Iowa's paycheck from ISU grew by about $50,000

Iowa State University's athletics department paid Iowa about $381,000 for the Hawkeyes' 2009 football appearance at Jack Trice Stadium, officials released today.

The payout was about a $50,000 increase from Iowa's last trip to Ames in 2007.

The schools' current contract stipulates that the home school pay the visitor 20 percent in gate receipts after taxes. Instead of giving Iowa 20 percent of that game's share, Iowa State determines the gate as the total of single-game ticket revenues plus season-ticket revenues divided by the number of games played. The Iowa-Iowa State game boasted the best attendance at Jack Trice Stadium last year with 52,089 tickets sold.

The schools allocate 4,000 tickets to the visitor with the home team determining the price. Iowa State charged Iowa fans $92 a ticket last year. Iowa will charge Iowa State fans $65 a ticket this year.

The arrangement favors Iowa State because of stadium capacity. Iowa's Kinnick Stadium holds more than 70,000 fans, and Iowa State's Jack Trice Stadium holds about 55,000. Since 2004, Iowa State has received nearly $1.8 million from Iowa from its three games at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has received about $1.1 million from Iowa State from its three games at Jack Trice Stadium.

Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard and Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta signed a 10-year contract in 2008 after the schools publicly disagreed over the previous contract's expiration date. Former athletics directors Bob Bowlsby (Iowa) and Bruce Van De Velde (ISU) negotiated an extension but didn't sign a contract. Both men left the schools before the agreement was completed.

The current contract lasts through 2017, but terms change after the 2012 game. Beginning in 2013, the host school will keep all gate receipts. Iowa State will benefit by earning the final 20-percent cut in 2012 and then keeping all of its home gate in 2013.