Dear Razorback Nation:
For those of you who closely follow our program you are aware that Razorback Athletics and Intercollegiate Athletics are in a transformative time. Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), the transfer portal, conference realignment and numerous litigation challenges to the traditional collegiate model have caused seismic shifts in the landscape we have known for decades.
We could spend plenty of time discussing the merits of the old system vs. the new system. However, as the leader of Razorback Athletics, I have challenged our administration, coaches and staff to focus on the road ahead and how we can best position ourselves to build on the tremendous success of our program, while also meeting the increased financial demands of this new intercollegiate athletics world. As leadership expert John C. Maxwell noted, "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." Just as we have throughout our history, we plan to adapt and not just grow but succeed!
The recent preliminary approval by the U.S. District Court in Northern California of the House vs. NCAA class action lawsuit potentially provides a clearer idea of a framework of what intercollegiate athletics programs may look like moving forward. The final approval hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2025.
If the settlement is approved, here are a few of the key changes that will take effect:
Institutional Revenue Share
Institutions will be permitted to compensate student-athletes for use of their Name, Image and Likeness directly from Department of Athletics' generated revenues. The projected annual financial impact for Razorback Athletics will be approximately $22 million.
Roster Limits and Scholarships
As part of the settlement, sport-by-sport scholarship limits have been eliminated. Instead, newly established roster caps will be used for each sport. This will provide the flexibility to allocate additional scholarships for the benefit of student-athletes in each of our 19 sports programs. Currently, we anticipate the addition of 75-100 scholarships, collectively, within our program. The projected financial impact for Razorback Athletics will be approximately $3 million per year.
NIL Back Damages
As part of the settlement, all NCAA Division I student-athletes who competed from 2016-24 are eligible for back damages. The NCAA and its member institutions will pay nearly $2.8 billion in damages to those student-athletes impacted over the next 10 years. To help cover our portion of those damages, our department and all SEC institutions will see a reduction in NCAA annual revenue distribution of approximately $1 million for the next 10 years.
While these anticipated changes bring new opportunities and increased resources for former, current and future student-athletes, they also create significant new financial challenges for our program. Our current budget does not account for the potential increase in expenses or the reduction of distributed revenues. The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is one of only a handful of athletic programs in the nation that is financially, self-sustaining – meaning we receive $0 in funding from the state, university or a student athletics fee.
Thanks to the generosity of Razorback Foundation members, season ticket holders, our corporate sponsors and Razorback fans, we have been in position to re-invest revenues back into our sports programs, leading to unprecedented success, collectively during the past six seasons, including 36 SEC Championships, eight NCAA Championships and four years in the top 20 of the Learfield Directors' Cup standings.
In anticipation of these changes, we have been working for months to identify opportunities to reduce operating expenses, maximize revenue and supplement the generous support provided by those who have invested in our program. Some of those efforts are visible while others have been occurring behind the scenes.
Comprehensive Budget Review
The department initiated a comprehensive budget review to explore new sources of revenue support as well as identify ways to operate more efficiently. A budget committee and seven budget sub-committees were formed to review and evaluate every area of our program. The goal of the review is to identify a net positive change of $15 million in combined savings and increased revenues annually. We must continue to maximize additional revenue opportunities while also being dutiful stewards of the resources which we have been afforded.
Corporate Logos on Playing Surfaces
Following a NCAA rules change and due to the generosity of two homegrown iconic brands, Tyson Foods, Inc. and Walmart, we have been able to add logos to both the field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena. Additional revenue, through corporate branding opportunities within other athletic venues, is currently being explored.
While these and other initiatives will assist in our efforts, they by themselves will not get us to where we need to go. Our short- and long-term success will require a more comprehensive approach that will involve all of us who cheer on the Razorbacks.
As such, in the coming days and months we will be taking additional steps in that effort.
Student-Athlete Scholarship Enhancement Fee
Beginning this weekend, when fans purchase concessions and other items at Razorback sporting events, each transaction will include a three-percent fee that will be designated to the funding of the additional scholarships that will be implemented with final approval of the settlement. If you purchase $10 worth of concessions, your total bill will be increased by 30 cents. This is a small but meaningful way that fans can help provide their support of current and future Razorback student-athletes.
Razorback Men's Basketball Reseating Plan
The Razorback Foundation in conjunction with our department will implement a comprehensive reset on ALL seating within Bud Walton Arena in time for the 2025-26 men's basketball season. The plan is designed to enhance Annual Fund revenue for the Razorback Foundation and create a more equitable process for Razorback Foundation members to select season ticket locations.
There has not been a comprehensive re-allocation of seating within Bud Walton Arena, since it opened in 1993. Details of the plan are being finalized and will be provided in January to allow fans to make informed decisions on their annual fund commitments. If there is an interest in making a year-end positioning gift to improve your priority, please contact the Razorback Foundation.
The reseating plan will be based on the existing seating configuration of Bud Walton Arena. As we continue to focus our efforts on addressing the many changes within collegiate athletics, a revised timeline for potential renovations to Bud Walton Arena has not been established.
Special Event Opportunities
Following the recent success of the Garth Brooks Concert at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and the Alan Jackson Concert at Bud Walton Arena, we continue to pursue the opportunity to bring similar select entertainment events to our University Community. These events must make financial sense and we will work with University administration to ensure that special events hosted do not create an undue burden on our campus infrastructure.
We are grateful for the loyal support of our fans and the resources they have provided to allow our student-athletes and coaches the opportunity to represent our University and the state of Arkansas in the most competitive conference in the nation. As we move forward together, our goal is to not only meet these new challenges, but to continue to compete and win in the SEC and nationally.
Go Hogs!
Hunter Yurachek
Vice Chancellor
Director of Athletics
TLDR
Got it
- Spiderham.
Cliff's notes?
Quote from: Natty_Ice on Oct 31, 2024, 11:23 AMCliff's notes?
Idk someone just outbid you for your basketball seats that you've had for 20 years so now your poor ass gets to enjoy the nosebleed section. Something like that, I just skimmed it.
Quote from: Natty_Ice on Oct 31, 2024, 11:23 AMCliff's notes?
New era; Fans don't matter. Big money donors are all that we care about anymore. But, please, feel free to give more money.
Quote from: bigpig on Oct 31, 2024, 12:01 PMNew era; Fans don't matter. Big money donors are all that we care about anymore. But, please, feel free to give more money.
That an concessions are going to go up.
BTW. $8.00 for coke is Jerry World ridiculus.
Quote from: buff2.0 on Oct 31, 2024, 11:57 AMIdk someone just outbid you for your basketball seats that you've had for 20 years so now your poor ass gets to enjoy the nosebleed section. Something like that, I just skimmed it.
Good!
Quote from: Natty_Ice on Oct 31, 2024, 11:23 AMCliff's notes?
They've been raking in ass loads of money but because of law suits where expected judgements will be handed down by the spring of 2025 they are anticipating a nearly 25 million dollar liability (it's entirely possible I didn't read that right) and so in stead of taking that ass load of money that they were already making they are trying to find new ways of fucking over the fans but making it sound like they are doing you a favor.
Get ready for every basketball game that isn't a top 25 matchup to have about 3,000 people in attendance.
Quote from: Trigger7672 on Oct 31, 2024, 03:26 PMGet ready for every basketball game that isn't a top 25 matchup to have about 3,000 people in attendance.
It's not like the "500k or we won't give you Slobberhog" stunt bought him any goodwill
Quote from: Natty_Ice on Oct 31, 2024, 11:23 AMCliff's notes?
Bend over...we think you may have swallowed a few coins and we want them, too.
Quote from: Trigger7672 on Oct 31, 2024, 03:26 PMGet ready for every basketball game that isn't a top 25 matchup to have about 3,000 people in attendance.
makes sense, CBB and CFB are more and more made for teevee extravaganzas because that is where most of the money comes from.
The Jax Jaguars are never going to win either, but the draws have to pad their records somewhere.
Quote from: HogOfWar on Oct 31, 2024, 12:03 PMThat an concessions are going to go up.
BTW. $8.00 for coke is Jerry World ridiculus.
But would you pay $6 for a Pepsi instead of that was your option? That's what you get for whining about your soft drink choices.
Quote from: Natty_Ice on Oct 31, 2024, 11:23 AMCliff's notes?
Amateur collegiate athletics no longer exists.
No more scholarship limits. Instead there will be salary caps.
Pony up if you want seats in Bud Walton arena.
Concessions will go up 3%. That means you'll pay 30 cents more on a $10 purchase. This money will go to a fund which will help offset the added costs that are coming our way in order to pay our share of the $2.8 billion which will be paid to recent players who got screwed playing under the old system.
What kind of nil does a lady volleyball player or golfer make?
Quote from: Texzilla on Oct 31, 2024, 08:18 PMWhat kind of nil does a lady volleyball player make?
Free motorcycle rides
Quote from: Sus-Scrofa on Oct 31, 2024, 08:32 PMFree motorcycle rides
:maundoed: :this_is_woopig:
Quote from: bigpig on Oct 31, 2024, 12:01 PMNew era; Fans don't matter. Big money donors are all that we care about anymore. But, please, feel free to give more money.
I have offered to give away tickets or sell at face value probably 50 tines overcthe last several years and get takers probably 10% of the time. That goes for asking family members, this board, and social media. I don't think many true fans exist anymore.
I also donate at the Broyles Matthew level and I can't get seats in the area of my donation level. I also cannot get a seat at Baum Walker. So I'm donating more money than the value I'm receiving. I'm the other side of the story.
Quote from: Barton Fink on Oct 31, 2024, 09:21 PMI have offered to give away tickets or sell at face value probably 50 tines overcthe last several years and get takers probably 10% of the time. That goes for asking family members, this board, and social media. I don't think many true fans exist anymore.
I also donate at the Broyles Matthew level and I can't get seats in the area of my donation level. I also cannot get a seat at Baum Walker. So I'm donating more money than the value I'm receiving. I'm the other side of the story.
I know several people in this boat. And several of them are at their current level of giving because they were encouraged by the foundation to raise it a few years ago when they redid seating at Baum so they could get baseball tickets.
And then they couldn't get baseball tickets. They were all gone.
Quote from: Corn Pop on Oct 31, 2024, 05:26 PMAmateur collegiate athletics no longer exists.
No more scholarship limits. Instead there will be salary caps.
Pony up if you want seats in Bud Walton arena.
Concessions will go up 3%. That means you'll pay 30 cents more on a $10 purchase. This money will go to a fund which will help offset the added costs that are coming our way in order to pay our share of the $2.8 billion which will be paid to recent players who got screwed playing under the old system.
Thanks
Quote from: Barton Fink on Oct 31, 2024, 09:21 PMI have offered to give away tickets or sell at face value probably 50 tines overcthe last several years and get takers probably 10% of the time. That goes for asking family members, this board, and social media. I don't think many true fans exist anymore.
I also donate at the Broyles Matthew level and I can't get seats in the area of my donation level. I also cannot get a seat at Baum Walker. So I'm donating more money than the value I'm receiving. I'm the other side of the story.
We should probably work a trade. One SEC weekend basketball game for one SEC baseball series. Would probably save us both money.
Quote from: Barton Fink on Oct 31, 2024, 09:21 PMI have offered to give away tickets or sell at face value probably 50 tines overcthe last several years and get takers probably 10% of the time. That goes for asking family members, this board, and social media. I don't think many true fans exist anymore.
I also donate at the Broyles Matthew level and I can't get seats in the area of my donation level. I also cannot get a seat at Baum Walker. So I'm donating more money than the value I'm receiving. I'm the other side of the story.
I turned down free tickets to the Ole Miss game from two people yesterday. I don't know if it's the post Petrino era or the NIL era that has beaten me down but going to football games almost feels like a chore now.
Quote from: DirkPiggler on Nov 01, 2024, 07:15 AMWe should probably work a trade. One SEC weekend basketball game for one SEC baseball series. Would probably save us both money.
Sharing season tickets is a no-brainer. It's tougher when there is a strong home schedule but ultimately a better workaround for all.
Dropping season tickets was the best decision I've ever made. Just far enough to be a pain in the ass. Lodging situation is shit in Fayetteville though I suppose that should get better soon.
Quote from: hit_that_line on Nov 01, 2024, 09:42 AMDropping season tickets was the best decision I've ever made. Just far enough to be a pain in the ass. Lodging situation is shit in Fayetteville though I suppose that should get better soon.
We started buying again after a ten year absence thinking we would go to more games with my kid in school up there.
We ended up going to two last year and will probably only make one this year. Doubt we renew.
Quote from: Thin Red Swine on Nov 01, 2024, 09:38 AMSharing season tickets is a no-brainer. It's tougher when there is a strong home schedule but ultimately a better workaround for all.
We had a not so great experience with this when I was younger, in basketball. Mainly based around who got which games.
The parents of one of my childhood friends offered to share the tickets with my family. The first year it was fine. They got first pick of games, we got second, alternating all the way down. Tickets were in their name, they had had them for years, so they deserved first shot. Then it became, "Our son wants these two games, you pick two and then we will alternate the rest." Finally it was "We want (insert the top four SEC games), you pick the next four." Again, their prerogative as they were their seats, but it wasn't worth a 50/50 split on our end either. Rather than jeopardizing a friendship or causing a stink, we just opted out after that season.
Quote from: DirkPiggler on Nov 01, 2024, 10:10 AMWe had a not so great experience with this when I was younger, in basketball. Mainly based around who got which games.
The parents of one of my childhood friends offered to share the tickets with my family. The first year it was fine. They got first pick of games, we got second, alternating all the way down. Tickets were in their name, they had had them for years, so they deserved first shot. Then it became, "Our son wants these two games, you pick two and then we will alternate the rest." Finally it was "We want (insert the top four SEC games), you pick the next four." Again, their prerogative as they were their seats, but it wasn't worth a 50/50 split on our end either. Rather than jeopardizing a friendship or causing a stink, we just opted out after that season.
Me and three friends have split two season tickets for basketball the last four years. We just have a ticket draft when the schedule comes out. Haven't had any problems doing it that way so far.
Quote from: Trigger7672 on Nov 01, 2024, 10:27 AMMe and three friends have split two season tickets for basketball the last four years. We just have a ticket draft when the schedule comes out. Haven't had any problems doing it that way so far.
It's a great way to save money if you can work out a fair and agreeable way to allocate them.
We were in a different situation as we were buying into someone's long held season tickets. And this was in a time when there was a waiting list for season tickets...it was about access for us, or we would have just bought our own. I understood their position completely and probably would have handled it the same had the roles been reversed. It just wasn't worth the investment on our end for what we got.
Quote from: DirkPiggler on Nov 01, 2024, 07:15 AMWe should probably work a trade. One SEC weekend basketball game for one SEC baseball series. Would probably save us both money.
I might be open to that. We actually have 4 Hog Pen tickets but rarely use them. I'm not setting out there 4 hrs before just to get a place I can actually watch the game. If anyone ever wants Hog Pen tickets, I'll always have at least 2.
Quote from: Barton Fink on Nov 01, 2024, 10:32 AMI might be open to that. We actually have 4 Hog Pen tickets but rarely use them. I'm not setting out there 4 hrs before just to get a place I can actually watch the game. If anyone ever wants Hog Pen tickets, I'll always have at least 2.
We have three in section 100. They aren't the best seats as far as view (although they aren't bad), but you can't beat them for convenience.
Check the schedules and see if any of the dates line up. I know we're going to Italy at some point to visit our kid over there, but no idea when as of yet.
Quote from: Trigger7672 on Nov 01, 2024, 08:52 AMI turned down free tickets to the Ole Miss game from two people yesterday. I don't know if it's the post Petrino era or the NIL era that has beaten me down but going to football games almost feels like a chore now.
Post-Petrino was it for me. I built my life around it and went to almost every home game and 2-3 away games a year during his 4-year run. And even in 2012 still went to the home games and made the Auburn and USC-E road trips. After we hired Cheeseburger in December 2012, I was done. Fuck Jeff Long.
It's much less effort and money now. I have a 75" flanked by 65"s on each side on my living room built-ins. Much more enjoyable and comfortable experience with the added bonus of not missing other big games on Saturdays.
Quote from: Doc Hogaday on Nov 01, 2024, 05:49 PMPost-Petrino was it for me. I built my life around it and went to almost every home game and 2-3 away games a year during his 4-year run. And even in 2012 still went to the home games and made the Auburn and USC-E road trips. After we hired Cheeseburger in December 2012, I was done. Fuck Jeff Long.
It's much less effort and money now. I have a 75" flanked by 65"s on each side on my living room built-ins. Much more enjoyable and comfortable experience with the added bonus of not missing other big games on Saturdays.
Sounds like an incredible set up!
Quote from: Sus-Scrofa on Oct 31, 2024, 11:01 PMAnd then they couldn't get baseball tickets. They were all gone.
What is the fucking deal with Baum and season tickets? Is it all the corporate types buying up all the good seats and then letting them sit empty until SEC play? I've always seen GREAT seats open behind home plate during the pre-SEC season.
They could probably add another 30 suites to Baum and sell all of them, the way they have been bid up shows they know demand is there.
There is a lot of "business entity" money floating around NWA and not a lot of outlets for stuff like that apart from the Razorbacks. Nobody wants to go sit in a suite at Arvest and watch the Naturals, even though that place is full of suites, too. I guess they still sell.
Razorback stadium absolutely has to have the highest "private suite to capacity" ratio of any college stadium in the country. There probably isn't a close second.
I heard baseball suite prices have gone up to $40K per season. Is that correct?
I canceled my season tickets in early 2012.
Since then I installed a 120 inch screen and a laser TV (short throw projector). I've gone to maybe 10 home games in the 12 years since
Quote from: dhog on Nov 01, 2024, 10:44 PMI heard baseball suite prices have gone up to $40K per season. Is that correct?
I don't know. My cousin told me last year that the one he's a part of cost $1800/seat for the year. I think he said it came with 20 tickets but don't know for sure.
Quote from: DirkPiggler on Nov 02, 2024, 10:51 AMI don't know. My cousin told me last year that the one he's a part of cost $1800/seat for the year. I think he said it came with 20 tickets but don't know for sure.
.
That'd be $38k plus donations. Sorry but I don't like baseball that much.
Quote from: DirkPiggler on Nov 02, 2024, 10:51 AMI don't know. My cousin told me last year that the one he's a part of cost $1800/seat for the year. I think he said it came with 20 tickets but don't know for sure.
Quote from: dhog on Nov 05, 2024, 11:36 PM.
That'd be $38k plus donations. Sorry but I don't like baseball that much.
If invited I'd probably kick in for two seats in one at that rate.
Quote from: DirkPiggler on Nov 05, 2024, 11:59 PMIf invited I'd probably kick in for two seats in one at that rate.
Yeah, honestly, I think that's what happens in a lot of the suites. I know of two suites that are co-oped like that.
Quote from: DirkPiggler on Nov 05, 2024, 11:59 PMIf invited I'd probably kick in for two seats in one at that rate.
Same