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Colorado makes spring game free in Prime pivot

Mitchell Byars

Bright sunny day at Folsom Field with green field and scattered spectators. Mountains and blue sky with clouds in background. Large scoreboard reads "Welcome to Folsom Field." — The Colorado Buffaloes Black and Gold Spring Game last year at Folsom Field. Photo: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images for ONIT

In a notable shift under coach Deion Sanders, Colorado will make its spring game free for the first time since Coach Prime arrived in Boulder.

Why it matters: The spring game will kick off a crucial year for Sanders and the Buffs, who are coming off a 3-9 season and the second straight year of declining spring game attendance.

Driving the news: CU's annual Black and Gold Spring Game — set for April 11 — will be free this year to "show our appreciation to CU fans," said the university's athletics spokesperson Steve Hurlbert.

Ralphie VII will make her spring game debut, weather pending.

Context: The spring game was a free event in the years before Sanders arrived.

The university began charging admission in Coach Prime's first spring game in 2023, and the event sold out with more than 47,000 fans in attendance.

Yes, but: Attendance has dropped, with 28,000 fans in 2024 and 20,000 fans in 2025.

While other schools have de-emphasized or even eliminated spring games, Sanders has called for more fans to show up.
Sanders has tried to organize a spring scrimmage, but his request was again denied by the NCAA this year.

What we're watching: Hurlbert said details of a player meet-and-greet for the spring game will be announced closer to the event.

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Colorado makes spring game free in Prime pivot

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