The Univ. of Michigan on Friday announced what it calls a "moderate" increase in football ticket prices for the ‘12 season, according to Kyle Meinke of ANNARBOR.com. The six-game home slate “will go for $390, an average of $65 per game,” and that is “an increase of $5 per game from 2011.” Single-game options are available as well. Michigan “designates the Oct. 20 game against Michigan State as premium and will charge $95.” Matchups against Air Force, Massachusetts, Illinois, Northwestern and Iowa “will cost $75.” Marquee games last year against Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State “were $85, and everything else $70.” Michigan previously revealed that “student season ticket prices also will rise,” costing $32.50 per game, plus “a one-time fee of $10.” That is “a $2.50 bump per game from last season” (ANNARBOR.com, 3/31). CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS’ Bill Shea noted Michigan “raised ticket prices last year for the first time in seven seasons.” The price increases are “based on benchmarking the ticket costs against similar schools” (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 4/2).
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL: In Ann Arbor, Kellie Woodhouse noted recent successful seasons for the Michigan men's basketball and football teams “elated fans as hundreds of donors either gave to Michigan for the first time or found the school again after a rocky, short-lived” era under former football coach Rich Rodriguez. Between July ’11 and Feb. ’12, the athletic department “received $29.6 million in donations, up 12 percent from the $26.5 million collected during the same period a year earlier.” The number of donors also “increased, rising from 15,280 during the first eight months of fiscal 2010-11 to 16,440 during the first eight months of fiscal 2011-12.” Senior Associate AD for Development Chrissi Rawak said that the uptick “isn't a coincidence.” She also said there is "no question" that the string of Michigan wins contributed to the extra cash (ANNARBOR.com, 4/1).
