TiredOleGopher
New member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2010
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 1
While living in Minneapolis I would often hear people question the worth of athletics at the “U”. Often I would hear the question, “why should we and the University Administrators care whether or not the Gopher athletic teams are successful?” What does it really matter to the university, the twin cites and to the average Minneapolis/St. Paul resident if the Gophers are competitive or not? My answer to that question has always been it should matter BIG TIME for the following reasons:
Financially
Recently Sid Hartman wrote an article indicating that the Gopher Football Budget was $9.25 million. A recent article on the Ohio State football program indicated that a 2006 budget of $32.3million at Ohio State brought in $28.5 million in profits. The OSU football program profits easily meets the financial needs of the remaining OSU intercollegiate and intramural sports programs. OSU students, fans and alumni enjoy the use of top notch facilities in large part due to the success of the Buckeyes. At Minnesota a profit margin of $28.5 million would provide the funds required for a basketball practice facility which is desperately needed if the Gophers are to be competitive as we move into the next decade.
Community
In 2009 University of Texas football games brought $99.3 million to the Austin, TX economy. When the Longhorns win people come to see them play. Bottom line, when the Longhorns win, Austin wins. The same would be true for the twin cites if the Gophers were winning on a consistent basis.
Pride
Last year Ohio State received merchandising revenues of $ 7.7 million. Buckeye success has generated a sense of pride in the institution by all Ohioans regardless of whether or not they are affiliated with the university. While Minnesota does not have the population base enjoyed by the Buckeyes a winning program goes a long way in generating school and state pride as well as increased revenues in merchandising and university donations.
When we don’t support the Gophers all of Minnesota is affected.
Financially
Recently Sid Hartman wrote an article indicating that the Gopher Football Budget was $9.25 million. A recent article on the Ohio State football program indicated that a 2006 budget of $32.3million at Ohio State brought in $28.5 million in profits. The OSU football program profits easily meets the financial needs of the remaining OSU intercollegiate and intramural sports programs. OSU students, fans and alumni enjoy the use of top notch facilities in large part due to the success of the Buckeyes. At Minnesota a profit margin of $28.5 million would provide the funds required for a basketball practice facility which is desperately needed if the Gophers are to be competitive as we move into the next decade.
Community
In 2009 University of Texas football games brought $99.3 million to the Austin, TX economy. When the Longhorns win people come to see them play. Bottom line, when the Longhorns win, Austin wins. The same would be true for the twin cites if the Gophers were winning on a consistent basis.
Pride
Last year Ohio State received merchandising revenues of $ 7.7 million. Buckeye success has generated a sense of pride in the institution by all Ohioans regardless of whether or not they are affiliated with the university. While Minnesota does not have the population base enjoyed by the Buckeyes a winning program goes a long way in generating school and state pride as well as increased revenues in merchandising and university donations.
When we don’t support the Gophers all of Minnesota is affected.
Kudos to Donna Shalala for finally seeing the light at the UW.
