What's so bad about it? Whatever NKU wants done at the building they get.

 

If SMG wants to have a Men's Basketball game moved to Regents' Hall on 30 days' notice for a tractor pull, that is what happens. You think that happens at other "basketball" schools?

 

That building was built to be an Entertainment Venue first and a school's gym second. That wasn't a bad idea at the time when NKU was D-II, and with US Bank in such disrepair, the window of opportunity was open. Now, NKU, if it wants to build something of itself versus all of the regional basketball schools in its footprint, needs Bank of Kentucky to be theirs first and a host for Disney on Ice second. The amount of money for each sponsorship / vendor deal that makes it to the school is a much smaller percentage than the amount of money that Xavier and UC get from theirs, as an example. Note: UC and Xavier run their own building (IMG and Learfield sell into it, but the building is run by the school with each school getting huge 7-figure revenue guarantees), they don't have an SMG-type negotiating vendor agreements and siphoning off some of the funds.

Not sure how, as the NCAA has a required 5 year probation period for all schools making the jump.

 

From what I understand they're hoping for an NCAA exception or rule change. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, but Chad Jackson red shirted this year in hopes they would be eligible next year.

* Not enough corporate support.

* Not enough of a fan base / season ticket holder base.

* Way too much regional competition in College Basketball.

* Can't generate enough money to cover increases in travel, scholarships, olympic sports and their scholarships, etc.

* Don't control their own building and have a terribly unfriendly lease / management contract with SMG.

* No one knows that situation better than Jane Meier and she was 100% against the move.

* They would have been better off financially to have stayed in D-II, continued their run of excellence, have a niche carved out that made them unique in this Major Market, instead of being a me-too D-I institution that is, at best, 6th in terms of College Sports coverage in this market.

 

6th best? How you figure? Xavier, UC, Kentucky,....??

If SMG wants to have a Men's Basketball game moved to Regents' Hall on 30 days' notice for a tractor pull, that is what happens. You think that happens at other "basketball" schools?

 

That building was built to be an Entertainment Venue first and a school's gym second. That wasn't a bad idea at the time when NKU was D-II, and with US Bank in such disrepair, the window of opportunity was open. Now, NKU, if it wants to build something of itself versus all of the regional basketball schools in its footprint, needs Bank of Kentucky to be theirs first and a host for Disney on Ice second. The amount of money for each sponsorship / vendor deal that makes it to the school is a much smaller percentage than the amount of money that Xavier and UC get from theirs, as an example. Note: UC and Xavier run their own building (IMG and Learfield sell into it, but the building is run by the school with each school getting huge 7-figure revenue guarantees), they don't have an SMG-type negotiating vendor agreements and siphoning off some of the funds.

 

I'm sure the bolded is the same for most D-I schools that aren't "major". How many schools in conferences like the ASun, MEAC, NEAC, etc. have their own arenas?

.......

 

In 16 home games in 2012-13, NKU averaged 1,796 attendees (or a total of 28,743).

 

Let's say the average ticket price was $25: $718,575 in gross ticket revenue.

 

Let's say they played 6 buy games at an average of $65,000 per: $390,000 in gross basketball revenue.

 

They will certainly pick up some ancillary revenues from in-arena sponsors, ball-park (being generous): $250,000.

 

That is $1,358,575. Assume Bezold and his staff make around $300,000 combined, so that leaves them $1,058,575. So from that comes scholarships, travel, merchandise, recruiting expenses, etc.

 

By the way, additionally, understand that EVERY other sport at NKU is deep in arrears, so that small amount of revenue also has to get spread across their other sports.

 

Wright State is the most subsidized public institution in Ohio at 82% (means school has to give them 82% of their athletic budget to balance it out). Wright State is very similar to NKU in a number of ways, including having a building that also wants to be an entertainment venue. That has to be a scary proposition to the folks at NKU. Oh by the way, Wright State averages 3,903 for their home games.

 

Losing proposition.

6th best? How you figure? Xavier, UC, Kentucky,....??

 

They receive significantly less coverage from print / TV news than UC, Xavier, UK, Ohio State, and Miami. That doesn't even factor in Louisville. By the way, all of those teams have coverage on strong radio signals and can generate income that route as well.

I'm sure the bolded is the same for most D-I schools that aren't "major". How many schools in conferences like the ASun, MEAC, NEAC, etc. have their own arenas?

 

You bring up a good point and let me ask one in return: are they going to ever survive locally by looking like a team from the MEAC or a traditional A-Sun team? To answer your question, I'm sure there are a number of those schools that have similar contracts with third-party building managers. How many of those are in major markets with two pro sports' teams and another entertainment venue (and nearly twice as large) in their footprint? How many are in college towns where they are the only game in town? That matters a great deal, both from a sponsorship standpoint, but also a scheduling stand-point.

They receive significantly less coverage from print / TV news than UC, Xavier, UK, Ohio State, and Miami. That doesn't even factor in Louisville. By the way, all of those teams have coverage on strong radio signals and can generate income that route as well.

 

There is no way you can convince me they get less run in NKY than Miami. Just no way.

There is no way you can convince me they get less run in NKY than Miami. Just no way.

 

What they get in Northern KY is immaterial. The media is based in the Cincinnati market, hence, that is what matters. I'm not talking about 4 drunk dudes chatting at Dickmann's, I'm talking about coverage from the media that matters.

You bring up a good point and let me ask one in return: are they going to ever survive locally by looking like a team from the MEAC or a traditional A-Sun team? To answer your question, I'm sure there are a number of those schools that have similar contracts with third-party building managers. How many of those are in major markets with two pro sports' teams and another entertainment venue (and nearly twice as large) in their footprint? How many are in college towns where they are the only game in town? That matters a great deal, both from a sponsorship standpoint, but also a scheduling stand-point.

 

Don't disagree, however I'm of the belief that they'll dominate the ASun by the time they're eligible for postseason play. I don't see them staying in the A-Sun very long.

What they get in Northern KY is immaterial. The media is based in the Cincinnati market, hence, that is what matters. I'm not talking about 4 drunk dudes chatting at Dickmann's, I'm talking about coverage from the media that matters.

 

I know, so am I. You can't convince me they get less coverage than Miami.

.......

 

In 16 home games in 2012-13, NKU averaged 1,796 attendees (or a total of 28,743).

 

Let's say the average ticket price was $25: $718,575 in gross ticket revenue.

 

Let's say they played 6 buy games at an average of $65,000 per: $390,000 in gross basketball revenue.

 

They will certainly pick up some ancillary revenues from in-arena sponsors, ball-park (being generous): $250,000.

 

That is $1,358,575. Assume Bezold and his staff make around $300,000 combined, so that leaves them $1,058,575. So from that comes scholarships, travel, merchandise, recruiting expenses, etc.

 

By the way, additionally, understand that EVERY other sport at NKU is deep in arrears, so that small amount of revenue also has to get spread across their other sports.

 

Wright State is the most subsidized public institution in Ohio at 82% (means school has to give them 82% of their athletic budget to balance it out). Wright State is very similar to NKU in a number of ways, including having a building that also wants to be an entertainment venue. That has to be a scary proposition to the folks at NKU. Oh by the way, Wright State averages 3,903 for their home games.

 

Losing proposition.

 

Where did you get your stats...? I'm 100% positive that NKU led the Atlantic Sun in home attendance with around 3,300-3,500 attendees a game on average. Might want to check some of the stats.

Go to NCAA.org. Does it look like I wasn't sure of the numbers? Really? Might want to check yours.

Why? I can't see any negatives to it.

 

NKU and the sports business program did a study on the issue back in the early 2000's at that time it was determined there was no way NKU was ready. Then magically 5 years later they are. NKU is a very small fish in a big pond now. They were a powerhouse at D2 level.

6th best? How you figure? Xavier, UC, Kentucky,....??

 

Louisville , Dayton, Miami, Indiana