Contributions down from UGA football fans

Athens - Amid a raging recession, and in the aftermath of a disappointing three-loss season, Georgia football fans are contributing about 11 percent less money than last year for the right to buy season tickets.

Contributions tied to football tickets hit a record $26.3 million last year, fueled by sky-high expectations for the 2008 team. But contributions appear destined to fall to about $23.5 million this year, roughly the same as in 2007, associate athletics director for external operations Alan Thomas said.

The decline, he said, results from fewer first-time donors and smaller donations by some customers who apparently intend to reduce their number of seats.

Georgia, like most major colleges, requires donations from fans before allowing them to buy or renew football season tickets. Georgia’s deadline for “Hartman Fund” contributions toward qualifying for 2009 season tickets was midnight Sunday. But because Monday was Presidents’ Day, Georgia considers any contributions that were postmarked by Tuesday to have made the deadline.

At latest tally, donations had been received of between $22 million and $23 million, Thomas said. He said the number will be “fluid” for a few more days but expressed confidence it will settle close to $23.5 million.

“Despite the downturn in the economy, I’m still very pleased with the Hartman Fund contributions,” Georgia athletics director Damon Evans said in an e-mail. “While we are going to be down from our record 2008 totals, I think the prospect of approaching the 2007 level is very good.”

The contributions are the first step in the season-ticket process.

For existing season-ticket holders, a required minimum “contribution” of $250 to $2,000 per seat per year — the amount depends on seat location — earns the right to buy the tickets for $40 per seat per game. Both ticket price and the minimum contributions are the same as last year. Contributions above required minimums gain additional benefits, such as the right to buy road and bowl tickets.

Early next month, Georgia will send season-ticket order forms to donors.

After Georgia fills renewals, it will consider new orders on the basis of customers’ lifetime contributions. Last year, non-renewals were so rare that total contributions of $10,651 were required to become a first-time buyer — more than four times the previous year’s level.

Thomas said this year’s cutoff for first-time buyers won’t be calculable until at least April.

He predicts a season-ticket turnover rate of 2 to 3 percent — higher than last year but “back to the normal rate.”