“There’s been a trend across the country of the declining gate,” Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh told Yahoo Finance. “That’s a signal from the customer. So I think you’re seeing programs like ours try to introduce new options and an opportunity to hedge against that and provide an opportunity for existing customers to find something that might retain them for longer or attract new customers.”
Category: Athletics
Crisis averted: Ticketing issue cleared up before Wisconsin football game
A server issue at a ticketing vendor used by the University of Wisconsin that caused fans issues accessing their digital tickets has been resolved.
Hear from the newest members of Wisconsin’s Athletic Hall of Fame
Eight athletes were selected from the Contemporary Era, since 1974: Laura Abbinante (volleyball), Travis Beckum (football), Hilary Knight (hockey), Jim Lemon (golf), Erica Palmer (cross country and track and field), Gary Suter (hockey), Jordan Taylor (basketball) and Reggie Torian (football and track and field).
Former Badgers football player Carl Silvestri was chosen from the Heritage Era. Cheryl Bailey was picked from administration; she was associate athletic director for sport administration. And Msgr. Michael Burke was selected for special service.
Wisconsin volleyball’s attendance record target moves higher
Nebraska and Creighton played in front of an announced crowd of 15,797 on Wednesday in Omaha, Nebraska, the largest attendance ever for a regular-season college volleyball match.
The sixth-ranked Badgers might make that record last only nine days.
Polzin: The Varsity Collective offers Wisconsin athletes more than money
The collective’s launch — well, re-launch — was billed as the “definitive playbook on how (University of) Wisconsin student-athletes deserve to be supported” in the Name, Image and Likeness era and it was impressive.
Collective to help UW student-athletes capitalize on likeness announces leadership, lays out effort details
Among the former UW athletes taking part in the collective are Russell Wilson, Sam Dekker and Joe Thomas.
A long-term view shows more work ahead for Camp Randall Stadium
The athletic department just finished the major phase of a $77.6 million construction project at Camp Randall with the renovation of the south end zone seating for premium spaces. It has another one about to go on the front burner with a proposed addition of a $300 million football indoor practice facility where the Camp Randall Sports Center stands.
UW has a $48 million expansion of the Kohl Center under construction and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024 despite some early delays.
There’s no shortage of capital improvement projects happening, but there’s also no interest from McIntosh in putting off the next level of work at Camp Randall.
27 people ejected, 19 arrested during Badgers game, UW police say
Of the 27 people ejected, 18 were UW students, and of the 19 arrested, 16 were UW students, police said in a statement detailing the numbers.
A new pavilion, beer and a blowout: Wisconsin football back at Camp Randall
The luxurious addition to Camp Randall at the south end zone changed not only the aesthetic of the hallowed stadium but also the experience of fans who can now mingle, try out their bag toss skills and watch the game on 85-inch TV screens.
For the UW-Madison officials who stewarded the project, it’s an homage to the campus’ history and fans, particularly so since sporting events are still only months removed from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All the Features Confirmed for EA Sports’ New College Football Game
The University of Wisconsin will feature its fans dancing to “Jump Around” between the third and fourth quarters.
How Ethiopian heritage shapes this Wisconsin defensive lineman
A self-styled collage representing Rodas Johnson’s life rests on his left leg.
He describes his tattoos and what they mean in no particular order, but each provides a glimpse into what’s important to him.
One piece on the University of Wisconsin defensive end’s outer calf is of an Ethiopian woman, a person he describes as the strongest in his community because she holds together the family. Another image is that of St. Michael, an important figure in his Orthodox Christian faith. A line of scripture written in the Ethiopian language Amharic sits along his shin.
What’s on Wisconsin goalie Cami Kronish’s mask? Kids get to decide
Kronish and UW opened a contest for kids entering eighth grade and younger to draw their suggestions involving the university, Madison or the state. The winner gets four tickets to a Badgers women’s hockey game and a signed stick.
Mount Badger: Wisconsin football’s top 4 Camp Randall traditions
Camp Randall has been Wisconsin’s home dating all the way back to 1895. The state landmark is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten and has the fifth-largest capacity in the conference.
The hallowed venue provides a daunting backdrop for opposing teams. Wisconsin has registered five double-digit winning streaks at Camp Randall. The longest streak was 21 games from October 31, 2009 to October 27, 2012.
How a trip to Door County helped Wisconsin men’s soccer connect on the field
Since returning from Door County the Badgers are 1-0, almost 2-0 if it wasn’t for weather. They led 3-0 against No. 11 Tulsa before the game was ruled a no contest due to lightning and storm conditions.
Ambulances and calls to mom: An inside look at protocols for seriously injured Badgers
Injuries put the athletic training staff into motion. More significant damage adds personnel to the care group. A transport to the hospital can activate most of the more than a dozen medical personnel who are at the ready just for on-field calamities during a Badgers football game.
Take a look at the new spaces created in the south end zone renovations at Camp Randall
University of Wisconsin athletics is putting on the finishing touches of the south end zone renovation at Camp Randall Stadium.
UW athletic director defends Board of Regents’ request to state for nearly $300M practice facility
The head of athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this week defended a proposed $300 million practice facility and backed two West Coast teams joining the Big Ten Conference.
UW athletic director Chris McIntosh made the comments Monday during an interview with Shereen Siewert on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “The Morning Show.”
Sprecher Brewing creates 10-person NIL agreement with Wisconsin Badgers football players
Glendale-based Sprecher Brewing Co. may not be the first private company to land a name, image and likeness deal with a university student-athlete, but the craft beverage producer known for its Sprecher root beer as well as being the oldest craft brewery in Wisconsin since prohibition, may have produced a first-of-its-kind deal with University of Wisconsin-Madison’s football program.
Entering the first week of 2022 season, Badgers thrilled their ‘Christmas’ has finally arrived
While the Badgers opened their Week 1 prep days with bad news of Chase Wolf’s extensive knee injury, the team is still in high spirits ahead of Saturday’s opener vs. Illinois State.
Wisconsin’s redesign project brings Camp Randall, Field House together like never before
There was no getting around involving the Field House in a renovation of the south end zone seating. The UW volleyball and wrestling venue — and formerly home to the basketball teams before the Kohl Center opened in 1998 — is the back wall of the section.
NCAA ‘missed an opportunity’ in Wisconsin volleyball player’s ruling, AD says
Count University of Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh among those befuddled and disappointed by the NCAA’s decision to prevent graduate transfer Shanel Bramschreiber from playing for the first half of the UW volleyball team’s season.
A former Wisconsin assistant got a $200,000 payout after leaving
The departure of Mark Strobel from the University of Wisconsin men’s hockey coaching staff in April, described then by his superiors as Strobel’s decision, was in reality a mutual conclusion at best.
Remembering UW track great Don Gehrmann and his $425 running shoes
Gehrmann, an Olympian and world record holder, died last month at 94.
Wisconsin volleyball’s Anna Smrek is ready to build on the fantastic finish to her freshman season
Sophomore Anna Smrek will be out and about on campus or around town and someone will recognize her ask to take a picture and sing her praises. Who doesn’t want a moment with a national champion, especially one who showed as much promise as Smrek did last December?
Wisconsin offensive line signs NIL deal with Sprecher Craft Soda
A Wisconsin soft-drink institution has agreed to a name, image and likeness deal with 10 University of Wisconsin offensive linemen.
2 Wisconsin football stars ink NIL deal with Pepsi
University of Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz and tailback Braelon Allen added a sponsorship from Pepsi to their name, image and likeness portfolios Thursday.
Braelon Allen is living out the life he envisioned in the Wisconsin football backfield. Now he wants more
It’s undeniable that Allen’s future is bright. It’s what he’s worked for since he was in grade school and watching his idol, Melvin Gordon, become a star in the Badgers backfield. Gordon ignited his passion for football and became his guiding force. Get to Madison, excel as Gordon did, make your way to the NFL. He spoke of these dreams not as though they were fantasies, but checkpoints he was going to hit.
Who is Sarah Nurse? Team Canada forward becomes first female to be featured on cover of NHL video game
Nurse played college hockey for four years at the University of Wisconsin. As a Badger, Nurse helped the team win the WCHA Championship, scoring two goals on the way to defeating Bemidji State.
Badgers and (root) beer? UW o-line partners with Sprecher
Thursday night the UW offensive line celebrated their partnership with Sprecher Brewing Company over a meal and a handful of craft sodas.
Wisconsin alum Sarah Nurse breaks another barrier for women’s hockey
The first women’s hockey player to be on the cover of the Electronic Arts NHL video game series is from the University of Wisconsin.
Former Badgers star Sarah Nurse is one of the cover athletes for EA NHL 23 along with Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks.
Badgers search for ‘new identity’ after Sweet 16 trip
The University of Wisconsin women’s soccer team is coming off a Sweet 16 run, but the team isn’t using the past to set expectations.
Why jumping in a Madison lake in Wisconsin volleyball uniforms is a ‘special’ senior tradition
The University of Wisconsin volleyball team took five pictures of the senior class, each with a different combination of players, during its media day.
Four seniors captured another memory on Wednesday participating in a near-decade-old tradition. Coach Kelly Sheffield memorialized the moment those seniors jumped into Lake Mendota with a slow-motion video he shared on Twitter.
Defending national champion Wisconsin volleyball finishes strong at Red-White scrimmage
The University of Wisconsin women’s volleyball team unveiled itself during its annual Red-White Scrimmage Saturday at the UW Field House.
The White squad, led by sophomore Julia Orzol and freshman Ella Wrobel, scored a 2-1 win that was capped by a deciding third set that needed seven set points to complete.
‘We have a great offensive line room’: Wisconsin’s Joe Brunner, the former Whitefish Bay star, is paying his dues during first camp
Nothing says welcome to college football like 316 pounds on a 6-foot-3 frame.
Gio Paez is still building a name for himself with the University of Wisconsin football team, but the junior is a certified load. Freshman Joe Brunner experienced that firsthand early into his first fall camp with the Badgers.
A $300 million indoor football practice facility at Wisconsin is closer to happening
The University of Wisconsin athletic department wants to spend nearly $300 million for a new indoor football practice facility next to Camp Randall Stadium that it hopes will make it more competitive in recruiting.
Big Ten lands $7 billion, NFL-style TV contracts
The Big Ten’s new $7 billion media rights deal will string the conference’s top football games across three major networks each week, creating an NFL-style television schedule on Saturdays.
How Wisconsin could use the extra millions it’ll soon receive from new Big Ten media deals
The seven-year agreements announced Thursday with Fox, CBS and NBC starting with the 2023-24 season are reported to be worth an average of more than $1 billion per year for the conference, which will trickle down a part of that to its 14 schools — soon to be 16 with the 2024 additions of UCLA and Southern Cal.
How Wisconsin football’s freshman dance battle serves as a ‘rite of passage’
It’s one of many traditions for UW freshmen. Other traditions include a night of karaoke, obnoxious haircuts or even being told to wear a dress.
Upperclassmen will lead the team into the equipment room, push aside things and ask for music to be turned up really loud.
25 Women Who Could Break the NHL’s Head Coaching Gender Barrier
Carla MacLeod – 39 – Head Coach, University of Calgary & Team Czechia – MacLeod is an Olympic gold medallist and World Champion with Team Canada. She also captained the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA.
‘Point Wisconsin’ follows UW volleyball team’s championship run
Sports writer Dennis Punzel captures the moments big and small with his new book, “Point Wisconsin,” which tells the story of the people, places and events that led to the Badgers’ volleyball title that was years in the making.
Calling all young artists: Wisconsin goaltender Cami Kronish wants you to design her mask.
Thanks to Cami Kronish, art and hockey will merge.
The senior goaltender for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team has invited fans entering the eighth grade or younger to design the mask she’ll wear during the upcoming season.
The mask design should incorporate the University of Wisconsin, city of Madison and state of Wisconsin on all three sides. The deadline for entries is Sept. 1, 2022.
Elliott: Legendary Kings voice Bob Miller reflects on lessons learned from Vin Scully
A Chicago native who called University of Wisconsin hockey and football games, Miller came to Los Angeles in 1973 after being hired by Hearn. Being from the Midwest, Miller hadn’t heard much of Scully’s work. That soon changed.
Wisconsin receives No. 20 ranking in USA Today/coaches preseason football poll. Alabama gets the nod at No. 1
No. 20 will have to do for now.
The University of Wisconsin football team debuted at the No. 20 spot of the USA Today America Football Coaches Association poll that was released Monday.
World Juniors 2022: Connor Bedard, Dalibor Dvorsky, Charlie Stramel headline top eligible prospects for the 2023 NHL Draft
If you’ve watched any of the U.S. NTDP games this season, it’s hard not to notice Stramel. Listed at 6-3, 215 lbs, he plays a power forward role, never shying away from the physical aspect of the game. He suited up in 26 games for the national program, recording 22 points, and is set to play at the University of Wisconsin this fall.
A casual call decades ago led Wisconsin volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield to get into coaching
Editor’s note: State Journal reporter Dennis Punzel chronicled the University of Wisconsin volleyball team’s rise under coach Kelly Sheffield and last season’s run to the national championship in a recently released book titled: “Point Wisconsin! The Road to a National Title for Kelly Sheffield & the Wisconsin Badgers.” Here is an excerpt from the book.
Wisconsin’s defending national championship volleyball team basked in spotlight of Big Ten media day. Here is what we learned.
The coaches in the Big Ten had their say Monday when the conference announced the Wisconsin volleyball team as the favorite to win its fourth straight title.
Badgers represent at inaugural volleyball media days
The reigning national champion Wisconsin Badgers took the podium on Tuesday and participated in Big Ten volleyball media days. The Big Ten became the first conference to host an in-person preseason volleyball media event.
Jim Polzin: Diss volleyball and Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield will be there to call you out
Sheffield indeed isn’t shy when it comes to pointing out what he feels are slights toward the sport he loves. He generated attention on Twitter over the weekend by calling out two accounts that cover women’s sports — @ESPNW and @justwsports (Just Women’s Sports) — for all-but ignoring college volleyball.
Wisconsin football players weigh in on new academic bonus payments and their link to graduation
The payments fall under new NCAA rules allowing money to go to athletes for even a minimum level of academic success, up to $5,980 per school year. There’s no mandate for athletic departments to pay the money or to link any of it to graduation, but UW announced last week it was doing both.
‘He is the reason I am the player I am today’: Veteran NFL lineman Kevin Zeitler raves about UW’s Bob Bostad
Kevin Zeitler is preparing for his 11th NFL season.
He has started all 140 games in which he has played.
The graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran High School and the University of Wisconsin has played for four NFL teams – Cincinnati, Cleveland, the New York Giants and Baltimore.
The most demanding, most detailed coach for whom Zeitler has played?
Bob Bostad, who is back overseeing Wisconsin’s offensive line.
Content partnership expands Big Ten volleyball exposure globally
The Big Ten Network on Monday announced what it called a groundbreaking partnership with Volleyball World to extend coverage of the conference across the globe.
Wisconsin men’s basketball learns its Battle 4 Atlantis opening opponent
The Badgers will face Dayton for the first time since they defeated the Flyers 105-93 in December 1961. The game is set for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Imperial Arena in the Bahamas.
Remembering ‘Mr. Mile’ Don Gehrmann, a 12-time Big Ten running champion with Wisconsin
Don Gehrmann, one of the country’s top collegiate runners during his time at the University of Wisconsin and a 12-time Big Ten Conference individual champion, has died.
Known as “Mr. Mile” during his running career, Gehrmann was 94 when he died on July 23 at Stoughton Hospital, according to an obituary.
Hall of Fame worthy? Chris McIntosh and Troy Vincent are candidates for the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2023 class
Two of the more dominant players in the history of the Wisconsin football program, both of whom have achieved success off the field, are on the National Football Foundation’s 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot:
Offensive tackle Chris McIntosh and defensive back Troy Vincent.
Wisconsin football coaches’ salaries reach new territory this season
Coaches’ salaries were turned over to the State Journal via open records request after a handful of coach Paul Chryst’s assistants had changes to their compensation finalized July 1. The total figure is the highest for the football staff since the State Journal began tracking these numbers in 2004, eclipsing the previous high of just less than $10.04 million in 2019-20.
Wisconsin unveils plan to award athletes with up to $25,000 as a graduation bonus
The University of Wisconsin athletic department says it’ll pay more than $3.8 million per year to its athletes for academic performance, with most of the money tied to graduation.
Why tight bonds between teammates matter for Wisconsin football
Having strong bonds make possible the type of turnaround the Badgers had last season. After dropping three of the first four games of the season, UW won seven consecutive games to get into the thick of the Big Ten West title hunt, but a lackluster performance in the regular-season finale against rival Minnesota cost UW a division crown and Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
Jim Polzin: How Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren has ‘gained the confidence’ of conference leaders
Kevin Warren’s opening statement Tuesday morning at Lucas Oil Stadium lasted over 21 minutes and included six uses of either the word “bold” or some form of it. The Big Ten commissioner used it two more times during the question-and-answer session that took up the second half of his news conference at the conference’s annual media event.
Big Ten football players express concern over travel with additions of UCLA, USC in 2024
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren was peppered with questions regarding the new additions. He said travel issues and strain on student-athletes is at the top of his mind, but didn’t share how those worries will be addressed.
How Wisconsin volleyball grew its youth camps to be the Badgers’ largest
A decade ago, Badgers volleyball camps were popular but not the top revenue producer among UW sports. Those were men’s basketball and men’s soccer.