In the fall of 2000, the UT Men’s and Women’s Athletics Departments announced the STEP UP Campaign, a comprehensive capital campaign to raise $44.25 million dollars for new, renovated, and expanded facilities benefitting 17 of UT’s 20 men’s and women’s intercollegiate teams. The campaign had two prongs: Ticket price increases in football and in men’s and women’s basketball, announced in April 2001, were designed to contribute $20 million within a five-year period. The remaining $24.25 million was to come from private fundraising. Chairman of the fund-raising campaign was John Thornton of Chattanooga. This was the first athletics multifacility comprehensive capital campaign, and the first joint Men’s and Women’s Athletics Departments campaign. More than $5.5 million was pledged by over 130 former UT-student athletes. In February 2004 the UT Athletics Department announced that the campaign had exceeded its goal, with a total of $48.61 million raised. The 872 donors committed $28.61 million.