A University of Wisconsin Athletic Board committee unanimously voted Tuesday in favor of increasing the price of football tickets starting next season.

The Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee proposed adding $3 to each football ticket price, thereby shifting the average single game ticket price from $39 to $42 and the single game student ticket price from $19 to $22.

Although the committee’s motion is simply advisory, the Athletic Board will vote Friday on whether to implement the proposal, which also states no sport besides football would experience an increase in ticket costs.

If the increase is approved, football ticket prices will rise above University of Minnesota and Michigan State University ticket prices, yet will remain significantly less expensive than the costs of single game tickets at other Big Ten universities.

“By looking at what other universities are charging, we can see that even our increased price is still actually a bargain,” said Adam Gamoran, associate dean of the School of Education and Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee member.

This rise in price pales in comparison to Ohio State University’s newly proposed cost additions, which set individual football ticket prices at $70, a $7 increase from the previous year, Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics John Jentz said.

“The increase in prices will accomplish the facility Master Plan by relieving annual pressure points and realizing revenue for long term needs,” Jentz said.

Close to half of the projected revenue in the 2010-2011 Athletics Budget will be acquired solely through ticket sales and gift funds.

Therefore, not only is the UW Athletic Department relying on the escalation of football ticket prices to create revenue, it is also depending on selling every seat at every venue, maximizing gift funds and producing a large profit from concessions, Jentz said.

“It’s scary to be that dependent on outside revenue, but the fans have continually proven their dedication,” Jentz said.

The UW Athletic Department must use budget funds to support 23 independent sports budgets, many of which cannot produce mass amounts of revenue on their own.

Although football itself is plenty profitable and self-supportive, the revenue generated from football ticket prices and concessions greatly benefits other smaller sports, business professor and Finance, Facilities and Operations committee member Mark Covaleski said.

“The football ticket price increase is the appropriate thing to do for the overall growth of UW sports,” Covaleski added.

UW is among the most successful universities in the country in less popular sports and these programs need a revenue base to support them, Gamoran said. He added the increase is logical since it both benefits multiple athletes and serves to balance the budget.

In the past, the athletic expenses have typically increased about 8 percent each year, yet since it is dangerous to grow at such a high rate, the UW Athletic Department needs to change the way it does business, Jentz said.

Jentz added this is the second consecutive year operating expenses have decreased and the slight increase in ticket prices will help to continue this trend.