If I were AD for a couple of days, I would do the following:
all at the same time:
Announce the plans to build a new multipurpose stadium with money from fundraising sources and naming rights invitations. I may even start with NIAR as in the black as they are. Covered stands, some premium sky boxes and a couple of party patios.
Drop Mens and Womens Tennis and Golf and add Men and Womens Soccer starting in the Fall of 23 or 24, depending on the fundraising.
Reasoning:
Soccer has a chance of actually bringing in revenue and equipment wise is pretty cheap. Tennis and Golf only eat expenses. On the surface it may seem like more scholarships used but they can be divided up however they want.
There are no other D-1 mens teams in the state so I think we could get pretty good pretty fast. NIL licenses
There is some money in this town held by individuals who are soccer fans. It also transcends with the international population of Wichita better than any other sport.
It would create some excitement in the community with a sport that could have staying power and give fall entertainment options.
It would also give T and F a nice recruiting plus and opportunities for the campus to host more meets as well as other events.
I am not a hardline soccer fan and couldn’t tell you one player from FC Barcelona, Manchester United or Sporting KC. This is a bet, a business decision, based on getting in on the ground floor of a paradigm switch. College basketball the way we came to know it is gone and like Elvis, it ain’t coming back. Might as well try to carve out a new identity in our athletic program with something teams with football don’t dare try right now.
all at the same time:
Announce the plans to build a new multipurpose stadium with money from fundraising sources and naming rights invitations. I may even start with NIAR as in the black as they are. Covered stands, some premium sky boxes and a couple of party patios.
Drop Mens and Womens Tennis and Golf and add Men and Womens Soccer starting in the Fall of 23 or 24, depending on the fundraising.
Reasoning:
Soccer has a chance of actually bringing in revenue and equipment wise is pretty cheap. Tennis and Golf only eat expenses. On the surface it may seem like more scholarships used but they can be divided up however they want.
There are no other D-1 mens teams in the state so I think we could get pretty good pretty fast. NIL licenses
There is some money in this town held by individuals who are soccer fans. It also transcends with the international population of Wichita better than any other sport.
It would create some excitement in the community with a sport that could have staying power and give fall entertainment options.
It would also give T and F a nice recruiting plus and opportunities for the campus to host more meets as well as other events.
I am not a hardline soccer fan and couldn’t tell you one player from FC Barcelona, Manchester United or Sporting KC. This is a bet, a business decision, based on getting in on the ground floor of a paradigm switch. College basketball the way we came to know it is gone and like Elvis, it ain’t coming back. Might as well try to carve out a new identity in our athletic program with something teams with football don’t dare try right now.
Comment