Gameday Experience

[Mason2005]

What about keeping all the sports and upping the budget for basketball by, I don't know, not building an 83rd parking garage on campus?

But we are a commuter college

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[Pikapppatri8]

One thing Gonzaga, Butler and Xavier have in common- they each offer the minimum # of sports to stay at D-1: 16. We offer 20. Its difficult to cut sports and JMU and Maryland took heat for doing so. But I've been posting here for years that the money and resources we spend on those extra 4 sports we offer do not return an ROI that is worthwhile to keep them around. We know our athletics budget needs every penny so why not focus those resources more efficiently? D-1 sports is a business; we should start acting like we understand that fact.

Portfolio management approach?

 

[Pikapppatri8]

But we are a commuter college

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Actually we have built more dorms and academic buildings the past several years than parking garages - the parking garages consolidated space to make room for new buildings.

We actually don't need anymore.

 

[Vurbel]

I said parking garages. I should have said some random something we throw away money on.


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[Pikapppatri8]

I said parking garages. I should have said some random something we throw away money on.


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Understood - the past administration was focused on academic buildings/resources and dorms. I think there is more money going to the athletic facility side now. Could be more but it is increasing.

 

[MasonSAE4]

What about keeping all the sports and upping the budget for basketball by, I don't know, not building an 83rd parking garage on campus?

Because now we're on a different playing field than the rest of the country because of the student fee law. Sure we can stop building other things but we really can't redirect that money to athletics anymore. Granted we have until 2021 to be in compliance but I doubt Cabrera wants to take the heat because we spiked student fees for two years to cram in all the athletic spending we want before the law kicks in.

 

[MasonFanatic]

Given that I have seen men's volleyball come close to selling out the RAC more than once, I suspect that program brings in more income than you give it credit for. It's also one of the few in which we're nationally relevant.

 

[GMUgemini]

Given that I have seen men's volleyball come close to selling out the RAC more than once, I suspect that program brings in more income than you give it credit for. It's also one of the few in which we're nationally relevant.

Well, I've said, just cut men's and women's tennis and golf (the yuppie sports) and be done with it.

We're also nationally relevant in volleyball because only something like 35 schools play division 1 volleyball (I don't think it's quite that low, but it's less than 100 for sure).

 

[FreeGunston12]

Well, I've said, just cut men's and women's tennis and golf (the yuppie sports) and be done with it.

We're also nationally relevant in volleyball because only something like 35 schools play division 1 volleyball (I don't think it's quite that low, but it's less than 100 for sure).

I remember hearing people talk up the men's volleyball team when I first got on campus, and then doing some research to find out that we were "top 25" which equated to being barely in the top 50%. Oh - and that is counting division II schools as well. I think the total number of D-I and D-II volleyball programs combined is 53.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I remember hearing people talk up the men's volleyball team when I first got on campus, and then doing some research to find out that we were "top 25" which equated to being barely in the top 50%. Oh - and that is counting division II schools as well. I think the total number of D-I and D-II volleyball programs combined is 53.

But it is fun to watch and it sells the RAC out. Been to quite a few with the wife.

 

[GMUgemini]

But it is fun to watch and it sells the RAC out. Been to quite a few with the wife.

It actually is a good spectator sport (especially women's volleyball).

If we can get the sports that can be self-sufficient be self-sufficient (baseball, men's and women's volleyball, soccer) that's a good first step.

Two, we need an endowment campaign to endow all our athletics scholarships (something ODU achieved while they were still in the CAA) that would free up a lot of funds, too. I know we have some scholarships endowed (10-15 right now?) But they should be 100 percent.

For basketball, getting more consistent attendance will do wonders for its budget.


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[Pikapppatri8]

It actually is a good spectator sport (especially women's volleyball).

If we can get the sports that can be self-sufficient be self-sufficient (baseball, men's and women's volleyball, soccer) that's a good first step.

Two, we need an endowment campaign to endow all our athletics scholarships (something ODU achieved while they were still in the CAA) that would free up a lot of funds, too. I know we have some scholarships endowed (10-15 right now?) But they should be 100 percent.

For basketball, getting more consistent attendance will do wonders for its budget.


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Really agree on scholarship endowment - love the idea.

 

[MasonSAE4]

It actually is a good spectator sport (especially women's volleyball).

If we can get the sports that can be self-sufficient be self-sufficient (baseball, men's and women's volleyball, soccer) that's a good first step.

Two, we need an endowment campaign to endow all our athletics scholarships (something ODU achieved while they were still in the CAA) that would free up a lot of funds, too. I know we have some scholarships endowed (10-15 right now?) But they should be 100 percent.

For basketball, getting more consistent attendance will do wonders for its budget.


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I doubt those sports will ever be self sustaining. Attendance for everything but volleyball is pretty weak and even theirs isn't profitable enough to sustain 10+ scholarships.

Like you said though, we need to get to the point where all scholarships are endowed.

 

[GMUgemini]

I doubt those sports will ever be self sustaining. Attendance for everything but volleyball is pretty weak and even theirs isn't profitable enough to sustain 10+ scholarships.

Like you said though, we need to get to the point where all scholarships are endowed.

You're probably right. But I'm sure partly why baseball gets such crappy attendance is due to the crappy stadium and the wildly inconsistent team.

We could try some stuff, though.

I keep hearing about this proposed partnership with DC United on a stadium and training grounds, for instance, on campus. That would do a ton to make mens and women's soccer more self-sustaining. Steve Goff keeps mentioning it every time he talks about DC United's USL team to start playing in 2018, so the talks must be ongoing. The proposal includes a 5,000 seat soccer specific stadium that will be shared, and a training facility that will house the USL team, DC United's youth development program, and George Mason's men's and women's soccer teams. I hope Edwards can close that deal.

 

[MasonSAE4]

You're probably right. But I'm sure partly why baseball gets such crappy attendance is due to the crappy stadium and the wildly inconsistent team.

We could try some stuff, though.

I keep hearing about this proposed partnership with DC United on a stadium and training grounds, for instance, on campus. That would do a ton to make mens and women's soccer more self-sustaining. Steve Goff keeps mentioning it every time he talks about DC United's USL team to start playing in 2018, so the talks must be ongoing. The proposal includes a 5,000 seat soccer specific stadium that will be shared, and a training facility that will house the USL team, DC United's youth development program, and George Mason's men's and women's soccer teams. I hope Edwards can close that deal.

Yeah that'd be awesome. The renderings are already up. Looks like a stadium people would go to. And with the demographics at this school soccer could be a marquee program. I think more than anything the facilities on West Campus need to be upgraded to D-1 level. I give baseball and soccer a lot of credit for being able to recruit with the garbage stadiums they have to work with.

 

[MasonFanatic]

I love that idea. Having a soccer-specific stadium would greatly improve the fan experience. And I would support a USL team located in Fairfax.

 

[Raider_SPE]

Is anyone aware of an Athletic Department Strategic plan that is public. I have looked and cannot find anything (past or present). There are many other schools that have their plans available on their websites.

https://www.google.com/webhp?source...iversity+athletic+department+strategic+plan&*

Maybe I am just missing it.

BTW, the school Strategic Plan mentions athletics ~4 times, so there is nothing in there.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Is anyone aware of an Athletic Department Strategic plan that is public. I have looked and cannot find anything (past or present). There are many other schools that have their plans available on their websites.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=university athletic department strategic plan&*

Maybe I am just missing it.

BTW, the school Strategic Plan mentions athletics ~4 times, so there is nothing in there.

http://facilities.gmu.edu/CampusPlanning/Masterplans/upload/athletics_masterplan_FEB05.pdf

Old as f**k but there it is. Football and all. Let the shitshow commence.

 

[Raider_SPE]

http://facilities.gmu.edu/CampusPlanning/Masterplans/upload/athletics_masterplan_FEB05.pdf

Old as f*ck but there it is. Football and all. Let the shitshow commence.

Ah, I remember that. That appears to be focused more on the facilities side of things, I was hoping to see some information regarding expectations of the programs, finances, fundraising, facility upgrades, and student athlete development.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Ah, I remember that. That appears to be focused more on the facilities side of things, I was hoping to see some information regarding expectations of the programs, finances, fundraising, facility upgrades, and student athlete development.

I think you give us too much credit