DALLAS (SMU) – With the 2023-24 seasons fast approaching, SMU Athletics is wrapping up another record-setting year on the external side of operations.
 
From an attendance and ticket sales perspective, SMU posted a 27% jump in football season ticket sales, setting a new highest average season attendance for Ford Stadium as well as a regular-season single-game high with 35,569 watching the Battle For The Iron Skillet. SMU's LEARFIELD Amplify team, led by Corderius Seay, also set new marks for mini-plans and group tickets sold, earning a national Property of the Year nomination from their company, and selling out all premium spaces. Basketball attendance also increased, with the men seeing a near 10% increase in season attendance and the women jumping over 15%.
 
Sales of SMU merchandise also continue to explode, as royalty revenues have quadrupled over a 10-year span. In FY23, SMU experienced a 24% increase in royalties through its licensing agency, CLC, and sales through SMU's official online store jumped 150%.
 
Sponsorship-wise, Mustang Sports Properties set an all-time high in revenue for the second year in a row, with Kevin Chandlee earning Chairman's Club recognition for a top personal sales performance with LEARFIELD and Nathan Taylor garnering nominations for Most Unique Promotion and Property Coordinator Of The Year.
 
Giving totals to the SMU Athletics Annual Fund were up 21.9%, while total cash receipts and commitments eclipsed $44M, the second highest single-year haul in department history. Leading the way were seven million-dollar-plus gifts, including $15M from Liz and Bill Armstrong toward the Weber End Zone Complex.
 
The 2023-24 seasons kick off on Aug. 17 when SMU women's soccer visits TCU, with SMU's home events set to start Aug. 24 with a men's and women's soccer doubleheader at Washburne Stadium starting at 5:30. Volleyball tips off its home season on Sept. 6 when the Mustangs host Baylor at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. Admission to soccer and volleyball matches is complimentary.
 
The Mustangs kick off the 2023 football season against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Tickets are available at SMUMustangs.com/tickets or by calling 214-SMU-GAME.