In a bid to draw more students to home sporting events, the University of Colorado is dropping the price of its student season-ticket pass by more than 40 percent.

Students can buy season passes that give them access to all home football games, all men’s and women’s basketball games and other CU sporting events for just $99 this year, down from $175 last year.

According to a 2014 analysis conducted by the Wall Street Journal, average student attendance at college football games declined 7.1 percent between 2009 and 2013. CU’s student attendance declined 53 percent over that period, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Matt Biggers, chief marketing officer for CU’s athletic department, said the reason for the price cut is simple: get more students in the stands.

“For us, students coming to our games and being at our games are the lifeblood of CU athletics,” he said. “They bring so much energy and atmosphere and their support really makes that collegiate atmosphere. And so for us, it’s just a way to reach out to them and try to get them more engaged and involved.”

He said he understands cost can be a barrier for students, who are spending their money on tuition, fees, books, housing and other things. He said CU athletics wanted to be “aggressive” with the student season pass price.

On average, he said, 7,000 to 7,500 students come to home football games.

“Student attendance … this isn’t just a CU issue, it’s a national issue,” he said. “Everybody has challenges with wanting more and more students to come to the game because they’re such an important part (of the crowd). We’re not different from that standpoint. We love the support that our students do give us and we’re looking for ways to increase it.”

Football tickets are good for general admission in sections 111 through 117 at Folsom Field.

Students can purchase tickets online or by calling 303-49-BUFFS.