Wildcat Wednesday - 9/19/12 - University of Arizona Athletics

Sept. 19, 2012

PAC-12 NETWORK UPDATE

We are just over one month into the new Pac-12 Network, and as with any new venture, there have been some early challenges. We appreciate your patience and understanding while the Network continues to work through two key issues: distribution and scheduling. While the immediate growing pains can be frustrating, we are excited to know that the Pac-12 Network will supplement the ESPN/ABC and FOX broadcast rights agreement and will provide more coverage than the University of Arizona has ever experienced.

We have received questions about the ongoing negotiations between the Pac-12 Network and DirecTV, as well as a number of other service providers that have not yet signed on to carry the Networks. While I am not directly involved in any of these negotiations, I can share with you the information that I know. A number of customers (primarily of DirecTV) have accused the Pac-12 Network of being greedy, indicating that we (the Pac-12 Network and member institutions) just need to get a deal done. I know that negotiations have taken longer than any of us had hoped, but please remember the Pac-12 Network has been able to come to an agreement with a number of carriers and our belief is that in time it will also get a deal done with DirecTV and other providers.

An agreement with DirecTV that includes a fair market rights fee is critical to the Pac-12 Conference member institutions. Our entry level football season ticket prices are the lowest in the Pac-12 (*see below) for the 2012 season. Our goal is to keep them as affordable as possible for our fans; we want you at Arizona Stadium to cheer on our team. We are relying, in part, upon revenue from the Pac-12 Networks to help achieve this goal, while still generating the income we need to meet the financial obligations in which we are now invested.

We have also received questions from current Cox and Comcast customers who live outside of the designated marketing area (i.e. the footprint) of the regional networks and are not receiving the Pac-12 Network in their areas. The Pac-12 has indicated it will continue to encourage our cable partners to widen their distribution outside of the DMAs, but this is a decision made by those providers. Keep letting them know you want the Pac-12 Network in those areas.

We have created a Pac-12 Networks information page on our website where we are compiling the information we have so that we may share it with you. The information we’ve collected will not answer all of your questions, but the link we’ve included should direct you to other sites where additional information can be found.

*2012 Football Season Ticket Prices

(comparing only adult entry level prices)

School Price Home Games

Oregon $396 7

Washington $250 6

CAL $225 7

UCLA $220 7

Stanford $179 6

Washington St. $175 5

Colorado $175 6

Utah $150 6

Oregon St. $138 7

ASU $120 6

Arizona $115 8

Prices provided by member institutions or official athletics Web site

RECOGNIZE THIS PLACE?

This is not a test. Yes, it’s McKale Center, with a lot of people wearing red. You, too, can join us here. The deadline for men’s basketball season-ticket renewals was last week. There are tickets available. Remember the story about Lute Olson telling UA fans in 1984 that it might be a good idea to get season tickets? And that those who did shared a legacy of sell-out patrons for decades? Coach Sean Miller’s put together a 2012-13 team of note, folks, and it might be smart to get in the door – ahead of time.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THIS PAST SATURDAY NIGHT

We’ve received rave reviews on this football season’s “Sounds of Arizona Stadium” videos. Our director of video production, John Daley, and his team to a marvelous job on all our videos, but especially these beside the scenes features. We’re also appreciative to Coach Rodriguez and the coaching staff for granting John and his team exclusive access. Click on the video graphic below to watch the “Sounds of Arizona Stadium” from this past weekend’s game against South Carolina State.

CERTIFICATION CHANGING

At the NCAA Convention next spring it is expected that a timetable for changes in the “certification” process will be established, meaning schools no longer will conduct a self-scrutiny process every few years but change to an annual “report card” system. After the change much of the data now collected by the NCAA (on academic performance, graduation rates, financial information and more) in periodic reports we provide will become data used in the annual study. This is perhaps information you don’t need in following the Wildcats, but it’s good to know a little bit about the back-end management with which we’re involved. Also, the change will come as we face an inside change of our own – the October 2013 retirement of long-time Deputy AD Rocky LaRose, who’s driven our certification process since it began.

INTRODUCING FAMILY PACKS FOR THE OREGON STATE GAME

In case you missed it, the September 29^th Oregon State football game kickoff time will be 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. For this game, we’re introducing a new ticket promotion that appeals to families. Family Packs offer a concession voucher with each ticket purchased, good for one hot dog, one soda, and either one bag of peanuts or one box of popcorn. This new promotion is only available for online orders and costs $25 per ticket. There is a minimum purchase of two tickets, but no maximum on how many you can buy. Family Packs will be available soon. Follow us on social media or check ArizonaWildcats.com for updates.

It’s a great special offer to see the 21st-ranked Wildcats take on the Beavers. I know by you receiving this e-mail, I’m preaching to the choir, but it’s time to rally your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc. and get the community behind this team. This is only the beginning. Tell them not to miss out on the journey, it’s the best part!

CLUB SEATING AND NORTH END ZONE LOWER-BOWL DEADLINE COMING UP

We’re less than two weeks away from the deadline for current Wildcat Club members and/or football season ticket holders to submit requests for 2013 seats in the new north end zone lower-bowl and club seating at the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility. The deadline is Sunday, Sept. 30^th. After the deadline, the people who submitted requests will each have a designated time window, based on their giving level, to select seats. The list of requests grows each day. We’ll soon have a showroom in the Jim Click Hall of Champions that will house samples of the seats found in the new area. I know it might be difficult to look ahead to 2013 with the exciting start the team is off to this year, but now is the time to get your request in if you want a chance to lock in some of the best seating options coming in 2013. Click here to submit a request.

JERRY COLANGELO EVENT

Jerry Colangelo is a man I have looked up to for a long time. As you can imagine I was thrilled when I was invited by Mr. Colangelo to participate in the Jerry Colangelo Basketball Hall of Fame and Golf Classic tonight and tomorrow in Phoenix. I appreciate Mr. Colangelo seeing the University of Arizona as and important ambassador in Phoenix and the entire state. #AZisWildcatCountry

A-CLUB LETTERWINNERS UPDATE

John Lowry, an Arizona football and track and field letterman from 1950-52, traveled across the Atlantic Ocean this past summer to coach the Bekescsaba Hungarian Raptors, a competitive football team with players ranging anywhere from 17 to 41 years old. Coach Lowry led his team to the championship game finishing second in the league. Showing true “Wildcat Spirit,” he will return to coach one more season in hopes of winning the championship. John will also be inducted in the Antelope Valley High School Hall of Fame in Lancaster, Calif., after nine seasons as the head football coach. We couldn’t be more proud to share John’s recent successes and look forward to hearing about next season…BEAR DOWN!

RED/BLUE BASKETBALL TICKETS ARE RED HOT

Are Wildcat fans excited about this upcoming men’s basketball season? In just a little more than two weeks since we put McDonald’s Red/Blue tickets on sale, we have sold over 4,600 tickets! Last year’s event was sold out and that is the expectation for 2012. If you’re planning on attending the game please get your tickets now. Remember, you can save $2 per ticket by purchasing in advance. Get your tickets now by clicking here or calling 520-621-CATS (2287). We continue to get RSVPs from members of the 1987-88 team that will be honored at the game. We’re looking forward to celebrating their anniversary of the 1988 Final Four, the first one for the program. It’s going to be a great weekend!

BASEBALL IN THE COMMUNITY

Four members from the Arizona Baseball team traveled out to Tucson Conquistadores Field of Dreams on Sept. 15to root on the participants of the annual Special Olympics Softball Tournament. Holly Thompson, the Area Director for the Tucson Special Olympics, mentioned that the Arizona baseball team members were phenomenal and made a large impact on the outcome of the event. Due to the volume of participants in the softball tournament, each player was able to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at one of the four fields used in competition. The Arizona Baseball team appreciates all of the support it receives from its fans, just as much as it enjoys serving Tucson through community-service efforts.

DOWN HOME AND UP TOP

Below, Wildcat fans Howard and Kyle Kahn (left) and Eric and Larry Leff in Arizona Stadium. At bottom left, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Vope are using the colors (and Wilbur and Wilma) to announce the due date for their future Wildcat. And at bottom right, Marcos (’09) and Tomas (’10) Rodriguez at the crest of Kilimanjaro in Africa. The colors are everywhere, at home and abroad. Bear Down with pride!

Continue to do what you can to help Arizona Athletics and:

Join the Wildcat Movement
Buy Season Tickets
Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
Get Others to Do the Same

Bear Down with Pride,

Greg Byrne
Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu