The Hurricanes' move to Dolphin Stadium next year is a bust for some fans, but it's turning into a boon for business.
With the University of Miami opening the 2007 season at noon today against Marshall University, fans are snapping up mementos and tickets to be part of the final season at the 70-year-old Orange Bowl. UM, which has printed historic moments at the stadium on its season tickets, is planning a celebration for the final home game Nov. 10 against the University of Virginia. And companies, including Nike, are preparing souvenirs to commemorate the season.
At allCanes, a Hurricanes merchandise store next to campus, General Manager Harry Rothwell says models of the stadium and posters with a panoramic view of the venue have been "selling briskly since the decision." Both allCanes and The Canes Shop are selling T-shirts that read "Last Call at the OB! — Thanks for the Memories 1937-2007."
Rothwell said he got a delivery of models of the stadium, which run $40 to $90, on Aug. 20, the day before UM announced its decision to leave. A day after the announcement, he had already sold all but one of them. A new order arrived this week.
"The last time I got six in, it took three months to sell them," Rothwell said. "Now people are going to start scarfing up things to remember the good old days."
Rothwell, who is also licensed to print T-shirts, said he has some ideas for designs to honor the Orange Bowl's history, but he is waiting to learn what wording and imagery can be used.
UM controls licensing rights for the use of the university's name and logos, but the city of Miami owns the stadium. Daniel Newhoff, Miami's assistant director of public facilities, said the stadium name isn't trademarked, but it's unclear if the city is entitled to any royalties from the use of the stadium's name or image. UM receives a 10 percent royalty fee on the wholesale cost of merchandise that bears its name and logos.
"There's a great merchandising opportunity with all the sentimental feelings," Rothwell said.
The Canes Shop, an online and mail order store, is "very aggressively starting to look for things we can do to commemorate the last season," store owner Gary Ferman said.
And CollegeJersey.com, a Miami-based online retailer that sells game-worn college jerseys, is planning within the next month to have posters of the Orange Bowl and models of the stadium for sale. Company President Scott Kent said he expects to sell jerseys from the last UM game at the stadium, as well.
With the announcement still fresh, Mike Carlton, director of university services at Collegiate Licensing Co., said licensees are waiting to find out what the university has planned for merchandise. "I think everyone would like to do something to commemorate the season," Carlton said.
The stadium's future is unclear, though it is under consideration as a location for a Marlins ballpark. UM is the last regular tenant to leave the Orange Bowl, after the Miami Dolphins and college football's Orange Bowl game moved to Dolphin Stadium in the past two decades. What is known is fans want to create a few more memories.
"We've seen a significant upturn in ticket sales since we made the announcement," said Jim Frevola, UM's associate athletic director for external affairs.
Frevola would not release sales numbers but said none of the team's seven home games — which feature only one top 25 team (Texas A&M) — is sold out. He said the finale is selling well.
"I would not wait long to purchase tickets to the Virginia game," he said. "It will be a tough ticket to get."
Fans who have never had season tickets have also been calling to ask how they can reserve seats, including club seats and suites at Dolphin Stadium in 2008, Frevola said. Donors will receive the highest priority followed by existing season ticket holders and then new season ticket accounts.
The university is hoping the move to Miami Gardens will grow the Hurricanes' fan base in Broward and Palm Beach counties and Florida's west coast. It's targeting advertising and marketing in those areas more strategically than it has previously.
"We're certainly sad we're leaving the Orange Bowl," Frevola said. "But we're embracing the new relationship at Dolphin Stadium, and our fans are embracing it by what we've seen over the last [week].".
