Univ. Of Minnesota Among Schools Cutting Back On Bowl Expenses

Univ. Of Minnesota Cutting Back $100K In Expenses For Trip To Insight Bowl

The Univ. of Minnesota (UM) is “cutting back on expenses for its trip to this year’s Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., Dec. 31 -- chartering a smaller plane, sending staffers via commercial airlines and making some people who used to be part of the ‘official party’ pay their own way,” according to Ross & Youngblood of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. In total, the cuts will save UM “about $100,000 and put its spending well below its $1.35[M] budget for the bowl.” Meanwhile, “across the country, cheerleaders, faculty and the occasional marching band are being left behind as budget-conscious universities head to this year’s bowl games” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/26). In Columbus, Charlie Boss noted 233 people -- including a “handful of state lawmakers, professors and 10 trustees -- will be heading to southern California as part of Ohio State University’s official party to the Rose Bowl game.” And 127 are “going on the university’s dime,” while the rest are “paying about $2,600 for the package, which includes a game ticket, travel on a charted jet and a four-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.” Ohio State “will cover costs for some guests with $2.2[M] in bowl proceeds from the Big Ten Conference” (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 12/29).

IN THE CLEAR: The Fiesta Bowl in a statement Wednesday said an inquiry last week by former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods turned up “no credible evidence that the bowl’s management engaged in any type of illegal or unethical conduct.” The statement was in response to a report earlier this month that quoted employees of the organization who said that workers “received bonus payments for making campaign contributions to specified political candidates -- a practice that would violate federal and state laws” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/24).

ON THE SIDELINES: In Baltimore, Ryan Sharrow noted Under Armour “doesn’t have a football team playing in this year’s” BCS, meaning the company “will miss out on millions of dollars worth of television exposure.” A study by Joyce Julius & Associates found that Under Armour’s sponsorship of the Univ. of Utah’s football team “garnered $2.6[M] in exposure through the Utes’ appearance in last year’s Sugar Bowl” (BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/25 issue).