Arizona reported $7.14M in ticket sales for football to the NCAA in '16-17GETTY IMAGES
Univ. of Arizona President Robert Robbins said that he "wanted fans at Pac-12 events this fall but joined his peers in voting against the idea because health restrictions differed within the conference footprint," according to Bruce Pascoe of the ARIZONA DAILY STAR. Robbins said, "The California schools just can't do it. That's a third of the schools we have in the Pac-12." Pascoe notes the decision likely "will cost Arizona at least several million dollars." Limited family members are "expected to be allowed in attendance but they typically are not charged." Arizona reported $7.14M in "ticket sales for football" and another $7.32M for men's basketball to the NCAA in '16-17. UA AD Dave Heeke last week said that his financial models "had included having 25-35% fans in attendance," suggesting the school might have been able to at least generate at least $4-5M from "limited ticket sales between football and basketball." Before the Pac-12 reversed its decision to postpone all sports until January, Heeke had forecasted up to a $64M "loss without football." He "declined to update that projection with the limited, no-fans football season that has now been approved" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 9/29).
