UW, county reach agreement on men’s hockey contract at Coliseum

County, university strike deal on women’s hockey as well

The University of Wisconsin–Madison and Dane County reached an agreement today ending the UW’s obligation to play men’s home hockey games at the Dane County Coliseum.

A related agreement between the university and county, also reached Friday, gives the new UW women’s hockey team the option to play in the Coliseum when it begins its first varsity season in 1999-2000.

The men’s hockey agreement calls for UW–Madison to pay the county $500,000 a year (in 1994 dollars) through 2006. The figure is based on the net revenue the county earned in 1994 from UW men’s hockey games. The payments will be adjusted for inflation each year.

The first payment of $552,950 will be made to the county on Nov. 30, and payments will be made every Nov. 30 thereafter through 2006. The agreement stipulates that the payments are not an admission of liability by the university, and the county agrees to hold UW harmless from any future loss.

“The university and the county examined the 1994 revenues and expenditures for men’s hockey at the Coliseum. We both believe this is a fair price,” said John Torphy, vice chancellor for administration.

“This agreement protects the financial health of the Dane County Coliseum and that is good news for all of our property taxpayers,” said Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.

The UW men’s hockey team will begin play at the Kohl Center this fall, although the team can still play at the Coliseum with no rent being charged, according to the men’s hockey agreement. The county will still receive all the revenue it would normally earn from concessions, parking, advertising and suite rental for games played at the Coliseum.

“I want to thank everyone at the Coliseum and Dane County for their tremendous support of Badger hockey,” said UW Athletic Director Pat Richter. “A lot of people have contributed to the rich tradition of Badger hockey, especially those who don’t always get noticed, from scoreboard operators to custodians to parking attendants. Everyone has played a part, for which I am grateful.”

Falk added: “I’m sure I speak for all Dane County Badger fans in wishing Coach Jeff Sauer and his hockey team many championships at the Kohl Center. I’m also happy to welcome Coach Julie Sasner and the UW women’s hockey team to the Dane County Coliseum. We’re going to start a great tradition.”

The women’s hockey agreement states that the university will pay $27,200 a year starting Nov. 30 and every year thereafter through 2006 for the option to play women’s home hockey games at the Coliseum when needed, and to use the arena as a practice facility.

Rent for women’s hockey at the Coliseum will be based on game attendance: less than 1,500 fans, $4,500 per game; 1,500-3,500 fans, $3,500 per game; 3,500 or more, no charge. The rent will be paid monthly.

As far as scheduling UW men’s and women’s hockey games at the Coliseum, the university must submit game dates to the county, and the county will have 30 days to confirm some or all of the dates. Once confirmed, the dates will be guaranteed for the games.

Other terms of the agreements continue the existing contract provisions for debt service payments on facility improvements related to hockey made at the Coliseum and for ice practice time for both teams. As part of the agreements, the university and county will coordinate booking the Kohl Center and the Coliseum for certain family-oriented shows. They will set up a specific agreement on the booking process.

“With new directors working at both the Kohl Center and the Coliseum, we look forward to developing a positive arrangement on booking events in the future,” Falk and Torphy said.

The original men’s hockey agreement, signed July 20, 1993, called for the UW men’s hockey team to play its home games at the Coliseum through the 2006-07 season.

But those plans changed when U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., stepped forward with a $25 million donation for a new athletic facility in 1995. The $76.4 million Kohl Center opened in January, paid for by $49.4 million in private donations and $27 million in state bonding.

“In 1993, a new facility that combined basketball and hockey wasn’t even a twinkle in anyone’s eye,” Torphy said.