Colorado’s football program is confronting a milestone that has never been reached under the "Coach Prime" era: a season in which the Buffaloes are not expected to sell out their allotment of season tickets. The renewal rate for existing ticket holders has slipped to 78.3%, down sharply from the near‑perfect 98% figures recorded in the three consecutive sell‑out years that followed Sanders’ hiring.
Renewal Rates Dip but Demand Remains Strong
Nevertheless, the university continues to sell more season tickets than it did before Sanders took the helm. As of Tuesday, the athletic department announced that 20,284 tickets have been sold, a figure that already eclipses the previous season’s total and signals sustained fan enthusiasm despite the modest decline in renewal percentages.
Historical Ticket Sales Trends
The context behind these numbers stretches back several years. In 2022, Colorado managed only 14,915 season‑ticket sales, the final count before Sanders’ arrival. The following year, the program sold out for the first time since 1996, and the momentum carried through 2023 and 2024, each marking sell‑outs that had been rare in the modern era. Last season, the Buffaloes moved 23,987 tickets, and the 2025 campaign is on track to surpass the 20,606 tickets sold during Sanders’ inaugural year in Boulder.
A key driver of the recent surge was a strategic increase in the number of season tickets made available — nearly 3,000 additional seats were added last year, helping to fuel the sales spike. The university’s decision to expand capacity reflects both the growing popularity of Buffaloes football and the ambition to maximize attendance at Folsom Field, the iconic stadium that has been a focal point of campus life for decades.
2026 Home Game Highlights
Looking ahead, the 2026 season will open on September 3 with a road test against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, a game that will set the tone for a demanding schedule. Home games are slated against a mix of traditional rivals and new conference foes, including Texas Tech, Utah, Kansas State, Houston, and Central Florida. The first home appearance will be a September 12 showdown with Weber State at 1:30 p.m., offering fans an early chance to experience the revitalized atmosphere at Folsom Field.
While single‑game tickets and mini‑plan packages are already on sale through the official ticket portal, the administration remains optimistic that the combination of historic sell‑outs, a refreshed schedule, and continued community engagement will keep the Buffaloes at the forefront of college football attendance even as renewal rates adjust to a new normal.