What is the process for premium seating sales?
A deposit will be required to reserve premium seats; however, a donation to the Martin Stadium Renovation (MSR) above the required deposit will serve to waive the required deposit (suite or loge, and a $5,000 commitment per club seat).
What are the benefits for placing a deposit now, and what am I guaranteeing with my deposit?
Seating location will be allocated in tiers based on
when the customer's seat deposit was made. Anyone who
makes a commitment to purchase premium seats with a
deposit prior to Dec. 18, 2009 will receive priority
seating based on three criteria: their philanthropic
gift to the project, length of commitment to their seat
purchase, and TPS rank. Anyone who places a deposit
after Dec. 18, 2009 will have their seats allocated by
those same criteria, but only within the pool of
customers who made their deposit after the December 18
deadline, and after those who made deposits prior to
the deadline.
Putting a deposit on premium seats now assists us in
meeting our seat sales threshold, and gives WSU the
chance to finish this project in time for the 2011
football season. Construction will begin on the project
once 80% of the seats are committed. Deposits are
non-refundable and will be applied to first year
commitment. Suite/loge/club seats are available at one,
three, five, and seven-year leases.
How can I guarantee a suite, loge, or club seat?
To guarantee that an individual/company will receive a desired premium seat, a commitment to the renovation must be made at the following levels:
- Suites: A $500,000 commitment to the MSR project will guarantee a suite
- Loge Box: A $100,000 commitment to the MSR project will guarantee a loge box
- Club Seat: A $5,000 commitment per seat to the MSR project will guarantee a club seat
What season will I begin to take advantage of these new
seats?
Phase III will be completed by the 2012 football season. If premium seat sales and fundraising benchmarks are met, Cougar fans could be in their new seats as early as the 2011 season. No timeline has been established for Phase IV.
When will seating allocations be determined?
Seats will be allocated in the spring prior to Phase III's opening. If the project is completed in time for the 2011 season, allocation will begin in the spring of 2011.
Do I receive donor credit for my deposit?
No. Deposits will be applied to the ticket cost of the first year in premium seats.
How will my seat purchase count towards my TPS ranking?
Premium seat purchases in Phase III will be credited as a season ticket purchase at the base price of a football season ticket in that calendar year. Each season ticket counts as 1,000 points towards your TPS ranking. The remaining balance of the cost of the premium seat will be credited as a donation to the Athletic Foundation. Those donations count 2 points/dollar towards your TPS ranking.
How do I guarantee that I can sit next to a specific friend or family member in the Club Seats?
Requests can be made to sit with friends and family members. However, since seats will be allocated using Ticket Priority System ranking as a criteria, all seats would end up being allocated by using the lowest TPS rank among the group wishing to sit together.
Is it possible to purchase a quarter-suite or a half-suite?
Yes. If you are interested in putting a group of six or 12 together for a suite purchase, we can accommodate this by mixing and matching blocks of similar-minded folks to fill a full suite. The minimum commitment for a suite purchase would be a quarter-suite.
If I’m not interested in purchasing premium seating, how will the Martin Stadium renovation benefit me?
The addition of premium seating is only one aspect of the renovation project. Phases I and II addressed basic amenities in the stadium to enhance the game-day experience for our fans. Washington State University has always strived to provide the best fan experience at any Pacific-10 Conference University. The renovation is directed to give WSU students, fans, and alumni a more fan-friendly game-day experience with easier access in and out of the stadium, high-quality concession areas, and additional and improved restroom facilities.
After all the phases are completed, will the seating capacity to Martin Stadium increase?
Phase III and IV construction will leave Martin Stadium with an approximate seating capacity of 43,000, an increase from the currentcapacity of 35,117.
Will the renovations address ADA accessibility?
ADA seating and accessibility will be addressed in all phases of the renovation. We intend to add ADA seating in the east and south sides. The renovations will be ADA compliant.
What are the tax benefits of leasing premium seating?
There are substantial tax benefits associated with leasing premium seating. The annual financial commitment to lease these opportunities contains both a taxable portion (for the cost of goods and services provided, such as game tickets, parking, etc.) and a tax-deductible charitable gift. According to IRS regulations, after the taxable portion is subtracted from each annual purchase, 80 percent of the remaining portion is a tax-deductible charitable gift. The value of goods/services received will be calculated annually and provided by Washington State University. Consult your tax advisor to learn how the IRS guidelines relate to your specific situation.
How much is Phase III and IV of the renovation going to cost? How will it be paid for?
Phase III is budgeted at $35-$40 million; Phase IV at $15-$20 million. Funding for both phases will be provided through donations and revenue garnered from the lease of suites, loge boxes, and club seats in the premium seating areas.