Florida Atlantic Univ. AD Pat Chun’s objective when mapping out future football schedules is to "reduce the guaranteed-money road games to one a year while adding a sixth home game,” according to Tom D’Angelo of the PALM BEACH POST. But to make up for the approximately $1M that "will be lost by cutting one game against an elite program, Chun says playing at home ‘must be more profitable’ than playing on the road.” FAU has drawn “about 7,000 to 8,000 for each of its two home games this season -- about half of the announced attendance” in its second season at FAU Stadium. Chun said, “We have to have these dynamic comprehensive marketing plans … that allow us to get to six home games.” He added that those plans could include “creating an environment, atmosphere and traditions that make game day special.” FAU has “sold around 5,000 season tickets and the student section of 7,000 isn’t close to being filled.” The school this year begins $2.5M in "annual payments" on the $70M, 30,000-seat stadium. Chun said, “The way we’re built today the only guaranteed revenue (for the athletic department) is these guarantee games. That’s why we have to change our (marketing plan).” D'Angelo notes the school was paid $1M each by Georgia and Alabama this season to "pad their records.” FAU has contracts signed “for games at Auburn (2013), Nebraska and Alabama (2014), and Florida (2015), all of which come with about" a $1M paycheck. Additionally, the team also has a “three-game series with Miami scheduled, two on the road (2013, 2016) and one at home (2015),” with FAU receiving $1M total for the "two games at Sun Life Stadium.” Chun said that because of those commitments, the “earliest FAU can schedule six home games is 2015” (PALM BEACH POST, 10/3).
