Funding for USF sports

[Guest BasketBull.]

Curiously, does anyone know how college athletics (USF) get funding for sports? Does it come out of the general education fund?

And more importanly, which sports lose money?

I'm thinking football and men's basketball are the only two that make money, right?

I guess my thinking is that a new baseball coach (with a higher salary) and perhaps a new baseball facility of some sort are going to drain the other sports.

[Apis Bull]

I'm pretty sure that athletics does not get its funding from the general education fund.

Baseball can be a revenue producing sport (I believe it is at South Carolina and Clemson).  

Usually, only football and men's basketball produce revenue.  However, better sports teams through out enhance your school's overall image.

Also, even if they don't produce a profit, they become less of a drain on your overall athletic budget.

[Knight_Light]

SC....I see the stalemate over a new stadium in Columbia was finally broken.

Will both USC and the minor league team play in the same park?

Just curious....when I was there in August...USC fans were HOT about someone in City politics that kept this stadium stalled.

KL

[Apis Bull]

No, the minor league team left.  It will only be USC.  The new stadium is going to on the river that runs through town.

I posted an article about it here

[Minotaur]

SC....I see the stalemate over a new stadium in Columbia was finally broken.

Will both USC and the minor league team play in the same park?

Thats not a bad temoprary fix. USF Bayboro is 1 mile from Al Lang. Al Lang is sitting empty. Play some games there and take recruits there . . . . its got a great view.

230 First St. S.

St. Petersburg, FL, 33701

Phone: 825-3137

With 6439 seats including the grass, Progress Energy Park -- Home of Al Lang Field -- is a modern, versatile facility with a storied history. The field is named after St. Petersburg's local "father of baseball," Al Lang. Once the mayor of St. Petersburg, Al Lang was an active supporter of the community and the driving force behind bringing Major League spring training to St. Petersburg.

Over it's rich 84-year life, the field has served as the spring training home of a number of Major League Baseball teams. The Philadelphia Nationals called Florida Power Park home from 1916-1921; the Boston Braves from 1922-1924; the New York Yankees from 1925-1937; the St. Louis Cardinals from 1938-1997; and most recently, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1998-present. As part of it's prolific past, some of baseball's greatest heroes have roamed Progress Energy Park through the years including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and many more.

The versatile facility also serves as a venue for events outside of baseball. The field has been used for band competitions, antique and classic car shows, concerts and more. For information on renting Progress Energy Park, Home of Al Lang Field, please contact Steve Kelyman of Progress Energy Park at (727) 825-3284.

[USFootball]

I think there is an Athletic fee for each student at the school, and that covers athletics and the rec center, but Im not 100% certain, but I think a good chunk comes from there and private donations...

[Rabbi Bull]

students to pay an athletic fee, its part of our tuition.  this fee pays for us to use the rec center, and to get in free to events, so its like we pay 10 bucks a month to use the rec center and then pay for tickets to all athletic events up front in the beginning of the year

[Joe]

I think the athletic fee is somewhere around $11.30. There are several sources of funds and each school runs different, so I have no clue how 100% of our programs are funded.

Football and men's basketball are really the only two sports that make money for schools around the NCAA. There are a few exceptions.

LSU baseball (there are a few more mostly SEC schools).

Tennessee and UConn Women's Basketball (Texas Tech has in the past)

North Dakota hockey.

etc...

[Guest BasketBull.]

Here it is kiddies:

2005-2006 operating budget for USF athletics $23,123,165

Student fees: $9,829,565 (42.5%)

NCAA/Big East Distributions: $3,500,000 (15.1%)

Ticket Sales: $3,465,000 (15.0%)

Foundation Transfers: $2,570,000 (11.1%)

Event Revenue: $1,616,800 (7.0%)

Franchise Fess: $800,000 (3.5%)

Other $701,190: (3.0%)

Corporate Sponsorships: $640,610 (2.8%)

------------------------

Usage of funds:

Compensation: $7,715,814 (33.4%)

Scholarships: $3,642,252 (15.8%)

Event Related: $3,584,495 (15.5%)

Travel: $2,651,597 (11.5%)

Debt Services: $1,761,973 (7.6%)

Admin. Expense: $1,589,907 (6.9%)

Game Guarantees: $1,128,580 (4.9%)

Other: $1,048,547 (4.5%)

USF Athletic Budget over the years:

2000-2001: $10,661,278

2001-2002: $12,199,874

2002-2003: $14,367,664

2003-2004: $16,061,607

2004-2005: $18,701,253

2005-2006: $23,123,165

*The source for this information was The Psychic Network ($1.99 first minute, $1.00 per minute thereafter).

[Guest Ari_Hinkelberger]

majority is approp from state budget.  School brings in money through tuition, research dollars, state tax dollars, donations, and most universities have what is called a foundation.  We don't (we kinda do-- but its not big) because we don't really have a donor base.

The school itself is a state entity.  It is owned, operated, and funded by state dollars.  USF has an annual budget.  A portion of that is geared towards athletics.  You get the picture.

Be thankful that the Tampa Bay Community has a very POWERFUL voice in Tally.  It is the main reason why USF has become so big so quick.  A school like FSU and UF suffer big time because the are from rural areas with little representation.  So they draw from alumni and financial interested within the state capitol.

USF is not only an edcuational institution it is one of the largest employers in the entire state of florida.  It is only going to be gaining more and more clout.

Look at that Byrd Center from Alzhiemer Research that is being built.  Some peopel think that it is ridiculous that the only Alzhiemer research center in the entire state is at USF -- the reason it is?  The former speaker of the house is from Plant City.

Its all politics my man.  I have a very very strong feelling that when we do get a stadium.... a big chunk of the money will be coming from Tally.

One of the major reasons why Betty Castor was brought in during the 90's to run the school was her ties to the state capitol.  She was one of only a few University Presidents that did not have a PHD.  She was the Educations Commissioner during the first few years of the Chiles Adminstration.  The reason for bringing her in, was her ties to then Gov. Chiles, her former associates in the state senate, and her ability to deliver state dollars.