CU offers student Sports Pass promos to curb decline in basketball attendance

New Colorado Buffaloes athletic director Fernando Lovo has ratcheted up efforts to address lagging student interest in basketball. (Photo by Jacob Hock/Sko Buffs Sports)

Coach Tad Boyle’s dream may soon come true. Colorado Athletics is leveraging its student sports pass in an attempt to pack the student section for the remainder of the men’s and women’s basketball home games. 

Both CU basketball teams have seen a noticeable decline in home game attendance during their second seasons in the Big 12. The men’s team has seen a 16% decrease in attendance compared to the 2024-25 season, averaging 5,937 fans. The women’s team has seen a 22% decrease, averaging 2,326. 

The initiative includes pass giveaways at games and a promotion that will let students skip the line when purchasing the sports pass. Students must attend all eight of the remaining men’s and women’s home games to get a jump on CU’s student ticketing service.

Students can use their sports pass or purchase individual tickets for the challenge. CU Athletics spokesman Steve Hurlbert emphasized that students must get their tickets scanned to qualify. Participants must also still be an undergraduate in the fall of 2026. 

Hurlbert said that at the end of the season, Athletics will run a scan report and reach out to those eligible. Of those who complete the challenge, 100 will be chosen to receive a free sports pass. 

Five students will also be randomly selected to receive a free sports pass at all of the remaining women’s games and the men’s game against Oklahoma State.

“Students are vital to the atmosphere at men’s and women’s basketball games, and we’re trying to pack the student section during this home stretch of the season to support both programs,” Hurlbert told Sko Buff Sports in an email Friday.

Both programs’ head coaches, Tad Boyle and JR Payne, have frequently mentioned the impact attendance can have at home games and pleaded with students to fill the CU Events Center.

“College basketball is not just a spectator sport,” Boyle said after a November practice. “When our crowds [are] into it, we play well, … You’re not gonna beat a ranked team if you don’t play well, and the crowd can help you.”

In addition to the sports pass promos, CU Athletics will give out 10 lift tickets to Eldora and one pair of Blenders sunglasses at each team's remaining games. Concession stands will also offer $2.99 drinks and snacks before the teams' games on Saturday and Sunday.