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Comparable Schools'
Athletics Grades:
Quick StatsAthletic Division
NCAA Division I-AAA
Conference
Sun Belt Conference
School Colors
Crimson and gold
Men Playing Varsity Sports
162 - 10 %
Women Playing Varsity Sports
144 - 7 %
College Prowler Take
For the most part, varsity men’s ice hockey takes center stage at DU. Games usually are well attended, but it’s unfortunate that other athletic teams often don’t receive the same degree of support and appreciation. Only when teams do exceptionally well or break records do they get a nod from most of the student body. Even so, other varsity sports at DU are slowly making themselves known on campus, especially women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and men’s soccer. Many students remain unhappy with the lack of a DU football team, and some attend CU or CSU games to compensate. In recent years, there has been an increased effort to publicize DU’s varsity sports in order to rally more student support at games. Club and intramural sports don’t receive nearly the amount of attention as varsity, but they offer a good time to students who are eager to engage in sports more for the fun of it than the competitive edge. IM sports such as broomball and flag football especially draw student participation. Perhaps the best part of competing in club and IM sports is meeting active, fun people and making new friends.
Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
Varsity sports at DU are pretty...
Varsity sports at DU are pretty much centered around men’s ice hockey, which sucks because other really good teams often get overshadowed. IM sports are fun, and there’s a great variety of activities to choose from, such as volleyball and broomball. |
Anonymous says: |
I don’t know much about varsity...
I don’t know much about varsity sports, but IM broomball rules! It’s so much fun. All IM sports are really a blast. |
Anonymous says: |
Being a Division I school is...
Being a Division I school is pretty cool, but no one on campus seems to care about DU athletics. I’m on the men’s alpine ski team, and I wish more students supported all the teams—not just skiing. Hockey gets most of the student attention around here, which is cool, because so many students go to the games and actually show their support. I’d just like to see it for other teams as well. |
Anonymous says: |
Hockey games are really fun to go...
Hockey games are really fun to go to because if it’s big game, the arena is packed. Our hockey team is awesome, and they’re all the rage in Denver now because of the NCAA championship. |
Anonymous says: |
If you’re into sports, you can...
If you’re into sports, you can find tons to do. Hockey and women’s lacrosse are big deals here. You don’t hear much about IM sports, but if it’s something you want to get involved with, there’s plenty to participate in. |
FactsMen's Varsity Sports
- Alpine skiing
- Basketball
- Golf
- Ice hockey
- Lacrosse
- Nordic skiing
- Soccer
- Swimming and diving
- Tennis
Women's Varsity Sports
- Basketball
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Lacrosse
- Nordic skiing
- Skiing
- Soccer
- Swimming and diving
Intramurals
- 3-on-3 basketball
- 4-on-4 volleyball
- 7-on-7 flag football
- Floor hockey (aka broomball)
- Ice hockey
- Outdoor soccer
- Racquetball
- Wallyball
Club Sports
- Basketball
- Cycling
- Dance
- Equestrian
- Figure skating
- Hockey (men’s and women’s)
- Inline hockey
- Judo
- Kayaking
- Lacrosse (men’s and women’s)
- Rugby (men’s)
- Running
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Soccer (men’s and women’s)
- Tae Kwon Do
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
Gyms and Facilities
- Coors Fitness Center - The 14,500 square-foot workout facility is for student use as well as community membership. It features more than 85 pieces of cardio equipment, racquetball and squash courts, and a climbing wall. Personal trainers and masseuses are available by appointment.
- Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness - The Daniel L. Rictchie Center, named after the University of Denver’s former chancellor, is the hub of Denver’s athletic programs. It also hosts a vast number of local and collegiate fitness and recreation programs, as well as local and collegiate events. The Ritchie Center contains a strength and conditioning center, a sports medicine facility, a counseling center, and two health clinics (one for students, and one for faculty, staff, and the community at large).
- El Pomar Natatorium - The 50-meter Olympic-sized pool sits inside a 30,000-square-foot facility. The pool hosts local and regional swimming competitions, activities, and practice for the varsity swim and dive teams. Water fitness and specialty classes, such as kayaking and lifeguard training, also are offered.
- Gates Field House - Gates, a 41,000 square-foot facility, houses practice for DU’s recreation and varsity teams. The three multi-purpose surface courts allow athletes to dabble in basketball, volleyball, badminton, indoor soccer, and roller hockey.
- Gymnastics Venue - The 10,000 square-foot facility houses the women’s varsity gymnastics team and several local youth gymnastics programs.
- Hamilton Gymnasium - A competition venue, Hamilton seats 2,800 people and features retractable seats, which can create space for three basketball courts or three volleyball courts. Hamilton is home to a number of varsity, intramural, and recreational teams.
- Joy Burns Ice Arena - A North-American-sized rink, Joy Burns seats 150 and houses varsity practice, youth hockey programs, figure skating programs, and public skating.
- Magness Arena - Magness is the pride and joy of the Ritchie Center. The venue seats 6,200 for hockey games, 7,200 for basketball games, and up to 8,000 for concerts and special events. Among other things, the Magness arena has hosted a Christina Aguilera concert, a Counting Crows concert, a WBC title fight, and charity tennis matches.
- Stapleton Tennis Pavilion - DU’s tennis courts have both competition grass and Astroturf surfaces. The Pavilliion also features a pro shop and concession stands.
Athletic Fields
University of Denver soccer field, University of Denver lacrosse field
Getting Tickets
DU students get free tickets to all DU sporting events with the exception of hockey tickets. Every DU student has a Pioneer Student ID card, and must only show their ID to the ticket office to get free admission. In the fall many DU students camp outside the Ritchie Center to ensure that they can buy season tickets for the hockey games, which are very popular.
Most Popular Sports
Men’s varsity ice hockey is by far the most popular sport on campus, especially with the 2004 NCAA championship under DU’s belt. A good match-up means full stands. Other popular sports include women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and men’s soccer. DU’s running club also attracts student participation, as does IM broomball and racquetball.
Most Overlooked Teams
You’d think being in Colorado, DU students would support the ski teams more than they do. Both men’s and women’s alpine and Nordic skiers receive very little attention. In a general sense, DU is full of fair-weather fans. If a particular team doesn’t do well in its season, it doesn’t receive much interest or support at games. Conversely, if a team takes home a title or has an exceptionally successful season, spirit abounds.
Best Place to Take a Walk
Washington Park (about a five-minutes drive from campus), several mountain trails
Did You Know?DU’s men’s ice hockey team won the 2004 NCAA Championship for the first time since 1969. The Alpine Club is a student-run organization dedicated to outdoor sports and activities including rafting, fly-fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. The club is open to the entire DU community, novices and experts alike.
A $6 million lacrosse stadium, the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, opened in 2005 on the site of the old lacrosse field. It features stone walls and seating for 2,000. It is currently the only stadium in the United States used solely for lacrosse, the fastest-growing sport in Colorado.
Most Recent Contributing Author
Name: Anne Reiman
Hometown: Winnetka, IL
Major: English (Creative Writing)/Communications Anne is obsessed with the TV show The West Wing. Contributing Author Internship
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