14C HOMECOMING
THE UNIVERSITY OF BARRY KANBAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2006
Banking on the ball game
Commerce skyrockets during Homecoming week
BY SPENCER HEWITT
The king of fall sports at the University of Kansas has a colossal province in his hands. Scattered far and wide across Lawrence, from downtown shops, to restaurants, hotels and retailers, under sealed envelopes and impressive paychecks, the money funneling through Memorial Stadium in one night is monumental.
The big business of Kansas football is now at its most extraordinary, and it's about to get bigger come Homecoming. Every detail of the game — tickets, skyboxes, tailgating tents, alcohol, merchandise, even the private rental of Big Jay and Baby Jay — come with a hefty toll that feeds the king under the lights. Lawrence knows it's good at sharing, as long as there is a win.
Downtown has been feeling the belt notches loosen as businesses have started stocking up for the Homecoming rush. Enough goods to satisfy consumers have been building up three or four weeks before game day.
Jock's Nitch Sporting Goods',
1443 W. 23rd St., and Hawk
Zone's manager Ryan Owens
said, "We started preparing and
receiving merchandise eight
weeks before the Homecoming
game. We are a business that is
primarily supported by students,
but the rush of parents and
alums is a big supplement."
The fan-acquired capital is expected to stack up among displays of Jayhawk shirts, golf balls, flags and shot glasses at Jayhawk
Spirit, 935 Massachusetts St., as well.
"We have been open since '81, and Homecoming is always one of the high points of the best season for us," manager William Wilkerson said. "It's right in the middle of football season and going into basketball season. We move merchandise outside and it sells."
Wilkerson attributes a lot of the sales increase to the change in demographic.
"We sell a lot of items that interest parents, grandparents and alums more than students, so Homecoming is a good way to get those buvers here." he said.
The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Kansas University Alumni Association will also be laying their funds on the field at the first "Get Downtown" Homecoming event, a party on Eighth Street between Massachusetts and New Hampshire. On Friday, the event is expected to cost over $20,000.
The student operated Home coming events office is cashing in its time and funding as well, but will bring events to campus.
"The pep rally will be on campus this year, and there will be events all over campus for entertainment and student involvement," Bill Walberg, special events co-chair, said. "Homecoming committee isn't really in charge of the larger funding around campus, we just fund our events with T-shirt sales each year. I can't imagine what kind of money goes through this place on a big game weekend like that."
One factor of banking on the ball game stands out in being the most influential to business owners, party throwers, goers and athletics representatives alike; the team's record and the outcome of the game.
"Of course the increase in our sales is connected to the amount of fans that come to the game, and that is determined by how well the team has done that season and how well they do at the game." Owens said.
Wilkerson said, "If football is having a good or bad season, it always makes a noticeable difference in our sales. So it is good news to us that they have been doing so well. I mean, the only loss was one they gave away on the road."
his team. The more success on the field makes a better interest, the better interest makes bigger crowds, and the bigger the crowd the bigger number in the stadium. We made a goal this year to fill every seat in the stadium, every game, and I think it can be done at Homecoming."
On a bigger bankroll than bar tabs and T-shirt tags, Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said, "I think that the increase in attendance and fan interest is due to the great job being done by coach Mangino, his staff and
Amanda Sellers/KANSAH
Marchiony also recognizes the value of fans as the Athletics Department's budget has risen sharply over the last three years.
"We have seen a large growth over the last three years, going from yearly operating expenses at $25,696,482 to over $40,000,000," he said. "We aren't in a race to spend but that is the kind of revenue needed to operate a winning team, and that's what we want."
Customers enter the Jack's Nitch on Eighth Street and Massachusetts. Downtown businesses have been stocking on up on Jayhawk merchandise in anticipation of a higher volume of customers buying products before Homecoming game day.
When it's all broken down,
the bottom line is simple. As the dough rolls in on game day, pockets will empty, cash registers will fill, beer and bills will flow freely, but most importantly, touchdowns will be made. After banking on all the collectible statuettes, the sweatshirts, upgraded tickets, parking spots, events and
fuss, Homecoming riches are still under the rule of the king of fall sports. Cash in, or cash out.
Kansen correspondent Spencer Hewitt can be contacted at editor@kansan.com
— Edited by Jodi Ann Holopirek
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