Eck Stadium

[Shockerman]

Left field needs to ditch those bleachers for the Bruce Haertl "Huddle" corner except with Ropes and a playground. Make it the family friendly corner.

[pogo]

Left field needs to ditch those bleachers for the Bruce Haertl "Huddle" corner except with Ropes and a playground. Make it the family friendly corner.

So you're saying there would be a height restriction to anyone shorter than 5'3"

[WuDrWu]

Hats off to Tom. He walked into the baseball offices a few seasons ago, asked about the 1 digital display, said he didn't think it was big or good enough and within days the offices had a floor to ceiling display. He's been INCREDIBLY generous with both his time and money towards WSU athletics.


Brent and 'Wood have done an excellent job bringing him into the fold and they deserve credit as well, but ultimately, it's TK that opens his wallet. Pretty damned great especially when you consider he played basketball (not baseball or any other sport he's supported) and that there was a bit of a falling out years ago. I am happy and proud of Tom for his success and his willingness to share that success, as well as all the student athletes that will benefit from his incredible generosity.

[pogo]

It is people like him that has always made good things happen at WSU. People that don't have to be the center of attention to do very nice things for our university. It makes me proud to have such people associated with WSU

[1972Shocker]

RH: THE VIEW FROM THE HILL

Early in the 1979 baseball season, a Wichita State fan could sit on the outfield hill (known as "Pikers Peek") for free and watch stars such as Joe Carter and Phil Stephenson.

With Oklahoma State coming to town for a doubleheader, then-athletic director Ted Bredehoft decided to erect a fence and charge $1. He encouraged fans to bring "chairs, blankets and picnic goodies."

If that was the first official recognition of the outfield hill as an essential part of the experience, things boomed from there. The grassy hill, now known as Coleman Hill, became synonymous with Shocker baseball and the place in the stadium for grills, coolers, catching home runs and heckling opposing outfielders.

"You just couldn't beat the atmosphere," said season-ticket holder Austin Crutcher, remembering watching Shockers such as Andy Dirks and Conor Gillaspie from the hill. "It was packed out here every night, whether it was a Wednesday night game or a Sunday game."

Wichita State plans to revive that atmosphere with new policies for the outfield and the Kosich Korner deck in right field. Behind the hill is the Shocker RV Village, a project led by coach Brian Green. In short, fans are again allowed to bring in food, beverages (in sealed containers) and small gas grills, like the policies before changes in 2019.

Yelling. Lining up an hour early to claim a prime spot with a blanket. Sharing burgers and hot dogs. Youngsters playing catch and rolling down the grass. Meeting the parents of the Shockers. Throwing an enemy home run back into the field of play.

For much of the past 46 years, those activities were as much a part of Shocker baseball as 40-win seasons, NCAA regionals and bellowing "Ball Four." There's the story of the Indiana State outfielder who joined the fans for a beer during the MVC Tournament. The fans who run flags from right to left field to mark Shocker runs are a long-standing part of the scene. The fans who came to regionals in the early 1990's will never forget chanting "Omaha, Omaha." Among the Shockers, perhaps no one enjoyed the interactions with fans as much as right fielder Ryan Jones, who played from 2007-2010.

Nick Jerschow moved to Wichita from Chicago in 2007 and adopted the Shockers. He is a regular in the outfield and approves of the updated policies aimed at reviving the fun. He points to students mingling on the deck and old friends grilling and eating during a recent game.

"You can see the enthusiasm right now," he said. "I can remember (NCAA) regional games and the buzz. A definite buzz."

Ethan Fields, a December WSU graduate from Denton, Texas, is big on buzz at baseball games. He is one of the leaders of the Grain Gang, the student group of supporters who leads the "sit down" cheer after strikeouts. On this day, Fields is watching from the Kosich Korner deck.

"This is a great spot to hang out," he said. "Light atmosphere. Come hang out for a couple hours."

Crutcher says he notices an increase in attendance early this season and the new policies help.

"The new deck is fantastic," he said. "People can hang out and have fun. It feels like Shocker baseball is coming back a little bit."

That is exactly what Green and the Shockers want. Winning matters and winning is more fun when Coleman Hill is lively.

---

One other advantage of the Coleman hill. It provides the sunniest (and warmest) place to hang out which on cool spring game days can be a big advantage. Good luck finding that in the grandstands with the shade provided by the Press Box and Skyboxes. On many days that can make a huge difference in your comfort level.

[1972Shocker]

[Cdizzle]

Love that they are trying. And backing it up a little with the play. Keep it rolling.

[1972Shocker]

Love that they are trying. And backing it up a little with the play. Keep it rolling.

They definitely are trying. The main obstacle they have to overcome, and not just for baseball, is the stretched finances of the athletic department.

[Cdizzle]

Winning cures much. I think they need to come at this thing backwards and start with not basketball. We can't pay to play basketball right now. We might be able to with baseball, volleyball and softball.

Eck used to be such a fun place to be. Rowdy. Energetic. They've made some moves to at least ALLOW that to happen again.

[WstateU]

They definitely are trying. The main obstacle they have to overcome, and not just for baseball, is the stretched finances of the athletic department.

… and the weather. Hopefully, it’s a good early spring for baseball.

[1972Shocker]

Winning cures much. I think they need to come at this thing backwards and start with not basketball. We can't pay to play basketball right now. We might be able to with baseball, volleyball and softball.

Eck used to be such a fun place to be. Rowdy. Energetic. They've made some moves to at least ALLOW that to happen again.

That's fine but you are not going to replace the ticket revenue from basketall with cheap season tickets and single game tickets of $8-$12 from these 3 sports and that does nothing for rebuilding the SASO revenue and general donations.

[1972Shocker]

… and the weather. Hopefully, it’s a good early spring for baseball.

So far, it has been very good although that is predictive of nothing.

[Cdizzle]

That's fine but you are not going to replace the ticket revenue from basketall with cheap season tickets and single game tickets of $8-$12 from these 3 sports and that does nothing for rebuilding the SASO revenue and general donations.

Definitely agree about ticket revenue. Not sure I completely agree about donations. Fans want to be engaged. But they don't want to be bludgeoned by painful performance for years on end. Tying fun to Shocker athletics, imo, can have positive impact on overall donations, even if it's not from the basketball cash cow.

[SubGod22]

There was a time when I believe baseball supported itself. Can it get back to that? I don't know. But I think it can get to a point where it is at least mostly self-sufficient and not a burden.

Volleyball at one point was essentially revenue neutral. I don't know if it can get back to that, but it can get to a point where it doesn't need a ton of financial help.

Softball doesn't have the seating capacity to be revenue neutral and it's a growing sport and you don't want to be too aggressive with prices as you try and capitalize on that growth and expand the fan base. Though I do think it will receive more donations than it's used to getting to help cover some of that and the updated facilities will help.

No doubt that basketball needs to get its **** together as there are no other sports that are going to generate much in the way of revenue.

[1972Shocker]

There was a time when I believe baseball supported itself. Can it get back to that? I don't know. But I think it can get to a point where it is at least mostly self-sufficient and not a burden.

Volleyball at one point was essentially revenue neutral. I don't know if it can get back to that, but it can get to a point where it doesn't need a ton of financial help.

Softball doesn't have the seating capacity to be revenue neutral and it's a growing sport and you don't want to be too aggressive with prices as you try and capitalize on that growth and expand the fan base. Though I do think it will receive more donations than it's used to getting to help cover some of that and the updated facilities will help.

No doubt that basketball needs to get its **** together as there are no other sports that are going to generate much in the way of revenue.

Not sure how you define revenue neutral. Are you not including the cost of scholarships in this which have been funded primarily by SASO memberships which are part of the MBB season tickets.

There is a supplemental schedule at the end of the Annual Financial Statements which to purports to show Revenues and Expenses by Major Activity. However, it only shows Men's Basketball, Baseball and Women's Basketball separately with all other sports lumped together. The schedule also does not include any SASO revenues allocated to the individual sports. All the SASO revenues are shown under non-program specific revenues. However, the cost of athletic student aid is an expense for he separate sports shown. Also, how do you allocate all of the other non-program specific revenues to each sport? No real clear picture here. I would suggest that revenue neutral would be the sports specific revenues less expenses excluding athletic student aid which is funded by SASO. I would also exclude severance pay from expenses.

By this definition the Financial Statements for the Year Ended June 30, 2023 show each of these sports running a surplus/(deficit) as follows (keeping in mind that these includes no allocation of no program specific revenues, no severance pay and no student financial aid costs). The second number is the surplus/(deficit) from 2016-17 the last year in the Valley.

Men's Basketball........ 2022-23 = ($14,720)........ 2016-17 = $1,443,204
Baseball.................... 2022-23 = ($1,682,872).. 2016-17 = ($702,549)
Women's Basketball: 2022-23 = ($1,563,166).. 2016-17 = ($982,832)
Other Sports............. 2022-23 = ($2,526,815).. 2016-17 = ($1,980,169)
Total All Sports...........2022-23 = ($5,787,573)....2016-17 = ($2,222,346)

Non-Program Specific Revenue Net of Expenses (excluding SASO)............................................. ................................. 2022-23 = $4,037,901.......2016-17 = $1,431,731

Net Athletic Department Surplus/(Deficit) Excluding Severence Pay, SASO Revenue & Cost of Student Financial Aid: 2022-23 = ($1,749,672).....2016-17 = ($790,615)

SASO Revenues Net of Student Financial Aid............................................... .................................................. ..................2022-23 = $729,985..........2016-17 = $2,107,231

Net AD Surplus/(Deficit) Excluding only Severance Pay............................................... .................................................. ... 2022-23 = ($1,019,687).....2016-17 = $1,316,616

As far as I know, although I am not 100% sure, SASO revenues in excess of the cost of student financial aid can be used to cover other expenses of the athletic department as needed. There is nothing in the financials that indicate otherwise.

So whether or not an individual sport is "revenue neutral or positive" largely depends on how you define that. However, as long as we are required by the NCAA to sponsor all these sports to maintain membership in D1 and to maintain compliance with Title IX then the bottom line of the overall athletic department is the main thing. Any revenues we generate from any sport will be helpful. But things are certainly not on the right track financially since we joined the AAC and that does not take into account the huge hits we have taken for severance pay since that time. Going from a an annual surplus of $1.3 million in our last year in the Valley to a $1 million deficit last year is not progress.

At this point in time the AD has very little in reserve, if any, to absorb continued operating deficits. It will be interesting where we are for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The year ends June 30th but the financial statements won't be out until late September or early October. I am not expecting those will have a happy face stamped on them unless something significant has been going on behind the scenes that has not been publicized. Baseball and softball revenues will be up but SASO revenues and ticket revenues for MBB may be taking another hit.

I will report on that when those come out.

I would like to see them breakout volleyball and softball.. These are the only other 2 sports that have revenue potential in addition to MBB, WBB and baseball.

Maybe the WSU athletic department needs to start a GoFundMe page. If that seems like begging you would be right.