The University of Oklahoma doesn't need a successful football team to make money. Just bring in the biggest rock 'n' roll band in the world.
A story from the Tulsa World reports OU will rake in at least $500,000 when legendary Irish rock band U2 performs at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Oct. 18. The stadium, which normally holds about 80,000 fans for an OU game, is expected to top that mark when Bono and company bring their 360 tour to Norman.
According to the story, the company promoting the U2 tour is paying $200,000 to rent the stadium for the concert with another $300,000 in fees and services. The university also gets to retain all of the profits from concession and parking sales. Is that better than if the OU-Texas game was moved from its annual site in Dallas to Norman? Paging E.Z. Million ...
The World reports the $200,000 payment may come as an endowed student athlete scholarship. So some players on the team may get to suit up for a game on the Bono Scholarship? How cool is that?
Luckily, the concert comes on a weekend the team will be out of town. While roadies will be setting up the stage, the Sooners have their annual slugfest Red River rivalry game against the Texas Longhorns. It's a good thing since the stadium and the field may be torn up by the time U2 guitarist The Edge finishes his array of sounds. Part of the money will be used to restore any property damage from the concert. Some money for restoration might also be needed if OU loses to Texas that weekend.
