WHAT IS THE ENDOWMENT SEATING PROGRAM (ESP)?
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE ENDOWMENT SEATING PROGRAM AND HOW?
WHERE ARE THE ESP SEATS LOCATED?
HOW CAN THE ESP COMMITMENTS BE MADE?
WHAT ARE THE TAX ADVANTAGES OR TAX DEDUCTIBILITY?
WHAT IS THE TERM OF MY SEAT OWNERSHIP?
HOW CAN YOUNG ALUMNI PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM?
ARE MY SEATS TRANSFERRABLE? DO I HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESELL MY SEATS?
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN MY PAST GIVING AND SEASON TICKET STATUS? WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR MY FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS TO CAL ATHLETICS?
CAN I DESIGNATE MY CONTRIBUTION TO A SPECIFIC SPORT/PROGRAM?
HOW DOES MY CONTRIBUTION AFFECT MY BEAR BACKER STATUS?
WHEN DO MY ESP BENEFITS START?
DOES BEING A PART OF THE ENDOWMENT SEATING PROGRAM ALLOW ME TO PURCHASE EXTRA SEASON OR SINGLE GAME TICKETS?
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE AND STILL HAVE SEATS IN NON-DONOR SECTIONS NEAR FRIENDS AND/OR FAMILY IF I CHOOSE?
HOW ARE SEAT LOCATIONS DETERMINED? WHAT IF I PARTICIPATED IN THE STUDENT ATHLETE HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTER (PHASE 1) INITIATIVE?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING CLUB ACCESS? WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY TO THE CLUBS BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THE GAME?
CAN I BRING GUESTS TO THE CLUBS?
IS THERE A PARKING BENEFIT WITH THE ENDOWMENT SEATING PROGRAM?
IF I DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ENDOWMENT SEATING PROGRAM, ARE MY CURRENT SEATS GUARANTEED?
WHY DO I NEED TO PARTICIPATE NOW? WHAT IF I DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE LATER?
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
WHAT IS THE ENDOWMENT SEATING
PROGRAM (ESP)?
It is a first-of-its-kind program in college athletics
designed to secure the long-term financial future
for Cal Athletics. By choosing to support the ESP,
donors and their future designees will receive seat
benefits to Cal football for up to 50 years. It's
aimed at bringing Cal Athletics and its facilities in
line with other leading universities.
Its goals are twofold - to create an environment
for success for all of our student-athletes, and to
offer ESP donors the enjoyment of Cal football in
unparalleled comfort and safety of the renovated,
historic stadium.
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WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE ENDOWMENT
SEATING PROGRAM AND HOW?
There are four intended beneficiaries of the
ESP:
- Cal student-athletes and coaches - will
have access to greatly enhanced facilities
and resources to compete in varsity
athletics, through both the Student-Athlete
High Performance Center and the revenues
generated from the endowment.
- The University - will realize a more competitive
Athletic Department to complement one of the
world's foremost academic institutions, while
the Athletic Department will develop financial
self-sufficiency in an increasingly challenging
funding environment with no state support.
- Donors - will receive "VIP" treatment at
Memorial Stadium with their ESP commitment,
including key benefits such as club privileges,
transfer rights to seats, tax deductibility, and
free tickets with no price increases for up to
50 years.
- All Cal fans - will enjoy a fully renovated
Memorial Stadium for generations to come, with
new seating and restrooms, wider corridors,
improved concessions, ADA compliance, etc.
The list goes on - not to mention the satisfaction of knowing they have helped build one of the most successful athletic programs in the country.
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WHERE ARE THE ESP SEATS LOCATED?
These seats are generally considered the best
seats in the stadium between the 30-yard lines
on the west side of Memorial Stadium, from the
field level up to the Press Box. Sporting great
views across the field and the east hills, all ESP
seats have access to their corresponding club with
breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay to the
west in the University and Stadium Clubs.
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HOW CAN THE ESP COMMITMENTS BE MADE?
There are three convenient options that each
prospective donor can choose from, all of which
help the University build its endowment today:
1. By making 30 fixed annual payments.
The financing options provide the flexibility for
prepayment with no penalty.
2. By making a pledge of up to five years with
annual payments.
3. By making an upfront lump sum gift, which may
enable an accelerated charitable deduction.
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WHAT ARE THE TAX ADVANTAGES OR TAX
DEDUCTIBILITY?
A significant portion of the ESP contribution may
be tax deductible. Each donor may be able to claim
a charitable deduction upfront or alternatively over
the years that the payments are financed. Donors
should consult with their personal tax planners.
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WHAT IS THE TERM OF MY SEAT OWNERSHIP?
The term of each ESP seat is either 40, 45 or 50
years depending on the location and club affiliation
chosen. This excludes Young Alumni Seats.
Whether donors pay upfront or over 30 years, they
will receive 40, 45 or 50 years of season tickets
(depending upon the option chosen) included with
the ESP... no price increases, no hidden fees, no
additional football donation requirements. While
the personal benefit lasts much longer than the
potential commitment pledged, the proceeds of the
ESP will benefit Cal Athletics forever.
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HOW CAN YOUNG ALUMNI PARTICIPATE IN
THIS PROGRAM?
Young Alumni Seats are being offered at a special
rate with a shorter term and scaled-down benefits.
The financial commitment is limited to five years
and allows members to continue to sit with their
friends in non-donor sections. At any point in the
future, seats can be upgraded to a higher ESP club
with full credit and benefits if seats are available.
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ARE MY SEATS TRANSFERRABLE? DO I HAVE
THE ABILITY TO RESELL MY SEATS?
Members can choose to transfer their seating rights
to family or friends. ESP donors can even resell
their endowment seats on the open market, pending
University approval.
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HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN MY PAST
GIVING AND SEASON TICKET STATUS?
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR MY FUTURE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CAL ATHLETICS?
The ESP replaces all previous annual giving for
football, with the purchase price of season tickets
included for the full term of the Endowment Seating
Program. Further annual contributions or season
ticket purchases will not be required for football for
the term, as the Endowment Seating Program is
an 'all-in' strategic program aimed at solidifying the
financial future of the entire Athletic Department
forever.
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CAN I DESIGNATE MY CONTRIBUTION TO A
SPECIFIC SPORT/PROGRAM?
Yes, even though the Endowment Seating Program
is aimed at building financial stability across the
entire Athletic Department, donors interested in a
particular program should speak with their individual
contact within the Athletic Development Office.
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HOW DOES MY CONTRIBUTION AFFECT MY
BEAR BACKER STATUS?
The donation element of the ESP (excluding
the value of the season ticket and certain other
benefits) will count 100% toward Bear Backer
status. If the ESP commitment is paid upfront,
the donor will choose the period over which the
donation will be spread for Bear Backer benefit
purposes.
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WHEN DO MY ESP BENEFITS START?
Immediately. Full ESP benefits begin upon the
renovation of Memorial Stadium. However, donors
who choose to participate in this charter program
before the renovation is complete will receive at
least three years of complimentary tickets starting
in 2009 (assuming the renovated stadium opens
in 2012). This further extends donor ticket rights
to Cal football and replaces other season ticket
donation requirements.
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DOES BEING A PART OF THE ENDOWMENT
SEATING PROGRAM ALLOW ME TO PURCHASE
EXTRA SEASON OR SINGLE GAME TICKETS?
Yes. Participation in this program will offer the
earliest opportunity to purchase extra season or
single game tickets in non-ESP sections (including
the Big Game) at the best available locations for
the full length of the ESP term. ESP donors will not
be required to make further donations for these
additional tickets. Donors who participate early in
the program will reap the best rewards.
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HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE AND STILL HAVE
SEATS IN NON-DONOR SECTIONS NEAR
FRIENDS AND/OR FAMILY IF I CHOOSE?
Donors can participate in the ESP and still continue
to sit with family or friends in non-donor sections.
They simply purchase endowment seats for the
price of Field Level Club seats giving them access
to the Field Level Club with the option to upgrade
with full credit at any time in the future.
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HOW ARE SEAT LOCATIONS DETERMINED?
WHAT IF I PARTICIPATED IN THE STUDENT ATHLETE
HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTER
(PHASE 1) INITIATIVE?
ESP donors will get preferred seat assignments
in the renovated Memorial Stadium. Donors who
participated in Phase 1 (the Student-Athlete High
Performance Center) and those who commit to the
ESP charter offering will have the first opportunity
to participate in the seat selection.
Following Phase 1 participants, seats will be
assigned on a priority point basis before any
other tickets are made available in the renovated
Memorial Stadium.
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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING CLUB
ACCESS? WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY TO
THE CLUBS BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THE
GAME?
Every ESP donor gains exclusive access to at
least one of three private clubs at Memorial
Stadium: the University, Stadium and Field Level
Clubs. Benefits vary by location and the ESP
level selected, but generally include premium food
and beverages, climate-controlled environment,
TV monitors, special offers on game day and
private restrooms. The club lounges will elevate
the Cal experience to levels enjoyed at other major
universities.
The University Club will be open before each Cal
football game, throughout each game and for a
period after the game. The Stadium and Field
Clubs are expected to be open at least pregame
and at halftime.
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CAN I BRING GUESTS TO THE CLUBS?
Yes, but it is expected that guest privileges will
only apply to the University and Stadium Club levels
due to space limitations. The club selected through
the ESP donation will determine the number of
guests allowed.
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IS THERE A PARKING BENEFIT WITH THE
ENDOWMENT SEATING PROGRAM?
Yes. All members of the University Club (1 pass
per 2 seats) and Stadium Club (1 pass for up to 4
seats) will receive Priority 1 parking. Members of
the Field Level Club (1 pass for up to 4 seats) will
receive Priority 2 parking. Young Alumni members
will receive Priority 3 parking.
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IF I DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ENDOWMENT
SEATING PROGRAM, ARE MY CURRENT SEATS
GUARANTEED?
No. All non-ESP seats in Memorial Stadium will be
subject to reseating at the time of renovation. The
only way to secure the best seat locations will be to
participate in the Endowment Seating Program.
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WHY DO I NEED TO PARTICIPATE NOW? WHAT
IF I DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE LATER?
Put simply, those who donate to the Endowment
Seating Program early will get the best seats in the
renovated Memorial Stadium. Plus, ESP benefits
begin immediately, so each donor will receive extra
years of free tickets. Cal will also get use of this
fundraising capital immediately for its endowment
needs. It is expected that donors could participate
in the ESP later, but only based upon available
seats and benefits at that point in time.
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WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Please contact the Athletic Development Office at
510-642-2427 to
find out more details about the Endowment Seating
Program.