Sept. 8, 2001
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
A front-page story in the Sept. 8 edition of the Baltimore Sun describing the seating plan for the Comcast Center left a number of false impressions about the requirements for Terrapin Club members to secure good seats in the arena.
This release is being issued to media outlets in order to clarify a number of important points regarding the seating plan:
Only 9% (1,600) of the seats in the 17,100-seat building are to be allocated to contributors to the capital campaign. These donors will provide $20 million of the university's required contribution of $46.9 million to the $101million project. To date, $18 million has been pledged by donors to the capital campaign, who will utilize the 1,600 seats.
Of the 4,000 best seats in the lower bowl of the arena - including the so-called "coveted mid-court seats" by the Sun article -- a full 60% (2,400) are reserved for Terrapin Club members who did not contribute to the capital campaign but elected to rely instead on their long-time loyalty to the athletic program. This loyalty includes rewarding 1) length of membership in the Terrapin Club, 2) membership referrals, 3) season-ticket purchases in men's and women's basketball and football, and 4) their history of giving to the Terrapin Club for scholarships for student-athletes.
Two years ago, a university-wide committee went through a lengthy process in establishing a fair seating plan which rewarded loyalty to the athletic program and also allowed the university to meet its financial requirements to the project. This committee of 32, chaired by Dr. Charles Wellford, a long-time educator at the university, included a broad range of individuals. Those included Terrapin Club members of every giving level, alumni, M Club members, Maryland Educational Foundation members, and university faculty and staff. The plan established by the committee was then presented to numerous focus groups and open forums throughout the state to get input and feedback. Approximately 200 people from across the state and from all of the groups affected by the seating plan provided valuable feedback. The final plan is one of the most fair and comprehensive seating plans of its kind ever developed for use with an intercollegiate athletic facility.
The headline implied and the story stated that to get a good seat will require a significant gift to the athletic program. Conversely, the capital campaign will only use 1,600 of the best seats in the 17,100-seat arena. We will hold seats in all of the best areas for long-time, loyal donors.
This information accurately describes the elements of the Comcast Seating Plan which were described inaccurately in the Sept. 8 article.
