On July 1, the UTEP Miners will embark on a new era with the Mountain West Conference. For Athletic Director Jim Senter, it’s been quite the journey. When he took the job at UTEP in 2017, fans were hopeful he would be the one to get the Miners into the Mountain West Conference.
Preparations and Challenges
Senter fulfilled that goal in 2024 when he announced the Miners would be leaving Conference USA in two years, and would officially join the Mountain West Conference in 2026. UTEP has been a member of Conference USA since 2005. The two years have come and gone, and Senter’s message to UTEP fans has never wavered. If the Miners want to be successful in their new conference, then more support from fans and donors will be needed.
Senter said, ‘Well, it’s here, that day has finally arrived. It’s very exciting for me, the staff, our coaches, our student athletes, and especially our fan base. However, now we need our fan base to join us, come be part of it.’ Leaving Conference USA came at a cost. For the last two years, UTEP has had to count its pennies. But thanks to the Climb Higher Initiative, last year UTEP donors contributed $12 million dollars — $8 million dollars of that went to cover Conference USA exit fees.
New Opportunities and Changes
The money was also used to make much-needed improvements to the Sun Bowl Stadium locker rooms. The move to the Mountain West Conference also brings new opportunities. In Conference USA, most UTEP games were streamed on ESPN Plus. In the Mountain West, while some games will be televised on linear channels, fans who want to watch every UTEP game will have to sign up for the new Mountain West Plus. However, the difference between the two streaming services is that now UTEP will get a cut from subscribers who sign up and specify they follow the Miners.
Changes are also in store for the fan experience. Senter said, ‘We know we need to spend more money on marketing. It’s really critical that we do that because it’s been one of the areas that we’ve had to cut.’ That will change starting with this upcoming football season. Fans can expect giveaways, special food items, and even drone shows. The student section and marching band will also see changes. Both will now be seated right behind the opposing team’s bench.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
