The base fees totaled $357,000 per year for events at Camp Randall Stadium (football), the Kohl Center (boys basketball and individual wrestling), the Field House (team wrestling) and Goodman Diamond (softball). The charge for WIAA girls and boys golf tournaments at University Ridge Golf Course stayed fixed at the student rate for each daily participant.
The 2018 agreement between the university and the WIAA, which expires this year, had facility rental fees that were based on a cut of gross ticket sales revenue at the Kohl Center, Field House and Goodman Diamond. Those are still in place in the new contract signed in February, but a fixed payment also is included.
The facility rental fees are locked in through the 2028-29 school year, when Wisconsin can propose new amounts. If the sides can’t agree on the costs then, the contract is torn up, and the sides must negotiate on a new contract.
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh said financial details weren’t the priority in negotiating a new contract with the WIAA.
“We felt a responsibility and an excitement to host the championships,” he said. “Really, the conversations were dominated by the logistics, by the scheduling. That was the most difficult piece to work through.”
