The Prime effect continues in Boulder, Colorado.
For the first time in school history, the university sold tickets to its spring football game, and it had already set a potential attendance record two months before the kickoff.
On the strength of new energy within the program due to the hiring of Hall of Fame NFL player Deion Sanders, the university has capitalized on its momentum.
According to Buffzone.com, the school has sold over 30,000 tickets for the April 22 event under its first-year head coach.
The previous attendance high for the spring football game was 17,800 in 2008. In 2022, there were only 1,950 fans who showed up, and it was worse in 2021, with only 1,000.
Although tickets to spring games have been free, only a few have taken the opportunity to get a sneak peek at the football team before it takes the field in the following fall. According to the report, this year’s output is on pace to surpass the attendance for the last seven combined games, with 30,450 attendees.
School officials say the school has already sold roughly 3,000 new season tickets for this year.
Sanders signed a reported $29.5 million with the Buffs over the next five years — for an average of $5.9 million yearly. That’s about $2 million more than the school has ever paid for a football coach.
In a December session with reporters, Colorado athletic director said at the time the school did not have the money to pay Sanders — but he isn’t “worried about that piece.”
After seeing the results so far, Sanders’ presence on campus appears to be paying off.
After his hiring, the school saw a spike in season ticket sales interest. It saw an increase in school merchandise sales, and the school hopes his presence helps the Pac-12 with its media rights deal. Colorado had the 23rd-ranked recruiting class, according to ESPN’s 2023 Board.
Sanders built a powerhouse program at Jackson State with top recruits, including wide receiver Travis Hunter and his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Both players have since transferred to the Boulder school.
Colorado opens its season on September 2 at TCU, the runner-up in last season’s College Football Playoffs. The Buffs open at home on September 9 against Nebraska. Single-game tickets will be sold to the public in mid to late May.
