Just when we thought university athletics were getting too professionalized, they go a step further. With the blessing of the NCAA, the University of Utah is creating Utah Brands & Entertainment, a company to oversee its major revenue sources. Otro Capital (a private equity firm) would be the minority owner of for-profit Utah Brands, which will manage operations such as ticket sales, media, stadium events, concessions, and trademark and licensing matters. All this while many universities, especially those in the Power Four conferences, are sharing $20+ million of current department revenue with their student-athletes on top of declining media revenue and soaring operating costs. Continue reading University of Utah Athletics Signs Private Equity Deal with Otro Capital
Category Archives: Women’s Sports
DU Men’s Soccer to Host UC Irvine Thursday in NCAA First Round
DU Men’s Soccer (11-7-2, 4-1-1) received word Monday morning that they will face the UC Irvine Anteaters at Pioneer Field on Thursday at 3:00 pm MT. The assignment follows a 4-2 victory Saturday over UMKC in the Summit League Tournament championship. Tickets for the matchup are now on sale, but if you can’t attend, the match will be streamed on ESPN+. Continue reading DU Men’s Soccer to Host UC Irvine Thursday in NCAA First Round
After the Smoke Clears – Seven Observations about DU and the WCC
Here are 7 random thoughts, observations and speculations following last Friday’s announcement that Denver is moving to the West Coast conference (WCC) for the 2026-27 season. Continue reading After the Smoke Clears – Seven Observations about DU and the WCC
The Decision: Nimble DU Navigates Rapid West Coast Membership Offer
DU has longed for West Coast Conference membership since rejoining Division I athletics in 1998, according to Athletic Director Josh Berlo during the joint WCC/DU virtual press conference announcing DU’s acceptance of the conference’s membership offer. The deal was finalized in lightning speed as it took less than two weeks to seal final acceptance.
WCC commissioner Stu Jackson cited informal social contact, especially over the past year, as the start of discussions. Then, after a series of meetings across both organizations, after less than two weeks of in-depth discussions, the WCC extended an offer to the Pioneers. DU’s administration, athletic department, and Board of Trustees showed rare combined agility, speed, and alignment in accepting the offer to join the West Coast Conference. DU is the conference’s 11th member, and Jackson confirmed that the search will continue for a 12th, noting that a dozen members matches the conference’s ideal membership vision. Continue reading The Decision: Nimble DU Navigates Rapid West Coast Membership Offer
Breaking: Denver to Join West Coast Conference
Finally!
We have waited years for this to happen. Friday, a tweet by ESPN’s Pete Thamel confirmed it – DU is moving from the Summit League to the West Coast Conference on July 1, 2026. The Denver Post followed the tweet with an article citing the tweet and the move of nine DU sports to the West Coast Conference (WCC). Denver will be joining a conference of equals – largely private schools with similar size, funding and academic profile in alignment with the University. The move will increase DU’s academic profile and give the University greater visibility to the valuable California student market while basketball most certainly will receive a boost in national interest.
Continue reading Breaking: Denver to Join West Coast Conference
Denver Sweeps Summit League Home Openers
DU women’s volleyball (10-3, 2-0) swept two matches to open Summit League conference play. Thursday, the team played Oral Roberts in Tulsa and carved out a 3-0 sweep behind outside hitter Ava Reynolds. On Saturday, DU returned home against UMKC. DU played a dominant first set, came from behind in the second, lost the third, and dominated the Roos in the fourth set. Jamia Johnson led DU with 17 kills to cap the opening sweep. Continue reading Denver Sweeps Summit League Home Openers
Universities Brace for Title IX Lawsuits
According to numerous sources, colleges and universities are conducting risk assessments and budgeting accordingly, anticipating lawsuits over Title IX legislation. As the Power Four conferences look to profit-share up to $20 million with student-athletes, they have a difficult and potentially costly decision to make. Either equitably split the revenue spoils with their male and female athletes or allocate the money to revenue-producing sports (or a mix of the two options). The same goes for in-house generated NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) funds.
Lawsuits are sure to follow. Continue reading Universities Brace for Title IX Lawsuits
The End of Niche College Sports?
An article by Mark Novicoff in The Atlantic contends that the end of Division I college sports as we currently know them is coming. The author considers all niche, non-revenue sports outside of football and basketball as dodo birds, headed for certain extinction. We, of course, heartily disagree. Continue reading The End of Niche College Sports?
Fall Sports Begin Prior to the September 9th Academic Start
DU’s Autumn academic quarter has not begun, and students aren’t even on campus yet. However, fall sports are well underway at University and Buchtel. Basketball just finished summer practices, and men’s (1-1) and women’s (1-0-3) soccer are in full swing. Volleyball begins play later this week. All this as questions swirl around the changes, challenges, and opportunities confronting Denver and collegiate athletics at large. Continue reading Fall Sports Begin Prior to the September 9th Academic Start
Denver Secures 2024-25 I-AAA Director’s Cup For the 12th Straight Time
It’s almost become ho-hum but it is an outstanding achievement by DU athletics. After reviewing the final season-ending rankings, the University of Denver has won the I-AAA (Division I, non-football schools) Director’s Cup once again for the 2024-25 season. This marks the 12th straight year and 16th out of the last 17 that DU has won the award. It’s getting hard to calculate and track how dominant Denver has been over the past couple of decades. Overall, DU finished 56th in the final 2024-25 Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. Continue reading Denver Secures 2024-25 I-AAA Director’s Cup For the 12th Straight Time