In Minneapolis, Amelia Rayno noted Univ. of Minnesota AD Norwood Teague, "who left Virginia Commonwealth and agreed to a five-year contract at $400,000 per year, says he plans to spend the first 100 days of the new job mainly listening to staff, donors and constituents while evaluating the needs of the program before determining any plan of action." Teague said, "I think when you make decisions too early -- big decisions -- you make mistakes." Rayno noted Teague has "been involved with basketball coach Tubby Smith's potential contract extension." He said Monday the deal is "in the 11th hour." Teague also has "expressed a strong desire to implement a master facilities plan in order to organize priorities and mobilize donors." He said, "I know people have said I've had success fundraising and that's one of the reasons I was hired. But you know, it's hard work, you have to create a vision, sell it and it doesn't happen overnight" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/19).
TICKET SALES UPDATES: In Las Vegas, Ray Brewer noted there has been "a spike in UNLV basketball season-ticket sales this offseason, with roughly 800 to 900 seats remaining for sale on the lower bowls" of the 18,500-seat Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV Senior Associate AD D.J. Allen said that "about 95 percent of last year's 8,100 season ticket seats have already been renewed for the upcoming season." He added, "Another 800 seats have been reserved" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 6/15)....Univ. of Michigan CMO Hunter Lochmann said that the school this year has seen a "98.5% renewal rate on season tickets." Student season tickets are "expected to reach 22,000 again this season, with 18,800 sold and many freshman orders still coming in" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/18).
