimates that only “about two dozen” of the schools that compete in the 129-member Football Bowl Subdivision UH calls home “generate revenues over expenses in a given year.”
UH football had six home dates at Aloha Stadium in the just-completed season, the same as 2016, and reported declines across the board in season ticket, individual game and mini-pack revenues. Turnstile attendance was down an average of 1,499 to 19,561 per game, according to announced figures.
While Rainbow Wahine season-ticket revenue declined $13,552, revenue from individual sales took the biggest hit, plummeting $80,878. They had 19 home dates each season.
Matlin said football season-ticket prices for 2018 will be the same as 2017 but will include seven games — four in the Mountain West and three out of conference — one more than last season.
The ’Bows are scheduled to open the season Sept. 1 against Navy at Aloha Stadium and, in addition to the Midshipmen, the nonconference home schedule includes Rice and Duquesne.
UH said it is scheduled to send out renewal notices to football season ticket holders Feb. 7 with a renewal deadline of March 9.
New sales will begin in late April to coincide with the spring game, Matlin said.
