UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 2010 MEMBERSHIP GUIDE

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3 nce again, I consider myself fortunate to have this opportunity to thank you for all that you do to support OU and our athletics program. Your involvement with the Sooner Club provides critical support to student-athletes from each of our 21 sports and greatly enhances our ability to achieve excellence in all areas. Our student-athletes, coaches and staff realize we have a great responsibility to build upon the outstanding tradition at OU. Your partnership through your Sooner Club membership helps make our efforts possible. I hope that you are able to understand and appreciate the impact you are making on the lives of our student-athletes with your donation. Your support helps provide the vital academic and athletic resources our student-athletes need to achieve their goals while performing at the highest level. We must give our student-athletes every opportunity to be successful as we continue to compete against the best in the country. The OU athletics department is one of just a small number of programs that is entirely selfsufficient financially. That fact makes private support from Sooner Club members an absolute necessity to keep Oklahoma a leader among the elite intercollegiate athletics programs. Our Sooner Club members are key to providing the best possible experience and environment for our student-athletes during their time on campus and as they prepare for a meaningful life after they leave OU. Joe Castiglione Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics As we all live with the economic challenges that surround us, your continued loyal support has become more important than ever before. Your support allows us to continue to operate on a daily basis at the highest level possible. Your choice to participate in the Sooner Club sends a message that you believe in what we are doing and are willing to support our activities with a most precious resource. Every decision, every action in our department is made within the context of our mission statement, Inspiring Champions Today and Preparing Leaders for Tomorrow. We are all committed to making this mission a living reality as we work to create opportunities to celebrate success in the classroom and in competition and to represent the University of Oklahoma with integrity. We remain focused on our core values and we believe that gives our program a greater opportunity for success. The history and tradition at OU is one of excellence and we will continue to build upon that foundation. Our respect for the history and tradition we represent is as important as the accomplishments we add to the legacy. As a Sooner Club member, you are part of the OU athletics family and share the same lofty expectations for our program. Your commitment, along with the commitment of our coaches, staff and student-athletes, will allow OU to pursue victories, in the classroom and in competition, in a first-class manner. It requires a collective effort by all involved to maintain the competitive spirit we expect of Oklahoma s athletics teams. Once again, I want to let you know how grateful I am for your time and resources in support of Oklahoma Athletics. The importance of your role in our program is significant and we truly could not do all we do without you. We anticipate many wonderful moments ahead for our program because of our partnership and we hope you will continue to share those with us. Boomer Sooner, Joseph R. Castiglione Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics

4 4 Benefits of Membership 8 Sooner Club Donations 10 Priority Point System 12 Upgrades and Priority Seating 13 OU-Texas Red River Rivalry 14 Athletics Ticket Office 16 Frequently Asked Questions 18 Bud Wilkinson Society 19 Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Seating 20 Lloyd Noble Center Seating 21 Cotton Bowl Seating 22 Letter from Athletics Compliance The 2010 Sooner Club Membership Guide is a production of the OU Athletics Development Office. The guide was written by Assistant Athletics Director for Development Matt Roberts and Director of Development Dusty Clements. The guide was designed by Director of Graphic Design Scott Matthews. Editing provided by Director of Publications, Debbie Copp and the Oklahoma Athletics Ticket Office. Photo Credits: Photos courtesy of Jerry Laizure, Ty Russell, Stacey West, Lisa Hall and Shevaun Williams. Printing: This publication was printed by Transcript Press and distributed at no cost to the taxpayers of Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. (November 2009) erhaps the greatest benefit of Sooner Club membership is the understanding that your contribution creates educational opportunities for the student-athletes who represent the University of Oklahoma. The chart on page 7 illustrates some of the benefits associated with your Sooner Club gift. Below is a detailed description of each benefit. Tax Deduction All gifts to the Sooner Club are tax deductible as allowed by federal income tax law. The IRS allows an 80 percent charitable deduction for a contribution to educational institutions where, as a result of such contribution, the donor receives preferred seating rights for athletic events. You may decline any benefit by calling the Sooner Club office. Donors should consult their tax adviser. Football Game Program Recognition All members of the Sooner Club are recognized by giving level in the football game program provided the contribution is received prior to July 1 of each year. Window Decal Sooner Club members are provided with a window decal to proudly display on their car or office window. If you need additional decals, please contact the Sooner Club Sooner Club Membership Guide

5 Priority Points All Sooner Club members receive priority points for their contributions. A more detailed explanation of the Priority Point System can be found on page 10 of this membership handbook. Sooner Insider The Sooner Club s monthly newsletter is the Sooner Insider. This publication contains information about your Sooner Club membership, OU athletic events, personality profiles of student-athletes and coaches, travel information from SoonerSportsTravel.com and much more! The Sooner Insider is provided exclusively to members and friends of the Sooner Club. The Sooner Insider is available via to Sooner Club members with an address on their account. The Sooner Club also mails bi-annual Sooner Insider newsletters to all donors. Ticket Marketplace Membership Season ticket holders of football, men s basketball and/or women s basketball receive an annual membership to OU s Ticket Marketplace. Ticket Marketplace is the best way for season ticket holders to buy, sell, or exchange home game tickets. For a more detailed explanation of OU Ticket Marketplace visit SoonerSports.com. OU-Texas Seating Priority Donating to the Sooner Club is the best way to add priority points to your account and increases the possibility of qualifying for Red River Rivalry tickets. Because tickets to the game are in such high demand, the Priority Point System is used to determine who qualifies for tickets to the OU vs. Texas game played each year at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Only OU season ticket holders are eligible to qualify for OU-Texas tickets. Tickets are allocated based on annual giving level with the Sooner Club and then by priority points within giving levels. Men s Basketball General Parking Men s basketball season ticket holders at the Crimson Sooner Circle level and above receive preferred parking at the Lloyd Noble Center. Limit one (1) pass per four (4) season tickets with a maximum of three (3) passes per account. Media Guide Sooner Club members contributing at the Coaches Sooner Circle level may request a complimentary media guide from one (1) sport. Bronze and Silver Sooner Circle members may request media guides from two (2) sports. Golden Sooner Circle and Bud Wilkinson Society members may request media guides from up to three (3) sports. Request forms are mailed to qualifying members upon receipt of your 2010 Sooner Club donation. Kerr-McGee Courtside Club Women s Basketball Women s basketball season ticket holders at the Bronze Sooner Circle level and above qualify to receive up to four (4) complimentary passes to the Kerr-McGee Courtside Club before each home game. Additional season passes may be purchased for $100 each by calling the Sooner Club. The number of Courtside Club passes qualifying members may receive is limited to the number of season tickets in their account. Courtside Club passes and a complete schedule will be mailed to qualifying members prior to the start of basketball season Sooner Club Membership Guide 5

6 Sooner Club Football Tailgate Passes Football season ticket holders at the Bronze and Silver Sooner Circle levels qualify for two (2) complimentary Sooner Club Tailgate passes. Football season ticket holders at the Golden Sooner Circle and Bud Wilkinson Society levels qualify for up to four (4) passes. Additional season passes may be purchased for $180 each by calling the Sooner Club. The number of Sooner Club Tailgate passes any member may receive is limited to the number of season football tickets in their account. Football Priority Parking Qualification Football season ticket holders donating at the Silver Sooner Circle level and above qualify to receive priority football parking. Priority parking location is allocated by priority points within annual giving level. Parking in all game day lots is on a first-come, first-served basis. A football parking request form, where donors rank their preference for parking lots, is mailed to qualifying Sooner Club members each spring. Limit one (1) pass per four (4) season tickets with a maximum of three (3) passes per account. Kerr-McGee Courtside Club Men s Basketball Men s basketball season ticket holders at the Silver Sooner Circle level and above qualify to receive up to four (4) complimentary passes to the Kerr-McGee Courtside Club before each home game. Additional season passes may be purchased for $100 each by calling the Sooner Club. The number of Courtside Club passes qualifying members may receive is limited to the number of season tickets in their account. Courtside Club passes and a complete schedule will be mailed to qualifying members prior to the start of basketball season. Women s Basketball VIP Reserved Parking Women s basketball season ticket holders at the Golden Sooner Circle and Bud Wilkinson Society levels receive one (1) reserved parking pass for each regular season home game. Each qualifying member will receive a numbered, reserved space on the south end of the Lloyd Noble Center. Special Event Invitation Golden Sooner Circle members and Bud Wilkinson Society members are invited to a minimum of one special event each academic year. Men s Basketball VIP Reserved Parking Men s basketball season ticket holders at the Bud Wilkinson Society level receive one (1) reserved parking pass for each regular season home game. Each qualifying member will receive a numbered, reserved space on the south end of the Lloyd Noble Center. Santee Lounge Privileges Bud Wilkinson Society members and Sooner Club members with seats in the under deck chairback sections (Sec. 3-8, Rows 59-71) receive access to the Santee Lounge located on the west side of the stadium. Limit four (4) passes per qualifying account Sooner Club Membership Guide

7 SOONER CLUB BENEFITS CHART BUD WILKINSON SOCIETY GOLDEN SOONER CIRCLE SILVER SOONER CIRCLE BRONZE SOONER CIRCLE COACHES SOONER CIRCLE CRIMSON SOONER CIRCLE CENTURY SOONER CIRCLE $10,000 & Above $5,000- $9,999 $3,000- $4,999 $1,500- $2,999 $500- $1,499 $250- $499 $100- $249 Santee Lounge Privleges (Maximum Four (4) Per Account) MBB Reserved Parking Special Event Invitation WBB Reserved Parking Kerr-McGee Courtside Club (MBB) Football Priority Parking Qualification Sooner Club Football Tailgate Passes Kerr-McGee Courtside Club (WBB) Media Guide Men s Basketball General Parking OU vs. Texas Seating Priority Ticket Marketplace Membership (Season Ticket Holders Only) Sooner Insider Priority Points Window Decal Football Game Program Recognition Tax Deduction Sooner Club Membership Guide 7

8 Annual Cash Gifts Cash and checks are always acceptable. All checks should be made payable to the University of Oklahoma Foundation. Gifts made to the OU Foundation are tax deductible as a charitable contribution. In most cases, the IRS has determined that donations made to the Sooner Club are 80 percent tax deductible because the donor receives some benefit (in the form of priority seating opportunities) in exchange for the donation. You may, however, request that you receive no benefit in exchange for your donation and therefore your donation would be 100 percent tax deductible. For your convenience, the Sooner Club also accepts donations made by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) and/or through a monthly payment plan (monthly billing or credit card). IMPORTANT NOTE: All annual Sooner Club donations for priority seating privileges must be received no later than March 31, If you choose to utilize the monthly payment plan, complete and return the enclosed form, along with one-quarter of the minimum required donation for priority seating, by December 31, The remaining balance of your donation will be billed in equal parts in January, February and March. You may elect to have your credit card charged or you may pay by check. PRIORITY POINT REMINDER: Current gifts are awarded three (3) priority points for every $100 given. All past gifts are awarded one (1) point for every $100 donated. Matching Gifts Many companies and corporations provide matching gift programs for employee contributions. Ask your personnel office about your employer s matching gift policy and see how you can make your gift work two or three times harder for the Sooners! Enclose the matching gift form provided by your company with your contribution to increase your gift and benefits level. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you plan on using your company s corporate matching gift toward your minimum required donation for priority seating, the matching gift must be received by March 31, Many matching gifts require a significant period of time for processing, so please plan the timing of your gift accordingly. PRIORITY POINT REMINDER: Matching gifts are awarded priority points just like regular annual gifts three (3) points for every $100 current year s gift and one (1) point for every $100 of past gifts. In order to receive proper priority point credit all matching gifts must be received by the March 31 deadline. Capital Gifts Every sport sponsored by the University of Oklahoma has recently seen major improvements in facilities and equipment. By every measure, OU is the flagship for excellence especially when it comes to facilities. Still, when it comes to maintaining our competitive advantage in this important area, there is always a need for capital gifts. Top-notch facilities are not just important for recruiting the nation s best and brightest student-athletes, they are also important because we ve made a commitment to all of our student-athletes to equip them with the best tools to use toward their pursuit of scholastic and athletic goals. For information about donating toward a current or planned capital project, please contact the Sooner Club Sooner Club Membership Guide

9 Scholarship Endowments The primary purpose for privately funding the athletics program at the University of Oklahoma is to provide the necessary funds to send our student-athletes to school. While most of the scholarship funding comes from the annual Sooner Club fund, more and more scholarships are being fully endowed, thus ensuring that this funding will be available for generations to come. There are many different programs available through the OU Athletics Scholarship Endowment Program, up to and including a fully-endowed $250,000 Foundation Scholarship that would bear your name and associate a donor with a former letterwinner and current student-athlete. For more information about this important program, please contact the Sooner Club. PRIORITY POINT REMINDER: All capital gifts (including signed pledges) and scholarship endowments are awarded one priority point for every $100 pledged. Sooner Schooner Program More than 50 automobile dealers support OU Athletics through their participation in the Sooner Schooner Program, which guarantees reliable transportation for OU coaches and administrators. Car dealers who participate in the program receive Sooner Club benefits and priority points based on the number of vehicles provided for athletics department use. Gifts-In-Kind A donation of goods and/or services in lieu of cash can also be made to the Sooner Club. All gifts-in-kind must receive prior approval from the Sooner Club. IMPORTANT NOTE: Gift-in-kind donations cannot count toward your minimum donation required for priority seating. PRIORITY POINT REMINDER: Gifts made through the giftin-kind program are awarded one priority point for every $200 worth of goods and/or services donated. Other Methods of Giving Gifts to the Sooner Club may also take other forms. Some examples might include real estate, stocks or personal property, as well as planned gifts like endowments, life insurance, bequests, trusts, annuities and gifts of securities. Donations made to the Sooner Club are 80 percent tax deductible. If you request to receive no benefits in exchange for your donation your contribution will be 100 percent tax deductible Sooner Club Membership Guide 9

10 n an effort to more equitably serve Sooner Club members, a system was developed and implemented in 1995 to determine ranking for season ticket placement and acquiring tickets to highdemand events like the annual Red River Rivalry, away games, post-season tournaments and championships, bowl games and other special events. The Priority Point System is also used to allocate Sooner Club benefits such as priority parking and requests for seating upgrades. Current Year s Donation Points All Sooner Club donations received in a current giving year are awarded three (3) priority points for every $100 received. Please note that priority points are awarded only when donations are received. Current year s donation points are awarded three (3) points per $100 received in an effort to encourage Sooner Club members to donate each and every year. Past Years Donation Points All priority points for Sooner Club donations received since the inception of the Priority Point System in 1995 appear in this category. Past gifts are awarded one (1) point for every $100 received. These points accumulate year after year and recognize the long-term financial commitment of our donors. Ticket Loyalty Points At the conclusion of the academic year, OU recognized its longterm season ticket holders with a one-time addition to their priority point total. A scale was developed and a priority point deposit was made to Sooner Club accounts based on a patron s consecutive years of purchasing season tickets. Each account was analyzed and once it was determined which sport had the longest consecutive season ticket purchase, the addition was made. UNDERSTANDING YOUR POINT TOTAL The Sooner Club awards priority points in several different categories that make up your priority point total. Please consider the following example: Silver Circle Member ($3,500 Donor), Account # Current Year s Donation Points 105 Past Year s Donation Points 80 Ticket Loyalty Points 8 Season Ticket Points 5 Sooner Loyalty Points 11 Current Capital / Endowment Points 100 Touchdown Club Points 2.5 Sooner Loyalty Points To reward our faithful supporters, season ticket holders earn priority points based upon their attendance at sports for which they hold season tickets. TOTAL Sooner Loyalty points are earned based upon the percentage of events attended over the course of each season. For example, if a football season ticket holder has four tickets and there are six games, all 24 tickets must be used to gain four points. These attendance points are earned regardless of who uses your tickets, if they are sold on Ticket Marketplace, or shared online via Ticket Sharing and used for entry to the event. At the conclusion of each season, your account will be credited with the appropriate number of priority points based upon the following scale: Hall of Famer-100% Attendance-(4 points) National Champion-85-99% Attendance-(3 points) All-American-73-84% Attendance-(2 points) Sooner Club Membership Guide

11 Season Ticket Points Beginning with the academic year, season ticket holders have been awarded one (1) priority point for every sport in which they purchase a season ticket. For example, if a patron had season tickets for football, women s basketball and baseball, they would earn a total of three (3) priority points. Remember, one (1) priority point for every sport, not every ticket. Current Capital/Endowment Points Every Sooner Club member has the opportunity to make financial contributions and commitments specifically directed toward OU s capital and scholarship needs. The Sooner Club awards one (1) point for every $100 given or pledged toward an athletics department capital or scholarship endowment gift. Priority points for athletics capital or endowment gifts are awarded at the time of the gift or pledge. While regular Sooner Club donations are awarded priority points only upon receipt of the gift, athletics capital or endowment commitments are awarded priority points up front. Booster Club Points Several sports at the University of Oklahoma have their own booster clubs. These clubs exist to provide financial support that directly benefits the specified program. One (1) point for every $100 contributed is awarded for booster club giving. Touchdown Club Points As the oldest and most prestigious sport booster program in the country, the Touchdown Club is in a class of its own. This remarkable organization has helped OU build a tradition-rich program for more than 50 years. Even though the Touchdown Club is a separately-chartered organization, the Sooner Club enjoys a close working relationship with this group of supporters. For Sooner Club members who maintain an annual membership in the Touchdown Club, 2.5 priority points are recorded in this category. To the right is a ranking of Sooner Club members by annual giving level and priority points within that giving level. Every ticketing and parking allocation is managed by placing donors in priority point order within each annual giving level. This table is offered as a guide to help you gain a better understanding of the priority point system and where you may rank within that system. Ranking is based on 2009 Sooner Club donations. Member Rank Giving Level Points 50th Bud Wilkinson Society th Bud Wilkinson Society th Golden Sooner Circle th Silver Sooner Circle th Bronze Sooner Circle th Bronze Sooner Circle th Coaches Sooner Circle th Coaches Sooner Circle th Coaches Sooner Circle th Crimson Sooner Circle th Crimson Sooner Circle th Century Sooner Circle th Century Sooner Circle Sooner Club Membership Guide 11

12 Priority Seating and Season Tickets Acquiring new season tickets, adding additional season tickets and/or upgrading existing season tickets are each addressed through a combined effort of the Sooner Club and Athletics Ticket Office. Every ticket request for both football and basketball is ranked in priority point order within each annual giving level and reviewed one request at a time. Because season ticket renewal rates are typically very high (better than 99 percent for football, for example), acquiring seats or upgrading seats can present a challenge. Despite the high demand and low supply, each request is reviewed in the same manner. You must make your additional ticket and/or upgrade request in writing either by writing the specifics directly on your season ticket application, by attaching a letter to your application or Football Big 12 Champions making the request on your online renewal application. Any move or upgrade of your tickets will potentially create a new donor component assignment. For example, an upgraded public season ticket will now have a minimum donor component assigned. This donation will be required annually to maintain the season ticket location. Once the regular season ticket renewal deadline has passed, all non-renewed tickets are placed in inventory and made available for distribution. Then, requests for tickets and/or upgrades are addressed, and if a new ticket location is successfully secured, your Women s Basketball Final Four new tickets will be mailed with all other season tickets. Because all ticket requests are ranked and reviewed by priority point order within annual giving level, making a donation to the Sooner Club remains the best way to acquire or improve season tickets. These donations to the Sooner Club are non-refundable as your gift provides charitable support for OU student-athletes. While your gift increases your opportunity to acquire tickets, it is not an implicit guarantee of tickets or ticket locations. Softball Big 12 Champions Post-Season Games (Tournaments, Championships and Bowl Games) The opportunity to purchase post-season tickets is also determined by the Priority Point System. From time to time, the Athletics Ticket Office will mail post-season ticket order forms. After the demand for post-season contests has been determined, a distribution plan will be implemented based on priority points within annual giving levels. IMPORTANT NOTE: The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing every opportunity possible for Sooner fans to attend post-season games. Every effort will be made to acquire tickets to make available to any Sooner fan who wants to attend the game. At times, however, supply to these contests is very limited and the Priority Point System must be utilized to determine how tickets will be allocated Sooner Club Membership Guide

13 he OU-Texas football game is one of the greatest rivalries in all of college football. Tickets for this game have become the most popular on our schedule each year. Due to the demand for these tickets, the Priority Point System allows for qualification and allocation of OU-Texas tickets each year. HOW ARE TICKETS DETERMINED AND ALLOCATED? Because demand is so high, a plan, utilizing the Priority Point System, provides the most equitable way to determine 1) which Sooner Club members receive tickets, 2) how many tickets each season ticket holder receives, and 3) the location of tickets inside the Cotton Bowl. Orders are first placed in annual giving level beginning with Bud Wilkinson Society members through Bronze Sooner Circle members and then placed in priority point order within each giving level. Coaches Sooner Circle, Crimson Sooner Circle and Century Sooner Circle members are categorized together in priority point order. HOW MANY TICKETS DO I QUALIFY FOR? Some Oklahoma football season ticket holders acquire OU vs. Texas tickets because of their seat location inside Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Some Sooner Club members have a companion OU vs. Texas ticket for each priority seat. All other Sooner Club members may request a maximum number of tickets based on their annual giving level within the Sooner Club. The number of OU-Texas tickets a donor will qualify for, regardless of annual giving level, will not exceed the number of season tickets they have in their account. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE MY LOCATION? While the opportunity to purchase an OU vs. Texas ticket is guaranteed by some seating locations, ticket assignment inside the Cotton Bowl is determined by the Priority Point System. OU vs. Texas ticket locations will strongly be determined by giving levels, annual Sooner Club contributions, and points within those levels. The quickest way to obtain improvement to the OU vs. Texas location is to increase to the next giving level. The Priority Point System will consider both annual and cumulative contributions to determine seat locations for all Sooner Club members. This process will allocate seats first based on current year s giving level, and then priority points within that level. Bud Wilkinson Society members will be prioritized first based on priority points, and then allocated seats. Next, the Golden Sooner Circle will be prioritized and allocated, followed by the Silver Sooner Circle and finally the Bronze Sooner Circle. All Sooner Club accounts at the Coaches Sooner Circle and below will be categorized together and allocated seating based on priority points. Again, the qualification to receive tickets will remain based on points. IMPORTANT NOTE: Every season ticket holder will be reallocated seats in the Cotton Bowl for the 2010 OU vs. Texas game. Donors will be seated according to annual giving level with the Sooner Club and then by priority points within giving levels. All donations must be made on or before March 31, 2010 to count toward priority points, and specifically the OU vs. Texas ticket allocation Sooner Club Membership Guide 13

14 OU Athletics Ticket Office 1185 Asp Ave. Rm. 150 Norman, Oklahoma Phone: (405) Toll-Free: (800) 456-GoOU Fax: (405) Ticket Office Location The OU Athletics Ticket Office is located on the plaza level of the Asp Avenue Parking Facility, immediately west of Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (see map). A limited number of metered parking spaces are available on the second floor of the parking facility and on Asp Avenue for customer use. The Ticket Office is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Athletics Ticket Office opens at least three (3) hours prior to kickoff on football game days and remains open through halftime. Will Call Tickets are available for pick up at the Athletics Ticket Office Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Pick up tickets you have ordered on the Internet or over the phone as early as the next business afternoon following the date of purchase. Tickets ordered eleven (11) days or more prior to an event are mailed, or kept in Will Call if specified by the ticket holder. Tickets ordered ten (10) days or less prior to an event are placed in Will Call. Tickets may be picked up at the Athletics Ticket Office on or before gameday. Please allow one business day for processing. A photo ID is required to pick up tickets in Will Call. Only the ticket holder may pick up tickets, unless arrangements are made in writing through the Athletics Ticket Office in advance. Gameday Will Call - Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Tickets are available for pick up at the Athletics Ticket Office located on the west side of the stadium near Gate 2. Will Call will open at least three (3) hours prior to kickoff. Gameday Will Call - Lloyd Noble Center Tickets are available for pick up at the east lobby of the north box office at the Lloyd Noble Center two (2) hours prior to the start of the event through halftime. Gameday Will Call - Olympic Sport Venues Tickets are available for pick up at the ticket booths at least one (1) hour prior to the start of the event Sooner Club Membership Guide

15 Payment Options Payment for season tickets can be made in cash, by check payable to the University of Oklahoma, or charged to VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. No refunds or exchanges are made unless an order cannot be filled. Processing fees are nonrefundable. Single game tickets purchased at the event location must be paid for with cash or credit card. Admission Policy Ticket holders are restricted to seating in the location that appears on their ticket and agree to abide by facility and University policies, as well as State and Federal laws. The University of Oklahoma reserves the right to revoke tickets by refund of purchase. Football: All persons, including children of any age, must have a ticket for admission into Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Men s Basketball: Children two (2) and under are free. Women s Basketball and Olympic Sports: Children five (5) and under are free. Special Seating Requirements ADA Seating-Football ADA seating is available for home football games the day of the game. ADA seats are not for sale, but are available by exchanging two (2) of your current tickets for two (2) ADA seats, one (1) for the person in need of assistance and one (1) for a companion. This service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Exchanges are made at the Athletics Ticket Office near Gate 2 on the day of the game. NOTE: ADA seating is also offered at all other venues on a first-come, first-served basis. Season Ticket Transfers The original season ticket holder may transfer the right to purchase season tickets to an immediate family member with a minimum age of 18 (defined as a son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, or parent). Ticket transfers may occur only once. The receiving family member will continue to have the opportunity to renew the season ticket, but may not transfer the ticket to anyone else. Only the right to purchase the season ticket is transferred. No priority points or purchase history will transfer to the new season ticket holder and any minimum donation accompanying that season ticket location will now be required along with the actual cost of the season ticket. The receiving family member s opportunity to purchase OU-Texas tickets will now be based solely upon annual giving level and priority point total. The automatic opportunity to purchase OU-Texas tickets based upon the original season ticket location will not apply. All ticket transfer requests must be made in writing and signed by the original season ticket holder or their authorized designee. Requests must include documentation verifying direct family relationship (i.e. birth certificate). For more information, please contact the Athletics Ticket Office at (405) OU Athletics hosted over 950,000 fans at more than 160 home athletics events in Sooner Club Membership Guide 15

16 How can I change the name(s) on an account due to marriage, divorce, or death? Provide the appropriate legal document (i.e. marriage license, divorce decree, death certificate, etc.) to the Athletics Ticket Office in order to make any changes. You may fax, mail, or hand-deliver a copy for our records. We will make the changes to your account once the appropriate documentation has been received, verified, and processed. All transfer policies will be applicable to the tickets that must be transferred. Why is there a renewal deadline? Because of the great demand for the best seating locations and the limited release of tickets each season, a deadline is set so vacant seats can be offered to season ticket holders requesting a seat change or to new season ticket holders. Due to the high volume of requests to be processed, the renewal deadline must be strictly enforced. How do I keep the seats I had last season? Payment for tickets (and donations for donor seating areas) must be received by the renewal deadline in order to be eligible for the same seating location. How do I request additional season tickets? Note the total number of tickets you would like to order in the quantity column on the renewal form. Indicate seating preferences for the additional seats and/or your preferences to move so you may have all of your seats located together. Please be advised that these are only requests. Fulfillment of requests will be based upon availability. Please pay for renewable seats only. You will be invoiced for any additional seats and accompanying donation. How do I request a seating change? You may write any requests on the actual ticket application, or you may submit a separate written request to the Athletics Ticket Office or the Sooner Club via , fax or mail. Be sure to describe in as much detail as possible exactly what you are requesting. Please be specific when requesting an upgrade. Feel free to include sections, rows, and seat numbers if applicable. Listing first, second and third choices will help in assessing the best seating available for your preferences (i.e., which is more important, yardage or height of row, etc.). Customers who renew seats online can make their requests on their online ticket renewal. How can I request to sit with my friends? Indicate the names and account numbers of the individuals you would like to be seated with when completing an order form or request form. All parties must indicate their desire to be seated together and make the same request on their respective order forms. You may also fax or your group seating request by the renewal or order deadline as well. Each party must make this request. IMPORTANT NOTE: When allocating seats for parties wishing to sit together, the location will be based on the party with the lowest priority point total. When will I receive my season tickets? Season tickets are mailed between two and four weeks prior to the first home event. Individual game tickets are mailed up to 10 days prior to the event. Ticket orders received within ten (10) days of an event will be placed in Will Call Sooner Club Membership Guide

17 How do I change the address/contact information on my account? Please note any changes on order and request forms returned to the Athletics Ticket Office. You may also send a written request via , fax, or mail to change your contact information. Please be sure to include your account number and your previous contact information. Address change deadlines will apply for specific events. What if I can t attend a game or want to give my tickets to someone else? The Athletics Ticket Office offers the Ticket Marketplace and Ticket Sharing programs as convenient methods to sell or share your tickets. As a season ticket holder in football and/or basketball, you will be provided a complimentary Ticket Marketplace membership which allows you to safely and securely resell individual games from your season ticket online and allows other Sooner fans the opportunity to attend games that you may be unable to attend. If you simply want to give your individual game tickets to friends or family, the Ticket Sharing program allows you to send your tickets electronically via so that they may be conveniently printed and used. For detailed instructions on Ticket Marketplace and Ticket Sharing, please visit the Athletics Ticket Office page on SoonerSports.com. If my tickets are sold on OU Ticket Marketplace, will I recoup the cost of the ticket? Yes. When your tickets are purchased, you will receive a credit of 85% of the ticket s regular price. Checks will be issued by the OU Athletics Ticket Office bi-annually to season ticket holders who have sold tickets throughout the year. Do I have to use all of the tickets on my account for each game to receive 100% attendance credit? Yes. Attendance percentages will be calculated based upon the use of all tickets associated with a particular account. For example, if Joe Fan has four (4) season football tickets, then he has 24 tickets (Four (4) season tickets x six (6) home football games = 24 tickets) which must be used for admission to receive 100% attendance credit. Where do I find my priority Point Total? Your priority point total can be viewed by accessing your online account. Please use your account number and password to sign-in. You will need to establish a password if you have not already done so. Sooner Club members with football season tickets at the Silver Sooner Circle level and above qualify for a priority parking pass in one of the Sooner Club s six game day parking lots. Each pass is valid for every OU home game Sooner Club Membership Guide 17

18 he Bud Wilkinson Society was established in 2000 as the Sooner Club s top level of membership. Bud Wilkinson Society donors are an essential part of providing the resources necessary to make University of Oklahoma athletics a championship program. The legendary Bud Wilkinson helped create a tradition of excellence while coaching the Sooners, and the society bearing his name has been established to honor his commitment and accomplishments. Bud Wilkinson Society members, through their generosity, provide an extraordinary level of support for OU student-athletes and coaches. We invite you to renew your commitment to the Bud Wilkinson Society or consider membership at this level for the first time. To be a member of the Bud Wilkinson Society in 2010, the contribution level is $10,000 and above. This donation level is a reflection of the dedication that is vital to maintain the proud history and tradition at OU.

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21 GATE D GATE E GATE C GATE B GATE G PRESS BOX GATE A GATE M GATE J GATE L 2010 SEATING CHART The Official Fan Travel Provider for OU Athletics, the OU Alumni Association and the Sooner Club.

22 Important Information for Sooner Club Members The University of Oklahoma appreciates your support of our athletics program and helping ensure our student-athletes receive a top-notch educational and athletic experience at our institution. As a member of the Sooner Club, you are also considered to be a booster of OU athletics. The NCAA defines a booster in a number of ways, including anyone who has made a financial contribution to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of the institution. As a booster of OU, we ask for your help in understanding and abiding by the following information to ensure our programs operate consistent with NCAA and Big 12 rules and regulations. We are all committed to the integrity of our programs; therefore, please ask Athletics Compliance if you have any questions concerning interaction with our student-athletes and/or our sports programs. Be sure to read our Compliance Corner in the Sooner Insider and visit our website for more in-depth information regarding NCAA legislation. What is an extra benefit and why do I need to know this term? An extra benefit is anything that is provided to a student-athlete or a student-athlete s family/friends by an institutional staff member or a booster that is not available to the general student body or general public under the same terms. Providing anything considered an extra-benefit to one of our student-athletes or their family/friends jeopardizes their eligibility to compete for OU. The following are some common examples of extra benefits: Cash, loans, or co-signing a loan on behalf of a student-athlete; Free or reduced services (e.g. free oil change, car detailing, dry cleaning, laundry, etc.); Providing free lodging or rental property at a reduced rate; Free or reduced cost meals and drinks; Providing tickets to concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities; and Any other cards, gifts or presents, even for special occasions (e.g. birthday, Christmas, or other holidays). Is it permissible for someone to purchase a student-athlete s complimentary tickets? Per NCAA rules, OU is allowed to provide complimentary admissions to its student-athletes to enable his or her family and close friends to attend competitions in the student-athlete s sport. NCAA legislation precludes a student-athlete from selling or trading his or her tickets for any item of value (e.g. meals, furniture, lodging, etc.) Unfortunately, over the years, many student-athletes have been declared ineligible for selling their complimentary admissions to fans and boosters. You can help the University of Oklahoma and our student-athletes by recognizing this rule and not approaching our student-athletes to buy their complimentary admissions. What are the general rules surrounding recruiting and boosters? Boosters should not be involved in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes. A prospective student-athlete is anyone who has started classes for the ninth grade. The best rule of thumb is to refer any questions about OU athletics to our staff and do not attempt to contact a prospect or influence his/her decision to attend OU. Remember that only members of the coaching staff may be involved in the recruiting process. Are student-athletes allowed to be employed? Yes, it is permissible for student-athletes to be legitimately employed. However, it is important to remember the following guidelines regarding the employment of student-athletes: The job must be registered with Athletics Compliance and be approved by the student-athlete s coach prior to beginning any employment duties; The student-athlete must be paid for work actually performed; The student-athlete must be paid the going rate for the position; A student-athlete may not be compensated for any value or utility they may bring to an employer because of their athletics reputation or affiliation; and A student-athlete s name may not be used to promote a commercial business. Please contact our office with any questions regarding NCAA and Big 12 rules and regulations by calling (405) Sincerely, Jason Leonard Executive Director of Compliance

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