The Rocky Mountain Showdown between Colorado and Colorado State takes place tomorrow at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, and the two teams meet there again in '18 and '19, but the potential for a return to the city in the future beyond that "is slim," according to Kyle Fredrickson of the DENVER POST. Officials from both schools "confirmed a long-term deal ... like the 10-year extension reached in 2009, is unlikely due to changing philosophies on scheduling." For the first time since '94, the Showdown "will stop" in '21 and '22, as CU’s nonconference schedule "has been completed without the Rams on it." The next "feasible option for the rivalry renewal" arrives in '23 and '24. It sets up the "likelihood of a two-years on, and two-years off rotation for the Rocky Mountain Showdown, as each school has nonconference dates available" in '28 and '29. With a "rapidly evolving college football landscape, including the potential for further conference realignment, CU and CSU are taking a historically short-term approach to provide flexibility in scheduling" (DENVER POST, 8/31).
SHOWING OUT FOR THE SHOWDOWN: In Colorado, Kelly Lyell noted more than 70,000 fans "are expected to attend" tomorrow's game. That would be the "largest crowd to see the in-state rivals play" since '03. Last year's game "drew 69,850, the largest crowd for the game since an overflow of 76,219" in '03. The combined tickets out reported by the two schools Tuesday were "nearly 64,000, with additional sales" and thousands of Broncos club-level ticket-holders "expected to opt in" for the game. CU, with a "larger base of season ticket-holders," gets 55% of the stadium's 76,125 seats to sell to its fans, while CSU receives 45% of the seats for its fans. CU Associate AD/Sports Information Dir David Plati said that 26% of the school's 20,405 season ticket-holders had "opted out of the Showdown in favor of additional tickets for another game at Folsom Field in Boulder" (Ft. Collins COLORADOAN, 8/29). Lyell noted beer, a popular item for fans at CSU football games, "is not sold during the Showdown although it is sold" during Broncos games and other events at Sports Authority Field. CSU AD Joe Parker, who is in his second year, "didn't know why beer sales were banned during the game." Both schools "had different" ADs when the 10-year contract for the series of games through '20 was signed. CU sells alcohol in "confined public beer and wine gardens at Folsom Field and in premium seating areas but not in the general seating areas" (Ft. Collins COLORADOAN, 8/30).
