Univ. of Colorado AD Mike Bohn yesterday confirmed that the school is "talking with Frontier Airlines and other companies about buying naming rights to Folsom Field," according to Ann Schrader of the DENVER POST. Bohn said that any naming-rights deal would include a "commitment to keep Folsom Field as part of the football stadium's name." CU and Frontier officials "confirmed discussions but said no agreement had been reached and there is no timetable." Bohn and Carlo Bertolini, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications for Frontier Airlines parent company Republic Airways, acknowledged that Frontier execs "toured Folsom Field on Tuesday, when a message was placed on the stadium's video screen to give them an idea of what the name could look like." The sign read, "Welcome to Frontier Stadium" and included an image of an airplane. Schrader notes a "photo of the video screen was posted on an online fan forum" (DENVER POST, 3/24). In Boulder, Kyle Ringo reports Frontier Airlines "already is a major sponsor for CU athletics." CU is "believed to be targeting at least $1 million annually for the naming rights and an agreement ranging from 10 to 20 years." Such a deal would give the school "a significant chunk of new revenue at a time when it is badly needed." CU is leaving the Big 12 Conference for the Pac-12 on July 1, agreeing as part of the move to "forfeit nearly $7 million in conference distributions from the Pac-12." School officials estimate the conference change "could cost anywhere between $10 and $16 million" (Boulder DAILY CAMERA, 3/24).
