Texas could earn bonus if Longhorns basketball game draws 75,000
10:31 PM CDT on Monday, August 3, 2009
By GARY JACOBSON / The Dallas Morning News
Can the Longhorns' men's basketball game against reigning NCAA champ North Carolina on Dec. 19 at Cowboys Stadium draw 75,000 fans?
No one is making predictions yet, but the agreement for the game gives the Longhorns a $75,000 bonus if that mark is reached.
Tickets are priced at $30, $50, $75, $200, $250 and $500, a Texas basketball spokesman announced Monday. They go on sale to the public Saturday through Ticketmaster (
www.ticketmaster.com).
The largest crowd ever to see a Longhorns' basketball game was 54,432, in the 2003 NCAA semifinals against Syracuse at the Superdome in New Orleans, according to the team's online media guide.
The largest crowd ever for a college basketball game was 78,129, in 2003 for a regular-season game between Kentucky and Michigan State at Ford Field in Detroit.
"I don't know what to expect," said Nick Voinis, the senior associate athletics director for communications at UT when asked about possible attendance.
Dallas sports promoter Barry Mendelson, who helped arrange the game, said he expects a "good crowd" because of UT's fan base in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the caliber of the opponent.
"We wanted a game commensurate with the quality of facility, and that facility is the best in the world, as far as I'm concerned," Mendelson said.
UT and North Carolina are guaranteed $200,000 apiece for the game, according to a copy of the contract obtained by The Dallas Morning News through an open records request.
In addition, a side letter between Cowboys Stadium and UT promises a $25,000 bonus if more than 35,000 tickets are sold; another $25,000 if more than 50,000 tickets are sold; and another $25,000 if more than 75,000 tickets are sold.
Both teams receive 200 free tickets directly behind their benches, the contract states. And UT gets up to 40 free hotel rooms for up to two nights, according to the side letter.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has said he thinks the 2010 NBA All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium – with tickets priced from $25 to $500 – can draw 100,000 or more.
