Frontier Fiesta chairman Brandon Blue and vice chairman Robert Spencer present their plan for FY17 to SFAC. | Justin Cross /The Cougar
The Student Fees Advisory Committee heard the presentations of Frontier Fiesta, Homecoming and the Student Program Board in regards to the fiscal year 2017.
The Frontier Fiesta Association’s base budget request is $173,260. They are requesting a base augmentation of $476,915 — nearly three times the amount of their budget.
The base augmentation would help costs associated with hosting the event, including renting the parking lot beside the TDECU Stadium, obtaining nationally-recognized artists for concerts and gaining additional attractions and rides for Family Fun Day.
“We recognize that Frontier Fiesta is not a profit event,” Frontier Fiesta chairman Brandon Blue said. “It is for the students, and we would like to continue it.”
Homecoming requested a base augmentation of $37,745 to support expansion of Homecoming Fiesta and The Block Party: Cougar Carnival.
“Another thing we truly needed was a base increase,” Homecoming chair Isaiah Ross said. “The base has stayed the same for the past three years, and that is something that has hindered Homecoming from growing bigger.”
The Student Program Board requested a base augmentation of $140,160 to pay for their Six Flags Over Texas trip, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Survive UH, Stuff-a-Bear and concert programming for Frontier Fiesta.
In addition, SPB asked for a one-time request of $142,544 to pay for a new comedy program during Homecoming.
“After we got the results from our survey, we thought (a comedy program) would be a good idea,” SPB President Melissa Jinks said. “It is a bit of a risk since people are expecting concerts. (But), it’s one we’re going to take knowing that, especially during Homecoming Week, we are trying to attract alumni… and future cougars… It’s more a family fun event than most of the concerts we’ve had.”
