Move over Texas A&M.
According to TCU, the Horned Frogs have won national championships in 1935, 1938 and now 2018.
Can’t wait for the banner to be unveiled.
According to the renderings for the new East Side stadium expansion that is currently underway at Amon G. Carter Stadium, the artist who drew up the colorful plans went all-in on the sales pitch and gave the Horned Frogs the title this season.
Considering how the frauds who comprise the College Football Playoff committee treat Fort Worth’s team, or any non traditional power school, TCU giving itself a title is not a bad call. After all, it worked at Kyle Field.
Always best to put on your Sunday best when you are asking someone for millions and millions of dollars. And a few more millions.
Whatever the pitch was, which was formally launched last year, it has worked.
According to TCU officials, despite steep prices, the school has sold all but one of the 20 luxury suites that are scheduled to open in the fall of 2019.
While filling up Amon G. for a regular season game at the private school remains a constant work in progress and an aggravating migraine, which is now a nationwide trend for even places like Ohio State, TCU has mastered the challenge of packing its luxury suites.
Some stereotypes just write themselves.
HIGH DOLLAR SELLS
TCU director of athletics Jeremiah Donati said all 48 of the loge boxes have been sold, and approximately 60 percent of the club seats are gone, too.
“We’re pleased with the progress to date,” he said. “Still a little more to do but we’re in a good spot overall.”
For only an initial price of $5 million, you could have had one of the two suites located on the 50-yard line. But, good news, that payment is over five years so the initial sting won’t cripple you at Christmas time.
After that, all you had to do was commit to giving TCU, a school always teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, $1 million. Per year.
And when that check is written, be prepared to cover the cost of food and beverage at the home games for $9,600; that figure could vary as, hey, the price of milk may increase. Yes, the price is high, but just wait ‘til you taste those chicken wings.
Then there are the costs of the actual 32 tickets for the seats themselves in your suite, which is only $9,600; again, that figure is not fixed. The good news is that the ‘19 fall matchup against Arkansas-Pine Bluff should pretty much pay for itself.
Wait, wait ... don’t leave. Just a couple more zeroes and you’re set.
Through only the first five years, you’re on the hook for “total annual gift/costs” of $1,019,200. Agreed, a bargain, which is why you are doing it.
And, almost forgot, the final expense is $19,200 for “total remaining costs” for the remaining 20 years.
All snark aside, these two suites are the most expensive seats in the new expansion project. As the suites move down towards the goal line and into the endzone, the price drops.
We are not talking Groupon pricing here but there is a decrease.
The only downside to this project is that it will delay TCU from opening beer sales throughout the stadium for at least a year or two, per Donatti.
TCU has nearly sold all of these seats, because previous athletic director Chris Del Conte and his successor both recognized that fans will pay a premium price for exclusivity.
At TCU, the challenge remains ...
THE “LOWER 45”
TCU’s game on Thursday night against Texas Tech should be a sellout, but packing Amon G. regardless of opponent is not exactly akin to a sun rise.
Since TCU moved into the Big 12, and the upgraded version of Amon G. Carter Stadium, it has played 40 home games. Of those 40 home games, the box score has listed a sellout of 45,000 or more 21 times.
And a great portion of the attendance figures have been inflated with a bike pump. It’s worth noting that filing up college stadiums has become problematic at nearly every major venue in America.
The challenge remains the challenge for TCU and officials.
The school’s enrollment has grown, but it’s still a modest 10,394. Student interest in the games, and the team, is at an all-time high, but this fan base is a historically fickle, and easily distracted, bunch. For instance, the school’s fall break begins Friday, meaning a lot of students will already be gone by the time TCU’s game against Tech begins.
The alumni base isn’t Texas-like, and despite the school featuring a nationally relevant team in a top facility, packing the place is simply one of the constant challenges that comes with the job.
Packing any stadium these days, unless it’s a Godzilla versus King Kong matchup, is a challenge everywhere.
Selling the suites, however, is not a problem, so much so the artist didn’t need to give TCU a fake national title.
This story was originally published October 10, 2018 7:00 AM.