2021 MEMBERSHIP GUIDE A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Blazer Nation, To say that 2020 was a unique year in our history would not do justice to all we endured over the past twelve months. However, through it all, you showed us that the passion for UAB Athletics continues to grow to new heights. Despite the challenges, the 2020 giving year proved to be another successful year for Blazer Boosters and UAB Athletics. Thank you Blazer Boosters members for choosing to continue to strengthen our financial foundation! Your generosity has helped IGNITE the success of the Blazers as we continue to strive to Win Championships, Graduate with Honors, and Make a Difference. Blazer Boosters is committed to growing revenue through philanthropic initiatives with the purpose of offsetting scholarship costs, securing resources for facility projects and enhancing sport-specific operating budgets. With this mission in mind, the Blazer Boosters staff will be working to make 2021 another record year. Top priorities for 2021 include: 1. Continue to grow the Blazer Scholarship Fund toward covering the annual scholarship costs. 2. Secure resources to fully fund the following facility projects: A. Football Operations Facility B. Men’s and Women’s Basketball Practice Facility C. Baseball & Softball Clubhouse Facility 3. Continue record growth in the base of support to UAB Athletics through IGNITE. As you review this 2021 membership guide and prepare to show your financial support for the Blazers, I would like to call your attention to the information about 2021 UAB Football at Protective Stadium. Use your 2021 Blazer Boosters membership to help build your priority for seat selection while positioning UAB Athletics for future success in Conference USA and nationally. We are determined to be the best at everything we do. With your investment and continued engagement with the Blazers, we will continue to create opportunities for UAB Athletics to reach levels we have never reached before. On behalf of the entire UAB Department of Athletics, thank you for your continued support of Blazer student-athletes this year. Go Blazers! Mark T. Ingram, Director of Athletics University of Alabama at Birmingham TABLE OF CONTENTS IGNITE & 2020 Impact Page 3 Blazer Boosters Priority Points Page 7 Current Landscape Page 4 2021 UAB Football Page 8 Blazer Scholarship Fund Page 5 2021 UAB Men’s Basketball Page 11 Champion Club 2021 Page 6 Ever Loyal Society Page 13 1 WHAT IS BLAZER BOOSTERS? Blazer Boosters is the official fundraising organization for UAB Athletics and serves as the primary source of revenue for the athletics department. Blazer Boosters members assist in the financial support for three main areas: Secure financial resources for Offset annual student-athlete capital projects such as new To enhance sport-specific scholarship costs. athletic facilities or renovations operating budgets. to existing athletic facilities. Blazer Boosters IGNITE Blazer Scholarship Fund Ever Loyal Society Sport Gift Accounts Football Priority Seating Football Operations Building Each of UAB’s 18 varsity sports has a gift account that supports their Men’s Basketball operational needs. Priority Seating Basketball Practice Facility Philanthropic Memberships Baseball & Softball Clubhouse Gene Bartow Fund for Excellence Other Capital Support · January 1 2021 Giving Year Begins · April 1 Football Priority Seat Deadline · September 1 Men’s Basketball Priority Seat Deadline 2021 IMPORTANT DATES · December 31 End of 2021 Giving Year 2 WHEN YOU IGNITE THE BLAZERS… “UAB gave me the opportunity to study what I love “Thank you for your support, you and to enjoy the sport that has carried me through are the reason my teammates life. There are not enough thank you’s to hand out and I are able to receive a top and truly express my gratitude to the people that notch education while playing the have brought me here. Without you, there is no us! sport we love. We truly appreciate A big thank you for your kind donations and Blazer all that you continue to do!” support.” Chandler Simpson, Baseball Nikolai Manchev, Men’s Tennis Points of Pride: · 3-Time West Division Football Champions “I’m very happy with my decision to have come · Back to Back SoCon Rifle Champions to UAB and be part of a wonderful university · 2019-2020 Conference USA SAAC Cup Winners and basketball program · 7 Teams in top 10% for their sport in APR Nationally here. The support we’ve received from the UAB community has been wonderful. I know the “UAB has offered an incredible array of resources that women’s program is allow me to excel in the classroom and on the lanes. I incredibly grateful for the have had the opportunity to be able to travel across the support we get from the country to represent the Green and Gold. I have been boosters. Without all the extremely blessed to be apart of an amazing athletic support, it wouldn’t be the program with the best teammates and coach. UAB same.” has become my home away from home. Thank you to Margaret Whitley, the Blazer Boosters who make contributions that help Women’s Basketball athletes like me thrive.” Katie Hurley, Bowling 3 THE LANDSCAPE OF UAB ATHLETICS As a founding member of Conference USA, UAB Athletics must strive to be the premier athletic department in our conference and compete for championships in each of our sports. However, being satisfied with solely being the best in Conference USA is not enough. UAB and the City of Birmingham intend to be leaders on a national stage. By supporting UAB Athletics, you are making a direct impact on the lives of our student-athletes as well as the future economic growth of our community. 2021 Goals · Continue to build Blazer Boosters membership base through IGNITE. · Increase support to the Blazer Scholarship Fund to over $2 million The Cost to Compete · In-State Cost of Attendance = $27,310 · Out of State Cost of Attendance = $39,135 · The total scholarship bill = $8,472,141 Peer Metropolitan Institutions (2019 Athletics Donors) University Donors Memphis 4,000 Houston 3,774 UNLV 3,400 Marshall 3,291 VCU 3,108 Southern Miss 2,530 WKU 2,250 UTSA 2,149 Charlotte 2,000 UAB 1,966 “We want to be the best in everything we do… to accomplish these goals we must also win off the field by properly supporting our coaches and student-athletes.” — Mark Ingram, Director of Athletics 4 The Blazer Scholarship Fund includes all philanthropic and priority seat memberships and is used to supplement the cost BLAZER SCHOLARSHIP FUND of student-athlete scholarships provided by UAB Athletics. Currently the scholarship cost to UAB Athletics stands at over Annual Membership Levels & Benefits $8 Million annually. As the cost of attendance continues to climb, your support to the Blazer Scholarship Fund is critical. IGNITE LOYALTY GREEN GOLD CAPTAIN ALL CONFERENCE ALL AMERICAN HALL OF FAME VICTOR’S CIRCLE AD SOCIETY $50 $100 $250 $500 $1,000 $2,500 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $25,000+ Campus Practice School Textbooks In-State Full In-State Full In-State Invest in UAB Student-Athletes Textbooks Meals Housing Parking Apparel for a Supplies for a Tuition for a Scholarship for Scholarship for a Year for a Year for a Year (Equivalent Values) for a Year year for a Year for a Year Semester Semester a Semester for a Year Annual Blazer Boosters Membership Package Opportunity for Scholarship Seating and Parking for Football Opportunity for Scholarship Seating and Parking for Men’s Basketball Blazer Boosters Membership Card Invitation to UAB Coaches Meet & Greet Event Purchase Opportunity: Courtside Seating* Annual VIP Tailgate Invitation 2 Tickets 4 Tickets 6 Tickets Champion Club Access for Football 1 Parking Pass 1 Parking Pass 2 Parking Pass 2 Tickets 4 Tickets 6 Tickets Champion Club Access for Men’s Basketball 1 Parking Pass 1 Parking Pass 2 Parking Pass In-Game Recognition Exclusive UAB Athletics Experience *Based on availability. 5 CHAMPION CLUB 2021: ARE YOU IN? With the transition to Protective Stadium for Football in 2021, Blazer Boosters has taken the opportunity to introduce a new and improved Champion Club for the 2021 giving year. Champion Club memberships activate with a $10,000+ contribution to the Blazer Scholarship Fund. Champion Club membership benefits vary based upon your level of giving. Benefits are as follows: Hall of Fame Victor’s Circle AD Society $10,000 - $14,999 $15,000 - $24,999 $25,000 + 2 Tickets 4 Tickets 6 Tickets Champion Club Access for Football 2 Parking Passes 4 Parking Passes 6 Parking Passes 2 Tickets 4 Tickets 6 Tickets Champion Club Access for Men’s Basketball 2 Parking Passes 4 Parking Passes 6 Parking Passes In-Game Recognition Select UAB Team Travel Football · Reserved and personalized parking space in Hall of Fame level parking garage · 1 complimentary meal per ticket with access · 3 complimentary drink tickets per ticket with access · Access to opponent chalk talk/preview video from UAB Football Staff member Men’s Basketball · Valet Parking · Access to Champion Club Lounge 90 minutes prior to tip off · Complimentary pregame meals · 3 complimentary drink tickets per ticket with access · Access to coach’s pregame chalk talk prior to tip off Other Benefits · Blazer Boosters “Champion Club” Logo Item · Champion Club season credential to access in game benefits (one per ticket) · All Champion Club memberships are tax deductible less the scholarship seat fee requirements for locations in Protective Stadium and Bartow Arena 6 BLAZER BOOSTERS PRIORITY POINTS Blazer Boosters priority points is a ranking system that creates a fair and equitable method for recognizing Blazer Boosters members. Priority points are earned through your generous support of Blazer Boosters and UAB Athletics. A current year annual gift tied to priority seating is required to activate your priority points for ranking and allocation.