Creating and Promoting a Season-Long Rivalry Series: A Case Study of the University of Colorado Buffaloes and the University of Utah Utes

Abstract

In 2011, the University of Colorado (CU) and the University of Utah (UU) announced that their athletics teams would begin competing in the Pacific 12 Conference (Pac 12). With this decision, each school left traditional rivals in their former conferences. The CU Buffaloes left a rivalry with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the UU Utes left behind traditional and developing rivalries in the Mountain West Conference. With the addition of two schools that were close to one another, conference officials decided that the two football teams would play each other in the final game of the season to (1) establish travel partners, (2) welcome both schools to the conference, and (3) promote the annual athletic competition between the Buffaloes and the Utes.

Teams and schools customarily use opponents to promote their on-field product. For example, the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers compete in the “Civil War” and promote the annual football game that concludes both teams’ regular seasons. Schools increasingly work together to create rivalry series, in which points are awarded to the school that wins each athletic competition. This is a way to (1) promote non-revenue-producing sports alongside revenue-producing sports, and (2) find creative ways to seek external funding and corporate sponsorship. After learning about the foundation of rivalry and how it can influence fan behavior, you will work with a group to develop a season-long rivalry series between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Utah Utes.

This case was prepared for inclusion in Sage Business Cases primarily as a basis for classroom discussion or self-study, and is not meant to illustrate either effective or ineffective management styles. Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an endorsement of any kind. This case is for scholarly, educational, or personal use only within your university, and cannot be forwarded outside the university or used for other commercial purposes.

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