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If there was any concern the Utah's gymnastics program might lose some of its appeal when longtime coach Greg Marsden retired at the end of the 2015 season, it's clear the Utes haven't experienced any dip in interest.
Utah, which opens the 2017 season at home against Michigan on Saturday at 5 p.m., has sold a record 8,644 season tickets, surpassing last year's mark of 7,315. For the first time the program is selling season tickets in the upper bowl, which traditionally has been general admission seating. Utah drew 6,115 fans to its Red Rocks Preview.
All the excitement might seem a little surprising given the Utes are coming off a ninth-place showing at the 2016 NCAA Championships.
There are a couple things that could be helping the Utes, however.
First the Utes are benefiting from the addition of MyKayla Skinner, an alternate to the 2016 Olympic team who has the potential to become one of the most successful gymnasts the program has seen.
"It certainly doesn't hurt to have a known commodity coming into the program," Utah co-coach Megan Marsden said. "She is known across the country to gymnastics fans, and our marketing people had a clear plan going back to the Olympics in how to use it."
The Utes also return fan favorites, including Baely Rowe, Sabrina Schwab and Kari Lee, leading to a lot of optimism surrounding a team that was picked sixth nationally in the preseason coaches poll.
Marsden acknowledged the longtime success of the program is its biggest selling point, but also credited co-coach Tom Farden for pushing many of the marketing ideas, including the Black Friday special that included the upper bowl tickets for $15.
"It's exciting for me and I know for Greg too because we have pushed the season ticket sales," said co-coach Megan Marsden. "We used the Olympics as a big promo and that helped, but it is gratifying to see his marketing concepts succeeding to the point we are now selling season tickets clear up to the rafters."
All the excitement surrounding a team that will rely on its underclassmen is going to increase expectations, and pressure, to perform well. So far, the coaches and the gymnasts have reason to believe those investing in tickets will get their money's worth.
"I think we are going to show we are a team to go after," Rowe said.
Marsden isn't worried the crowds will add pressure on the team to perform well.
"Usually it takes them a couple meets under their belts to get used to things but it becomes fun for them," she said. —
No. 7 Michigan at No. 6 Utah
P Saturday, 5 p.m.
TV • Pac-12 Network