The Director of the University of North Texas Coliseum/Main Auditorium/Gateway Center reports to the Assistant Vice-President for Business Services.  The Coliseum is a 200,492 square foot facility which provides opportunities to offer many services to diversified communities.  These services include use of the facility for campus wide activities as well as for use of the community in general.  The Coliseum is a major part of the educational program of the University, by providing academic support, cultural, social and recreational opportunities. 

The following areas are included in this Policy:

Mission Statement

General Information

Policy for Coliseum/Main Auditorium/Gateway Center Use

No Smoking Policy

Coliseum Facility Hours of Operation

Reservation Procedures

Ticket Policy    

Policy for Building Charges

Insurance

Emergency Instructions

Americans With Disabilities Act

Concessions

Possession and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages

Mission Statement

Mission and Goals of the Coliseum/Main Auditorium/Gateway Center

The mission of the Coliseum/Main Auditorium/Gateway Center is to maintain, operate and administer as economically and effectively as possible the facility within its charge; to meet the cultural entertainment, academic curricular and non-credit instructional needs of the campus community.  It is the goal of the Coliseum/Main Auditorium/Gateway Center to maintain a professional operation consistent with the high standards of the University of North Texas.

General Information

The Coliseum construction began in March of 1971 and the first event was in March of 1973.  The building has a total of 200,492 square feet with a building diameter of 331 feet.  The Coliseum is conveniently located three blocks north of I-35E at the corner of Avenue D & Highland St., on the campus of the University of North Texas. 

It has been called one of the finest basketball facilities in college athletics.  The University of North Texas Coliseum, or “The Super Pit”, is home to the Eagles men’s and women’s basketball teams.  The Coliseum is designed for multi-purpose use and has excellent viewing sight lines from any seat in the arena.

The Coliseum has 9,847 upholstered permanent theater type seats plus forty-eight positions for wheel chairs.  The assembly area, designed for functional flexibility, features aesthetic and technical excellence for both patrons and performers. 

1. Coliseum facilities are available for use by the university community including UNT students, faculty, staff, members of the university administration, alumni and guests.
2. Individuals or groups using Coliseum facilities are responsible for the behavior of their members and guests.  They shall also be responsible for any damage to property due to negligence or vandalism.  Damage costs will be charged to the individual or group using the facilities.
3. Attendance at programs cannot exceed the capacity of the room. Coliseum staff are required to enforce all fire codes.
4. Dogs, cats and other animals are prohibited from the Coliseum unless used as guide animals for physically impaired persons.
5. Bicycles, skate boards or roller skates/blades are not allowed inside the facility.
6.  Air horns and laser pointers are not allowed inside the facility.
7. Equipment and furnishings belonging to the Coliseum may not be removed from the premises except with approval of the Coliseum Director.
8. The Coliseum is not responsible for the belongings of patrons using the facility.Items found in the facility will be turned in to “lost and found” located at the concourse level Director’s office and will be held until the end of the semester, except that controlled substances or other illegal items will be submitted to the campus Police Department.  At the end of the semester, valuables will be turned over to Property and Inventory Control, keys will be destroyed, textbooks that cannot be sold will be donated to the Friends of the Library book sale, clothing and eye glasses will be donated to a local charitable organization, and other items will be disposed of as appropriate.
9.  Except for authorized concession sales and catered events, food and beverages will not be brought into the Coliseum.
10. Seating aisles must be kept clear at all times.
11. Posters and spirit banners must be approved by the Coliseum Director before being posted or hung.
12. Vehicles will not be driven into the Coliseum service areas without prior approval of either the Coliseum  Director or Operations Coordinator.
13.  All vehicles must be left outside the building during any event and the ramps kept clear for emergency  vehicles.
14.  Use of the outside paved areas at the concourse level of the Coliseum is to be highly restricted.  Except  for emergency situations, the driver of any vehicle shall not leave the street going over the curb and  enter any of the paved area without advanced arrangements with either the Coliseum Director or  Operations Coordinator. 

Policy for Coliseum Use

In general, the policy on Coliseum use gives highest priority to official university programs and campus-wide student activities.  Maximum use of the facility is desirable.  Priorities of use, as far as possible, will normally be made, in the following order:

1.         UNT Commencement.

2.         Varsity basketball games.

3.         Official university functions which must be scheduled in one academic year for the                         following year.  (Example: Honor’s Day, Convocation)

4.         Student Activities Union programs, and the Fine Arts Series.

5.         Other events sponsored by official university groups.  (An official university group                         is defined as one whose funds are budgeted and disbursed by the Business Office of the                         University.)

6.         Events sponsored by other campus-recognized student organizations.

7.         Alumni sponsored events.

8.         Conferences and Seminars sponsored by university-related organizations wherein                         members of the university community will be expected to make up a significant                         portion of those in attendance.

9.         Conferences sponsored by non-university-related organizations which reflect an                         educational and/or charitable purpose.  (Examples: Future Homemakers of America, high                         school student organizations, high school commencements.)

10.        Events sponsored by either university or non-university organizations which reflect                          an educational intent and in which participation may be both university and non-university                          persons.

11.        Events sponsored by non-university organizations for purposes other than those                          related directly to and/or sponsored largely for the university community.

No Smoking Policy

For health and safety reasons, smoking will be prohibited in all areas of the Coliseum, including restrooms. Smoking is permitted outside the building but no closer than 20 feet from door openings and receptacles are in place at appropriate places around the facility.

Coliseum Facility Hours of Operation

With the exception of scheduled events, the normal Coliseum operating hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.  Except for scheduled events, the Coliseum will be closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and university holidays. 

Reservation Procedures

Requests for reservations for use of the Coliseum will be made through the Coliseum Director.  Scheduling will be accomplished in accordance with the procedures outlined below.

1. It is assumed that three kinds of events will be scheduled for a given academic year (September 1 to August 31) by June 1 of the preceding academic year.

A. Dates of commencement will be given to the Coliseum Director as soon as they are determined.

B. Prior to scheduling games, basketball coaches should check the schedule of  use of the Coliseum in order to avoid scheduling conflicts.  Basketball coaches must submit their final schedule of home games to be played in the Coliseum to the Coliseum Director at the earliest date possible, and no later than May 31 of each year

C. Dates of Homecoming, Honor’s Day and other university events will be provided to the Coliseum Director as soon as they are determined.

2. In all other cases of requests made before June 1, the Coliseum Director will indicate tentativereservations for the dates requested.  If no conflicting requests are received by June 1, the  Director will notify the requesting group that its tentative reservation has been confirmed.  If a conflicting request is received from a second group prior to June 1, and if it has a higher priority listing, the Director will notify the first group that the tentative reservation cannot be confirmed.  Conversely, if the conflicting request comes from a second group with a lower priority listing, the Director may immediately inform them that there is a tentative reservation of  a higher priority ahead of them so that they may seek an alternate date or alternate location. 

3. After June 1: if the Director is satisfied that all high-priority requests have been provided for, he/she may schedule events in any of the eleven categories listed above in the policy for Coliseum use, so long as all other requirements are met by the group making the request.

Ticket Policy

It will be the responsibility of the individuals or organizations who rent the Coliseum (hereafter referred to as the Lessee) to handle all ticket sales prior to an event and all expenses therefrom.  Lessee shall procure from his ticket printer a manifest of all tickets printed for sale for the event or events.  The Coliseum shall sell all tickets and handle all funds pertaining to the sale of such tickets at the event itself.  A ticket report will be furnished to the Lessee upon completion of ticket sales.  

Policy For Building Charges

1. In general, building costs for educational and general activities such as instruction, commencement and  other like events will be fully covered from appropriated funds for building maintenance, utilities and administrative fees.  All other direct costs involved with the event will be charged as a result of the costs involved.  Such costs will vary with the type of activity and the area of the building used. Among the  activities which could create direct costs are the following:

Removing portable floor.                                    Selling tickets.

Setting up stage.                                                Taking tickets and ushering.

Setting up chairs and or tables.                           Security officers on duty.

Installing stage rigging.                                       Operating sound or light systems.

Providing stage hands.                                       Setting up dressing rooms.

Extra cleanup required.                                      Nurse or medical technician.

2. Space Rental Charges are assessed on a user category basis.  Direct costs, plus percentage of direct costs, are assessed for the total charges to users of the facility.

Classifications of Users:                                                 Percentage of Space Rental

A.        Official University Function                                            Direct Costs other than Building                                                                                                            Maintenance, Utilities, &                                                                                                            Administrative Fees.

B.         Official University Income-Generating                            Direct Costs                                                          Activity

C.         University Attended Sponsored Group                            15% of Direct Costs 

            Activity

D.        University Sponsored Group Activity                              25% of Direct Costs

E.         Sponsored Non-University Users                                    35% of Direct Costs

F.         Commercial Users (Non-Tax Exempt)                            35% of Direct Costs or 10%                                                                                                           of the total gross ticket sales.

Insurance

The Lessee for events agrees to hold the University of North Texas harmless from any and all liability by reason of personal injury, death, or property damage, occurring as a result of the use of the said Coliseum.  Lessee further agrees to purchase liability insurance from a reputable Insurance Company to be approved by the Coliseum Director and to keep said insurance in force and in effect throughout the entire term of the scheduled event or events.   The policy will name both Lessor (UNT) and Lessee as co-insured, and shall furnish the Coliseum Director a satisfactory certification that such insurance is in full force throughout the term of the rental period.  Said insurance is not to be less than $500,000.00 per person and $1,000,000.00 per accident for personal injury or death and $500,000.00 per accident for property damage

Emergency Instructions

General procedures for emergencies at the Coliseum.

1.         In emergency or critical situations.  Call 911. In non-critical situations, call UNT Police at 3000. Be prepared to report the following:

• Nature of the emergency (fire, injury, etc.)
• Exact location of the emergency. Be specific.
• Name and telephone number from which you are calling or where you may be reached and any other requested information.
• Telephone or have someone telephone the Coliseum Director or Assistant Director should they not be in the facility.

2.         Procedure for fire alarms.  If a fire alarm is sounded, the building will be evacuated. Employees within each area should assist in evacuating their area.

• Proceed to the nearest exit; if that exit is blocked due to smoke or fire, proceed to the nearest alternative exit.  Only doors that lead outside the building at ground level and open from the interior should be considered exits.
• Do not re-enter the facility until the University Police or Fire Department authorities have given an all clear for re-entry.

3.         Procedure for tornado sirens.   If the university tornado warning sirens are heard (3-minute continuous tone), go immediately to an interior hallway, preferably on the lowest level of the facility away from exterior windows.

• The lower level inter corridor is the best location within the facility.   Employees within each area should assist in moving persons from their area to the lower level corridor area.
• The University Police will announce an all clear signal over the siren loudspeakers when it is safe to go outside or carry on normal activities. 

4.         Medical emergencies

• In critical situations call 911.  In non-critical situations call the UNT Police at 3000.
• Provide appropriate first aid for a life-threatening injury/illness.  A first aid kit is available in the Director’s office, Room 111, on the west side of the concourse.
• Notify UNT police of nature of emergency, and they will send appropriate help.
• Telephone or have someone telephone the Coliseum Director or Assistant Director, should they not be in the facility.

Americans With Disabilities Act

It is the policy of the University of North Texas not to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age disabled veteran status, veteran of the Vietnam era, or qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in its programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies.

Individuals qualifying under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) who believe that they may need special assistance to participate in a program, service or activity sponsored by the University of North Texas Coliseum or Main Auditorium should contact the Coliseum Office, a minimum of 72 hours (3 working days) in advance of when they will need the requested assistance to allow time for the request to be handled in an appropriate manner.  The Coliseum Office is located on the concourse level of the Coliseum in Room 111. Telephone: (940)565-2557 or TDD access through Relay Texas 1-800-735-2989.

• Suggestions, problems, complaints or grievances concerning the services, programs or activities of the Coliseum or Main Auditorium should be brought to the attention of the Coliseum Director or Assistant Director, Coliseum Office Room 111.  Telephone: (940)565-2557 or TDD access through Relay Texas 1-800-735-2989.

Concessions

Concessions are scheduled automatically for athletic events held at the Coliseum.  When additional events want or require concessions, the Coliseum Director will arrange for the Contracted Concessionaire to provide concessions for the event.

1.         Concession stands will be operated under a contract arranged by the Coliseum Director.  Operation of the concessions by the successful bidding concessionaire will be supervised by the Coliseum management in keeping with regular university fiscal policies.

2.         Programs, souvenirs and other items sold outside the concession stands but within the Coliseum, or on surrounding university property, will be sold only by prior contractual agreement between the Coliseum Director and Event Vendor.  The Coliseum will retain a sales percentage of the gross sales of such items.

Possession and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages

Alcoholic beverages are allowed at public events in the Coliseum in accordance with the Space Management and Facilities Use Coordination Policy (Policy 6.3 in the Policy Manual), and with the approval of the Coliseum Director.  Special catered events held at the Coliseum may serve alcohol through the University Concessionaire.  The purpose is to provide guests with the option of serving  alcoholic beverages at the Coliseum during special events.  The purpose of alcoholic beverage guidelines is to ensure responsible consumption.