2022-23 Annual Report
A Note from the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness
DU Pioneers Family & Friends,
WHAT A YEAR!
We hope you have had a GREAT summer. As I reflect on my first year with Denver Athletics, two thoughts come to mind. First, I could not be prouder of our DU student-athletes, coaches, and staff as they again excelled competitively, academically and socially. Their success significantly added to the impressive history, legacy and tradition of the Pioneers. Second, I cannot thank our community enough for being so welcoming to myself and my family and supporting us to get right to work to further Denver Athletics as a place we all can be proud of.
During my tenure at Denver, most of what we prioritize has and will focus around a) enhancing the student-athlete support and experience and b) elevating the fans experience when attending an athletic event to cheer on our student-athletes as we showcase DU Athletics as Denver’s Home for College Sports.
Please take a moment to relive some of the successes as we look back at 2022-23 and accelerate into the new year in the Mile High City. Your support, dedication and passion for the Pioneers are unwavering, and we are forever grateful. WE have work to do and progress to make, but there is one constant: We are better, TOGETHER. THANK YOU!
Be well, and, as always, GO PIOS!
Josh Berlo - Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Ritchie Center Operations
Student-Athletes Lead the Way
- Surgeon General of the United States Vivek H. Murthy visited with the University of Denver’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council in March, and met with Denver and Colorado College’s hockey programs in the Daniel L. Ritchie Center in March.
- Before his ceremonial puck drop in-front of the second largest crowd in Magness Arena history, Vice Admiral Murthy held two sessions with more than 30 student-athletes from both institutions discussing the state of mental health in young adults and strategies to support them.
- 2022-23 Student-Athlete Advisory Council President Sophia Zulich had the unique privilege to be able to represent both DU and the Summit League at the 2023 NCAA National Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
- While the entire convention was tackling several different topics, Zulich was able to hone in on what other SAAC reps are doing on their campuses that she can bring back, from fundraisers to events to different campus initiatives.
The Summit League was proud to have had someone with Sophia's inherent leadership skills represent our membership at the National Convention. She has shown herself to be educated on the national landscape and is a true advocate for the student-athlete voice." - Summit League Deputy Commissioner Myndee Kay Larsen
- In partnership with SAAC, Denver hosted various DEI initiatives, including the hosting of pride and unity games across multiple sport programs.
- Denver SAAC also played roles with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and hosted a Mental Health Awareness night in Hamilton Gymnasium.
- DU SAAC continued to showcase the Green Bandana Project, an initiative designed to reduce stigma, spread awareness, and increase access to resources for mental health.
Off the Beaten Path
Expanding and elevating our footprint to impact our students' mind, body and soul.
- Last year, the University of Denver opened the James C. Kennedy Mountain campus, giving all DU students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the holistic approach to education that sets DU apart: the 4D Experience.
- The four integrated dimensions—advancing intellectual growth, exploring character, promoting well-being and pursuing lives and careers of purpose—will guide every program and activity on the mountain, just as they do on our urban campus.
- With the creation of the Kennedy Mountain Campus, DU integrated both an urban and a mountain campus, offering the opportunity for every student to grow in multiple dimensions in order to lead lives of purpose, for themselves and for the greater good.
- In June, Denver Athletics' incoming freshmen visited the KMC ahead of their first academic quarter in September.
Winning Up to Our Standard
Denver's winning legacy continues, highlighted by women's lacrosse's final four run and gymnastics regional win, two of seven programs to make trips to the NCAA postseason.
- The University of Denver finished as the top I-AAA school in the overall Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings for the 10th-consecutive full season and the 14th time in the last 15 years.
- DU placed 63rd overall, finishing fourth among schools without FBS football.
- Men’s soccer, skiing, gymnastics, hockey, women’s lacrosse, women’s golf and women’s tennis all contributed Directors' Cup points.
- Denver went 120-35-4 in home events, the top mark in the athletic department’s Division I history. The previous DU record was 110 wins in 2018-19.
- Four Pioneer programs went unbeaten at home in 2022-23: women’s lacrosse (9-0), women’s tennis (9-0), men’s lacrosse (5-0) and women’s soccer (7-0-2).
- Women’s lacrosse’s second round win in the NCAA Tournament was the 250th win between the men’s and women’s programs at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium (250-49) since the stadium was built in 2005.
- Denver's 18 athletic programs combined for a record of 438-281-11 (.600) in 2022-23, 14 more wins than a season ago.
- Pioneer athletic programs combined to produce: 100 all-conference selections (nine more than last season), 22 All-Americans (eight more than last year), eight NCAA Tournament appearances, six conference tournament championships, seven conference coaches of the year, five conference regular-season championships.
We continue to be immensely proud of the broad-based success the University of Denver athletic programs achieve annually. Moreover, we are immensely proud of the student-athletes in those programs who represent the University at the highest levels academically, socially and competitively across the country. This tradition of success we have at DU is seen in the healthy but competitive relationship between our programs. They concurrently motivate and support each other with vigor." - Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Ritchie Center Operations Josh Berlo
Fans had a Ball
Denver Pioneers' fan support reached new heights, breaking both gymnastics and hockey records last year.
- Denver hockey hosted Colorado College at Ball Arena on Jan. 27 in the first Battle at Ball, part of the 2022-23 Battle for the Gold Pan series. The game was played in front of a packed house of 17,952 at the home of the Colorado Avalanche. The game was the highest-attended indoor NCAA hockey game since Feb. 10, 2018.
- Denver hockey ranked third in the country in home attendance, breaking its home attendance record this season and crossing 150,000 fans for the first time in its history.
- DU men’s lacrosse finished fifth in the country in average attendance, checking in at 2,070 fans per game en-route to a perfect 5-0 record at Peter Barton.
- Denver has finished in the top 10 in men’s lacrosse average attendance in eight-consecutive seasons.
- Denver Gymnastics finished 13th in the country in average attendance at 4,234.
- On Jan., 29, Denver gymnastics broke its single-meet attendance record, packing 6,473 in Magness Arena for a top-10 clash with defending national champion Oklahoma.
- The gymnastics program also broke regular season attendance records for both total attendance (21,171) and average attendance (4,234).
- In Denver's first year of ticketing the program, the Pioneers’ women’s lacrosse program finished 18th in the country in average attendance out of 126 programs, using a 9-0 home record and its first two home playoff wins to get the program back to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second time in its history.
- Denver Athletics and Ritchie Center Operations went completely digital in its ticket distribution last year, making an important step towards the University's commitment to sustainability.
Holistic Experience
Our student-athletes continued to live out the University of Denver's 4D Experience.
- For the second-straight season and the third time since joining the league in 2013-14, Denver earned the Summit League's Academic Achievement Award.
- Denver men's basketball, women's golf, men's soccer and women's swimming and diving earned the Summit League's Team Academic Achievement awards for being the top programs academically in their respective sports.
- Denver men's soccer's AJ Francois was named the Summit League Scholar of the Championship in 2022-23.
- Denver Gymnastics claimed the 2022-23 Gold Vest Award that is a points-based award combining academic and athletic performance, attendance at other athletic events and, most importantly, the program's contributions back to the Denver community.
- Three Denver program’s earned perfect scores on the NCAA’s multi-year Academic Progress Report (2018-22): Women’s golf, women’s skiing and women’s tennis.
- Six Denver programs earned single-season perfect scores, the third most in a single season in Denver’s Division I history: Women’s tennis, women’s skiing, women’s golf, men’s skiing, men’s tennis, women’s basketball.
- In October 2022, men’s soccer was announced to have tied for second in the country in GPA in 2021-22, the seventh-consecutive season Denver has been in the top two in the country in the category (won five times).
- Women's golf turned in the second-best GPA in the country in 2022-23, a 3.932.
- Women’s soccer finished tied for fifth in the country, just 0.03 behind Dayton for the top GPA nationally. The program finished in the top five for the second-straight year after recording the top GPA in 2020-21.
- Denver was the only institution to have both of its soccer programs in the top five.
- DU added another full-time academic advisor last season to continue to expand its support for the student experience.
- University of Denver student-athletes participated in a myriad of community service events in 2022-23, including men's lacrosse's continued partnership with Denver City Lax.
Expanding Our Reach
Denver saw improvement on its broadcasting, social platforms and streaming services in 2022-23.
- The Pioneers were featured on national linear television 18 times, including CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox Sports 2, ACC Network and the Big Ten Network.
- Denver was featured 34 times on ESPN+ and 36 times on regional sports networks.
- DU combined for 2.8 million interactions on social media, more than double last year’s total.
- The Crimson and Gold’s social media accounts combined for 70.5 million impressions, more than a 20% increase from the prior season for the second-straight year.
- A newly launched DenverPioneers.com in 2022-23 attracted more than 1.3 million users combining for 2.1 million sessions and 4.4 million page views across 1,265 stories.
- Pioneer Vision saw 9,300 views across its broadcasts in 2022-23. With its increase in NCHC.TV viewership as well, DU’s home game streams had more than 21,700 views.
Development Starts from the Inside Out
Pioneer Health and Performance expands to further contribute to the student-athlete experience.
- Courtesy of a partnership with Panorama, Denver added a medical director to its in-house staff as well, welcoming Dr. Jennell Kopp to the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness, providing student-athletes with convenient access to a doctor's opinion in the building.
- Denver added additional resources last year in both the sports medicine and sports performance units, allowing for greater attention to detail and sport-specific focus for staff with the student-athletes.
- Denver Sports and Performance put a continued focus on mental wellness, adding Dr. Tommy Fritze's services to what they provide.
- DU student-athletes continue to participate in concussion studies to provide more data to medical professionals after an injury.
- Consultant Bob Seebohar, a board certified specialist in sports dietetics, expanded his work with Denver Athletics in 2022-23.
- Denver Sports and Performance also extended its Nutrition Station to a second location, right outside the Anderson Academic Commons. The expansion was supported by Safeway and additional corporate partners.
- Student-athletes have access to various technological applications for assistance in sleep, visualization and meditation.
Powered by Our Partners
Denver Sports Properties and Aspire continue to play key financial role
- Denver Sports Properties, a division of Playfly Sports, renewed significant sponsorships over the summer, including media partner CBS4.
- Denver's ticket sales and service company, Aspire, sold more than 237,000 tickets to athletic events, including nearly 156,000 tickets to Denver hockey home games last season.
- DU had a 15% increase in season ticket sales compared to the 2021-22 season.
- DSP saw a revenue increase of 10% in FY23 compared to the year prior.
- DSP finished with a 97% year-over-year retention rate.
- Denver Sports Properties reached a 10-year extension with Pepsi to continue to make them the official drink partner of Denver Athletics.
- Playfly Sports obtained Aspire to continue to provide sales, retention and service to all stakeholders.
The Ritchie Center Beyond Athletics
The Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness opens its doors to more than athletics, fulfilling the University's mission by committing to public good and opening doors to external events.
- In addition to more than 150 home athletic events in 2022-23, Ritchie Center Events hosted a myriad of external clients, 27 high school graduations and University of Denver's Graduate, Undergraduate and Sturm College of Law Commencements.
- Ritchie Center Events raises brand awareness by showcasing the University to an entirely new clientele.
- Strategic partnerships have been retained with external groups, including the Colorado Rapids reserve team, the Premier Lacrosse League and various regional and national elite hockey camps.
Elevating Our Brand
Contributing to the University of Denver's overall success by aligning with the University's mission, vision and values, captivating an audience reaching around the world.
- What is the 4D Experience? At DU, students receive a multi-dimensional, adventure-driven education that prepares them to make a difference and thrive in a dynamic world. We call it the 4D Experience: 1) Advancing Intellectual Growth 2) Pursuing Careers & Lives of Purpose 3) Promoting Well-being and 4) Exploring Character
- The University of Denver's student-athletes live the 4D experience every day through their academic and athletic experiences, growing in their time as Pioneers to prepare for a life or meaning and purpose after college.
- We Are One DU: Denver Athletics immediately contributed to the new University brand by exposing it to a captive audience, placing within the ice and on the boards inside Magness Arena. We are just beginning - we are proud to be ONE.
- Voice and Tone Defined: Our Division, from student-athletes, to administrators, to staff, share in a united voice and tone to best represent the University as a whole. We ENGAGE. We INFLUENCE. We INNOVATE.
Women are Leading Denver Athletics in Coaching and Beyond
Just after the 50th anniversary of Title IX, Denver Athletics has several women in key leadership roles
- Seven of Denver's eight women's programs are now coached by women, and swimming and diving head coach Alicia Hicken-Franklin coaches both the men's and women's programs for the Pioneers.
- The Athletic Department hired three new head coaches during the fiscal year, including women's soccer head coach Julianne Sitch and volleyball head coach Megan Pendergast.
- Sitch won the Division III men's soccer title in 2022, becoming the first woman to coach a men's soccer program to a national championship.
- Pendergast previously coached at UCLA, Oklahoma and Tulsa in her career before accepting her first head coaching job at Denver this summer.
- 17-year Denver women's lacrosse head coach Liza Kelly and her staff were named the West/Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year, guiding the to new heights in 2023.
- Barbara Perkins was named the National Triathlon Coach of the Year, Denver's second female head coach to win national honors (Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart - 2019).
- Kutcher-Rinehart, who completed her 25th season as a Pioneer in 2023, led the Denver gymnastics program to its sixth NCAA Nationals appearance and its second team regional championship (2019).
- Women's basketball head coach Doshia Woods has been a great ambassador for athletics around campus and in the community, giving talks on a variety of topics, including an opportunity to sit on the WeCoach panel in the national non-profit's stop in Englewood in May.
- Summit League Women's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year Alicia Hicken-Franklin guided the Denver women's program to its 10th-straight Summit League title, and the men to its ninth in 10 years.
- Long time head coach Martha Richards earned Summit League Women's Golf Coach of the Year honors for the second-consecutive year in 2022-23.
- Denver hired former DU volleyball student-athlete Kacie Dohrmann this summer to lead Denver's fundraising efforts as the Deputy Athletic Director for Development.
2022-23 Sport-By-Sport Summaries
- Denver hockey won three trophies for the second-consecutive year, capturing the 2023 Ice Breaker Tournament, the Battle for the Gold Pan and its second-consecutive Penrose Cup as the NCHC regular-season champion.
- DU recorded its second-consecutive 30-win season, the first time it has reached the milestone in back-to-back campaigns in its 74-year history.
- The Pioneers extended the 20+ win “Tenzer Streak” to each of the last 21 full seasons, dating back to 2001-02.
- Denver hockey won four major awards at the 2022-23 NCHC Banquet: Magnus Chrona was named the NCHC Goaltender of the Year and the Three Stars Award winner, Mike Benning was named the NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year and Justin Lee was tabbed the Defensive Defenseman of the Year.
- The Crimson and Gold made their 32nd NCAA Tournament appearance in the campaign, reaching the postseason for the 13th time in the last 14 seasons.
- DU won all four regular-season games against North Dakota for the first time since 2009-10.
- Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Hockey Coach David Carle reached 100 career wins, becoming the fifth Pioneer bench boss to reach the milestone and the second-fastest to reach the mark, doing so in his 160th career game. Carle signed a multi-year contract extension through the 2026-27 season.
- For the first full season, the gymnastics head coaching position became the fourth head coaching endowment in the athletic department. The Joy S. Burns Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach joins men’s soccer (Jack and Sheila Weinberg), men’s lacrosse (William G. Tierney) and hockey (Richard and Kitzia Goodman) as the four programs with their head coaching positions endowed.
- In front of more than 4,400 fans inside Magness Arena, Denver Gymnastics won its second NCAA Regional since 2019, upsetting LSU, Michigan and Oregon State in the regional final.
- Jessica Hutchinson was named the Big 12 Gymnast of the Year, her second-straight and Denver’s third-consecutive win for the award.
- Graduate student Lynnzee Brown broke finised second on vault and fourth on floor and in the all-around at Nationals.
- Hutchinson’s floor routine earned her a fourth-place finish in the event to go with an eighth-place finish in the all-around.
- Brown, Hutchinson, junior Rosie Casali and Kiley Rorich earned WCGA postseason All-America honors.
- Following the season, Brown qualified for the 2023 Gymnastics World Championships after representing Haiti in her elite gymnastics debut at the 2023 Pan American Championships in May.
- A record-breaking season ended with the women’s lacrosse program’s first trip to Championship Weekend in its history.
- Denver got off to a 22-0 start to the season, winning the BIG EAST regular-season title for the fourth time, the BIG EAST Tournament for the third-consecutive year and hosting the first two NCAA Tournament games in the program’s history to reach their second-ever NCAA Quarterfinal.
- Leading the top scoring defense in the country, Sam Thacker was named the IWLCA National Defender of the Year.
- Denver finished ranked fourth in the country while leading the nation with the most wins (22) and tied with national champion Northwestern for the fewest losses (1).
- The Pioneers earned their fifth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the seventh overall.
- Denver reached as high as No. 3 in the national rankings.
- In addition to Thacker (first team), Trinity McPherson (second) and Abby Jenkins (third) earned IWLCA All-America honors.
- IWLCA Regional Coach of the Year Liza Kelly signed a contract extension through the 2028 season.
- Denver men's lacrosse announced in January that 2023 would be Bill Tierney’s 14th and final season with the program, the completion of 39 years as a college lacrosse head coach and 49 years as a coach of any kind
- The Pioneers went a perfect 5-0 at home, including a five-goal win over No. 15 Ohio State and a six-goal win on Bill Tierney Day on April 8 against No. 9 Villanova.
- Denver earned a BIG EAST Semifinal win over Villanova as well to avenge last year’s semifinal exit against the Wildcats.
- Long-time associate head coach Matt Brown was named the program's next William G. Tierney Head Men's Lacrosse Coach in April for the 2024 season.
- Denver men’s soccer made its 12th NCAA DI Tournament appearance in program history. Kengo Ohira netted a game-winner in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive year, scoring a 93rd-minute winner in the snow at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium to send the Pios past San Diego.
- The Crimson and Gold went unbeaten in 13-consecutive matches from Sept. 24-Nov. 17 prior to its NCAA Second Round-loss at Duke.
- Denver won the 2022 Summit League Men’s Soccer Tournament title, the program’s 16th trophy in its 10 seasons in the league.
- Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men’s Soccer Coach Jamie Franks signed a multi-year contract extension in June.
- With an 8-0-1 mark in Summit League play, the women's soccer program earned its 13th NCAA Division I conference regular-season title including their seventh Summit League crown.
- The Pioneers finished 7-0-2 at home, the program’s third-straight full season with at least seven home wins.
- Devan McSwain was named the Summit League’s Defensive Player of the Year; Sami Feller earned Midfielder of the Year honors; and nine Pioneers in total earned All-Summit League honors.
- McSwain and Feller were both recognized by United Soccer Coaches’ as well, earning All-West Region First Team honors following the 2022 campaign.
- Denver women's basketball raised more than $7,500 in its Long Ball Elite fundraiser, finishing seventh in the country in three-point attempts per game (27.5) and 18th in the country in three-point makes per game (8.4).
- The Pioneers turned up the heat defensively in 2022-23, led by Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Makayla Minett, who finished ninth in the country in blocks per game. Minett, who will return for her fifth and final season in 2023-24, was Denver’s first conference player of the year not restricted by eligibility year since Misa Pavlickova was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2001.
- Denver moved three spots up the Summit League ladder in 2022-23, earning a fifth-place finish with an 8-10 record in league action, including winning five of the last seven games to close out the regular season.
- Denver men's basketball earned 15 wins for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
- The Pioneers picked up the program’s first road win at South Dakota since Feb. 21, 2016.
- Five Pios finished in double figures in the 2022-23 campaign, led by 15.9 a night from Tommy Bruner.
- Bruner was named to the All-Summit League Newcomer Team and earned All-Summit League Honorable Mention honors.
- Denver volleyball finished 19-12 and 12-6 in the Summit League, good enough for fourth in the league standings.
- The Pioneers went 10-4 at home, the program’s eighth-straight full season with double-digit wins inside Hamilton Gymnasium.
- DU defeated South Dakota State in the Summit League Quarterfinal, a five-setter that saw all five games decided by three points or fewer.
- Denver finished third at the 2023 NCAA Skiing National Championships.
- The alpine team earned more points than any other program in the country (233.5).
- DU earned eight All-America honors at the national championships, led by a second-place finish from Sara Rask in the women’s giant slalom and a second-place women’s slalom finish for Nora Brand.
- Rask and Bernhard Flaschberger both earned RMISA Most Valuable Skier accolades.
- Denver won the Summit League Women's Golf Championship for an eighth time en-route to its 21st- straight NCAA Regional appearance.
- Anna Zanusso was named the Summit League Player of the Year for the second-straight year while head coach Martha Richards earned her second Summit League Coach of the Year honor in as many seasons.
- Denver set a new Summit League Championship record for team score (852) while Anna Krekling set the 54-hole individual scoring record of 204 (9-under) for the league championship. Krekling fired a 7-under 64 in the final round to win the tournament by nine strokes.
- No. 43 Denver finished seventh in the NCAA San Antonio Regional.
- Denver women's tennis earned its ninth-straight Summit League Tournament title and its 11th Division I conference tournament title overall to punch its ticket to its 12th NCAA Tournament.
- The Pioneers won their 10th-straight regular-season title including a ninth of a possible nine in the Summit League
- DU finished 53rd in the ITA National Rankings and second in the ITA Mountain Regional Rankings.
- Paul Wardlaw was named the ITA Mountain Region Coach of the Year; Taylor Melville was named the ITA Mountain Region Senior Player of the Year; and Maureen Slattery was named the ITA Mountain Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
- Denver women's swimming and diving won its 10th-consecutive Summit League Championship.
- Natalie Arky, who once again qualified for the NCAA Championships, was named the Summit League Women’s Swimmer of the Year and the Women’s Swimmer of the Championship.
- Olivia Gordon was named the Summit League Women’s Diver of the Year, and Zora Opalka was named the Summit League Women’s Diver of the Championship. Mina Ada Solaker wrapped up the Summit League awards by being named the Summit League Women’s Newcomer of the Championship.
- Aaron D’Addario swept the Summit League Diving Coach of the Year awards, and head coach Alicia Hicken-Franklin was tabbed the Summit League Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year.
- Denver men's swimming and diving won its ninth Summit League Championship.
- Zyad Morsy, who became the first men’s diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships since Ross Edfort in 2015, was named the Summit League Men’s Diver of the Year.
- Denver placed 13 men on the 2023 All-Summit League Team and four on the Summit League All-Academic Team.
- With a perfect 5-0 record in Summit League play, the Denver men's tennis program won its eighth Summit League regular-season title and its ninth Division I conference regular-season title overall.
- DU earned the program’s second win over a Big Ten program in as many seasons, sweeping Purdue at the Denver Tennis Park. Prior to last season’s win, Denver hadn’t defeated a Big Ten team since 2016.
- The team ended the season ranked 59th in the country, up six spots from last year’s finish, and finished second in the ITA Regional Rankings.
- Junior Nicolas Herrero Cuesta was named Summit League Player of the Year while sophomore Daniel Sancho Arbizu took home the Newcomer of the Year award. Head coach Drew Eberly also earned Coach of the Year honors for the first time.
- Denver triathlon completed the program’s second full season last fall, finishing first or second in each of the first five races before placing third at the Collegiate National Championships in Nov. 12 in Tempe, Arizona.
- All five student-athletes who scored for Denver in the National Championship finished in the top 22 in the race.
- Barbara Perkins was named the Division-I Triathlon Coach of the Year; and Olivia Ebenstein (Second), Freya McKinley (second), Clara Normand (Honorable-Mention) and Melissa Funes (Honorable-Mention) all earned All-America honors from the College Triathlon Coaches’ Association.
On the Horizon
- Embarking on a new strategic plan and vision for Denver Athletics and the Ritchie Center, including the highlighting of Denver's wide range of programs achieving national success.
- New court in Hamilton Gymnasium, celebrating the new DU brand and Denver skyline.
- New hockey glass and boarding system in Magness Arena.
- Upgrades to concessions and venue offerings, including grab and go specialty drink and food items.
- Upgrades in and around student-athlete spaces, providing a collegiate home away from home.
- New season ticket benefit package includes covered parking.
- Second season of DU's Fan Advisory Board.
- Continued evolution of the new brand in and around our facilities.
Traditions Start with You
Join us in 2023-24 in honoring these traditions and creating NEW ones along the way.
- Denver Hockey fans were joined in chorus by recording artist Mack Bailey in 2022-23, upgrading the tradition of singing Country Roads during the third period.
- DU's student season-ticket campout was another successful one last fall, the 21st campout since the opening of Magness Arena in 1999.
- Denver's "Exit Song" Rocky Mountain High plays as fans exit venues.
- DU gymnastics meets end with the cha-cha slide.
- The Pioneers' women's basketball program lines up postgame for the fight song following every one of its games inside Hamilton Gymnasium.
- In partnership with the University's homecoming events, DU hosts Hocktoberfest during its highlighted series in October.
- Student tailgates outside the Buchtel circle are a great place to hang out before a lacrosse game at Peter Barton.
THANK YOU! We have a Mile High appreciation for our Pioneer community. See you in 2023-24!