According to an audit conducted of the University of Hawaii athletic department, nearly $2.5 million of complimentary sporting event tickets are given out each year, causing significant concern by University and State officials. The Hawaii State Ethics Commission issued an advisory stating, "Tickets, entry passes and parking passes to UH athletic events are state assets, i.e. state property with a relatively substantial dollar value. Distribution of complimentary tickets or passes to any person must serve a legitimate state purpose. The commission does not agree that all aspects of the UH ticket policies applicable to the regents, system administrators and the (Manoa) Chancellor, in their current form, comport with the State Ethics Code, and has recommended that the ticket policies be revised to be consistent with the State Ethics Code. Tickets and passes to UH Manoa athletic events are state assets, under the jurisdiction and control of the Chancellor. The State Ethics Code prohibits the Chancellor and athletics department from distributing these assets in a manner that creates unwarranted privileges or advantages or preferential treatment for the regents, system administrators, Chancellor or other UH personnel or anyone else. Complimentary tickets should not be distributed routinely to community leaders or government officials (including legislators) by virtue of their positions."
For example, the University of Hawaii gave away 3,387 football season tickets during the 2011 football season, valued at $851,910. This equaled approximately 16 percent of all football season tickets issued that season. The new athletic director Ben Jay commented, "We're looking at (restricting) who is going to be able to get those tickets this season and how many they can get. In a way, that's lost revenue to us, but I don't know (whether) this is going to spur people to buy tickets."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 7-15-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
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