Students may be receiving a refund on a portion of the student fees for the lack of sports they are able to view this semester according to the Athletics Director Tom Burman. He said he is working with student affairs and the Board of Trustees to accomplish this.
“Hopefully we will have that resolved soon and we can give money back to the students,” said Burman.
Courtney Thomas-Lichty of Student Affairs said that though they are working with Athletics on the fee topic they do not have the final say. Associated Students of the University of Wyoming (ASUW) and Aaron Courney, the director of student financial services, did not respond to communication on this matter.
Jordan Evans, a pharmacy student, said he went to every home football game he could due to it being his favorite thing to do in Laramie. When asked if he thinks students should be refunded for the sports he said it would be good but that “we also are at one of the most affordable schools in the country, so I won’t be too mad if it doesn’t happen.”
Burman said ticket holders for this season were offered refunds or credit but many donated the funds back due to the financial challenges the team is facing. Evans said if the university needed the money to keep the team then he would donate it like many of the individuals who bought season passes or tickets had.
The coaching staff has donated more than $100,000 to the team as well, said Burman.
The football team roughly brings in $2.8 million in ticket sales, $3.3 million in television revenue with part of that consisting of basketball as well, $2 million in corporate sponsorship revenue, $1.9 million from the College Football Playoff, and $400,000 in concessions according to Burman.
“If we do not play football at all this year, it is possible we will lose all of this revenue,” said Burman. “We are not making any money if we do not play.”
The service business of Laramie will experience their worst revenue this season without football, said Burman. He said he has spoken with many businesses that are “really nervous.”
Burman said his biggest concern for the team is their mental health.
“Football is not just a hobby at this level, this is what these young men do 24/7,” said Burman. “They are football players and when it is taken away, we need to try to keep them focused on school, and the future.”
