OT: ASU raised $32M to fund D1A hockey team

[Leonard23]

For those that are pushing us to move our club hockey team to a D1A varsity sport, ASU needed $32M, which also included funding for 2 women's sports due to Title IX.

http://www.statepress.com/article/2015/10/ray-anderson-asu-womens-lacrosse

“We don’t want to be the largest public institution in the country with only 22 varsity sports," Anderson said. "Now we’re at 23 with hockey. We’ll be at 24 with triathlon. And very likely go to 25 with women’s lacrosse by this time next year.”

The $32 million raised to fund the hockey team also included the money to fund the women's sports needed to match the Title IX equality requirements.

University president Michael Crow said in an interview with The State Press editorial board in April that the two sports ASU was considering adding were women's crew and women's lacrosse, but the additional expenses related with crew made lacrosse a more likely decision.

 

[derleider]

Well that seems like a huge waste of money, but whatever floats their boat.

 

[CuredbywinningRU]

Well that seems like a huge waste of money, but whatever floats their boat.

Agree that it's a waste of money but my takeaway from this is continued amazement at how just about every type of university - big, small, public, private, elite, non-elite seems to be grabbing headlines regarding major gifts for some purpose or another and we virtually never do. We continue to be THE major university outlier in the real of having significantly generous benefactors.

 

[mdk01]

Agree that it's a waste of money but my takeaway from this is continued amazement at how just about every type of university - big, small, public, private, elite, non-elite seems to be grabbing headlines regarding major gifts for some purpose or another and we virtually never do. We continue to be THE major university outlier in the real of having significantly generous benefactors.

To a degree I think that's true for all public universities in the Northeast. I guess UConn got a football stadium, but how many major gifts have you read about UConn, UMass, URI, UVM, UNH, Maine or the SUNY schools get? None of them are the major research university that Rutgers is, so Rutgers should be doing better. But none of them stand out.

 

[Leonard23]

11 of 15 home games will be played near campus at Oceanside Ice Arena, which seats 800 (500 prior to renovations this spring & summer), & 4 home games will be played at Gila River Arena in Glendale where the NHL's Coyote's play. Oceanside spent $250,000 of its own $ to renovate & upgrade the arena with new bleachers, locker room, players' lounge, rink, ice baths, stick racks & ASU colors & branding. ASU didn't spend a dime on the renovations & Oceanside said it was happy to be affiliated & align more closely with ASU, even if for only a year or 2, as ASU will likely move out. Anyone think Protec, Bridgewater, Mennen, Aspen or any other local ice rinks would ever do that for us? No chance.

 

[e5fdny]

11 of 15 home games will be played near campus at Oceanside Ice Arena, which seats 800 (500 prior to renovations this spring & summer), & 4 home games will be played at Gila River Arena in Glendale where the NHL's Coyote's play. Oceanside spent $250,000 of its own $ to renovate & upgrade the arena with new bleachers, locker room, players' lounge, rink, ice baths, stick racks & ASU colors & branding. ASU didn't spend a dime on the renovations & Oceanside said it was happy to be affiliated & align more closely with ASU, even if for only a year or 2, as ASU will likely move out. Anyone think Protec, Bridgewater, Mennen, Aspen or any other local ice rinks would ever do that for us? No chance.

Did anybody ask?

If ASU's plan was to stay at club level I doubt Oceanside would have been so accommodating.

 

[vkj91]

I had the opportunity to tour their facilities, meet their coaches, and even sit in on a QB meeting this summer. I couldn't get over how crappy their facilities are. Presently, Rutgers facilities blow theirs away. However, they are dumping huge amounts of money into their football facilities and when it's all said and done they will be Oregon like. They told me it's being financed almost entirely through private donations.

 

[Leonard23]

Did anybody ask?

If ASU's plan was to stay at club level I doubt Oceanside would have been so accommodating.

ASU didn't have to ask Oceanside. If we asked, I doubt they'd do it anyway.

 

[e5fdny]

ASU didn't have to ask Oceanside. If we asked, I doubt they'd do it anyway.

So we don't know?

Thanks.

And until a firm plan is put forward ($$$$) with the leap from club to a varsity sport, who cares.

 

[MozRU]

Bentley is in the process of putting a hockey arena on their campus for their division 1 hockey team.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Sounds like the donor is

I had the opportunity to tour their facilities, meet their coaches, and even sit in on a QB meeting this summer. I couldn't get over how crappy their facilities are. Presently, Rutgers facilities blow theirs away. However, they are dumping huge amounts of money into their football facilities and when it's all said and done they will be Oregon like. They told me it's being financed almost entirely through private donations.

Yup I think they're doing some stadium renovation and they got some big donations for that too. The Mulletts who donated to this seem like they're part of some founding family for a company that makes commercial plumbing fixtures and washroom supplies. The son was on the hockey team in the 2000s, not sure if the father went to ASU but they've been supporters of hockey.

Notice also the stipulation of some of that 32M going to Title IX compliance. Even with donations of this size there can be stipulations. This is my point about saying I don't think we have any donors as of now that warrant the ability to "big foot" whomever our athletic director is. This includes Brown and Towers and while we should be grateful for their donations neither is a big enough booster to dictate decisions. They and others like them should always be heard, made to feel included and be part of the process but not the final say.

This is why I'm not as ardent at slamming the admin here as others saying they don't support athletics. What we lack is not the admin support as much as a strong pool of deep pocketed donors, at least to date. A lot of these things at other schools are done with large support or even full support from private money. We need more of that. I've said the B10 money is going to help a ton but don't look at it as some bottomless pot of gold. It's not. We still need a lot more donor support at this level to get all the things done we want to get done.

 

[vkj91]

Sounds like the donor is

Yup I think they're doing some stadium renovation and they got some big donations for that too. The Mulletts who donated to this seem like they're part of some founding family for a company that makes commercial plumbing fixtures and washroom supplies. The son was on the hockey team in the 2000s, not sure if the father went to ASU but they've been supporters of hockey.

Notice also the stipulation of some of that 32M going to Title IX compliance. Even with donations of this size there can be stipulations. This is my point about saying I don't think we have any donors as of now that warrant the ability to "big foot" whomever our athletic director is. This includes Brown and Towers and while we should be grateful for their donations neither is a big enough booster to dictate decisions. They and others like them should always be heard, made to feel included and be part of the process but not the final say.

This is why I'm not as ardent at slamming the admin here as others saying they don't support athletics. What we lack is not the admin support as much as a strong pool of deep pocketed donors, at least to date. A lot of these things at other schools are done with large support or even full support from private money. We need more of that. I've said the B10 money is going to help a ton but don't look at it as some bottomless pot of gold. It's not. We still need a lot more donor support at this level to get all the things done we want to get done.

What's the magic number? 10, 20, 50 million? If Towers was going to finance the whole basketball renovation would people be ok with Flood for another year or two? I mean the guy is a billionaire after all

 

[CuredbywinningRU]

To a degree I think that's true for all public universities in the Northeast. I guess UConn got a football stadium, but how many major gifts have you read about UConn, UMass, URI, UVM, UNH, Maine or the SUNY schools get? None of them are the major research university that Rutgers is, so Rutgers should be doing better. But none of them stand out.

I fully agree re major northeastern universities being different but that doesn't explain how Rowan got that monster gift a number of years ago and how Montclair state just got $20m for its B school and we have had one $10M cash gift I believe in the entire history of the school. Also, the parsimony of potential RU donors stands out even more now that we're in the B1G.

 

[198hamilton]

Arizona and hockey, perfect together. What's next? Univ. of Hawaii with a ski team?

 

[Scarlet Pride]

we have had one $10M cash gift I believe in the entire history of the school..

Not true I know of a few recently including received $10 million for cancer research, another $10 million for food science, and a $27 million dollar gift for endowed chairs.

 

[MozRU]

Arizona and hockey, perfect together. What's next? Univ. of Hawaii with a ski team?

agreed. Silliness

 

[rutgersguy1]

What's the magic number? 10, 20, 50 million? If Towers was going to finance the whole basketball renovation would people be ok with Flood for another year or two? I mean the guy is a billionaire after all

I don't know it depends. If it were me personally making the call like I said in another thread I would counter it with help us fund a top flight staff under Flood to give him the best chance to be successful. Assume no off field issues, give it a year or two and see.

Again it depends on how big the number. Sometimes no matter how big the number you can't excuse some behavior but I don't live in some fantasyland utopia to think that larger donors won't have influence. It's usually a function of zeroes.

This is all hypothetical and just a discussion of just how much influence donors have, how much they should have and how much money it takes to have that influence. My point in this case was this guy donated 32M bucks and even still ASU stipulated some of it had to go to Title IX compliance. Like I said there's usually give/take and each circumstance is different and what a donor might be asking for matters, so it's a whole bunch of different factors. Make a judgment on a case by case basis.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Not true I know of a few recently including received $10 million for cancer research, another $10 million for food science, and a $27 million dollar gift for endowed chairs.

I think we've had a 40 million dollar donation too. I can't remember for what though. It's the largest RU has received for anything.

 

[mdk01]

I think we've had a 40 million dollar donation too. I can't remember for what though. It's the largest RU has received for anything.

Wasn't that to assist with the integration of the Med School into RU?

 

[rutgersguy1]

Wasn't that to assist with the integration of the Med School into RU?

Don't know, just remember reading it. Found a link though but still doesn't tell you where it went. It was part of the 1B campaign.

Among the campaign’s highlights:

• More than $275 million was raised for students and learning.

• More than $130 million for campuses and facilities.

• An 85 percent surge in athletics giving over the past six months.

• A $40 million donation from an anonymous donor—the campaign’s largest gift.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/rutgers_eclipses_1_billion_fundraising_goal.html

 

[derleider]

I fully agree re major northeastern universities being different but that doesn't explain how Rowan got that monster gift a number of years ago and how Montclair state just got $20m for its B school and we have had one $10M cash gift I believe in the entire history of the school. Also, the parsimony of potential RU donors stands out even more now that we're in the B1G.

Roawn basically just got lucky - and they had to name the school after the guy. We got something like $29 million for our business building, I think from one donor.

Just look at the endowments fo RU, Rowan, and Montclair and you will see that you are concern trolling. Ru's fundraising is not great for a big flagship school, but its not out of line with other northeastern public shcools except a couple, and its well ahead of the non-flagship level state schools.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

We don't have a culture of fans donating. Most fans just complain that ticket prices cost more now and that they have to pay for parking.

Until this changes, don't except too much as far as upgrades or Power 5 level coaching staffs, etc.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

Agree that it's a waste of money but my takeaway from this is continued amazement at how just about every type of university - big, small, public, private, elite, non-elite seems to be grabbing headlines regarding major gifts for some purpose or another and we virtually never do. We continue to be THE major university outlier in the real of having significantly generous benefactors.

It's amazing what can be accomplished when the university president supports an initiative.

 

[RU-05]

Arizona and hockey, perfect together. What's next? Univ. of Hawaii with a ski team?

Not to mention their swim team. Arizona is a desert. Makes no sense.

 

[mdk01]

Roawn basically just got lucky - and they had to name the school after the guy. We got something like $29 million for our business building, I think from one donor.

Just look at the endowments fo RU, Rowan, and Montclair and you will see that you are concern trolling. Ru's fundraising is not great for a big flagship school, but its not out of line with other northeastern public shcools except a couple, and its well ahead of the non-flagship level state schools.

But Rutgers IS a flagship level state school, and more of a research university than the other northeastern public schools. Maybe, due to geography and history, you can't hold Rutgers to the standards of a Michigan, UVA or Berkeley, but they should be running well ahead of their nearby competitors in the public school arena.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Arizona State hockey has a pair of games at Wisconsin on Oct. 30 and 31, when Rutgers football battles the Badgers in Madison on Halloween. I plan on attending one of the games at Kohl Center. I've never been to a college hockey game. Wisconsin always ranks near the top in hockey attendance, averaging about 10,000 fans per game.

 

[Wolv RU]

Arizona State hockey has a pair of games at Wisconsin on Oct. 30 and 31, when Rutgers football battles the Badgers in Madison on Halloween. I plan on attending one of the games at Kohl Center. I've never been to a college hockey game. Wisconsin always ranks near the top in hockey attendance, averaging about 10,000 fans per game.

You will enjoy it. College hockey is a great spectator sport.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Not to mention their swim team. Arizona is a desert. Makes no sense.

Are you kidding? Just like a lot other PAC schools their athletic rosters are FILLED with Southern California kids who can't get into/don't want to go to UCLA/USC, etc, hence swimming is no-brainer at ASU.

 

[RUClassof67]

While we were at Penn St. a friend who is involved in fund raising there told us that Penn St had received an $88 million dollar donation earmarked for creating a Division I Hockey team in State College. Turns out the donor was a PSU Alum and owner of the Buffalo Sabres.

http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/091710aaa.html

 

[RutgersRaRa]

While we were at Penn St. a friend who is involved in fund raising there told us that Penn St had received an $88 million dollar donation earmarked for creating a Division I Hockey team in State College. Turns out the donor was a PSU Alum and owner of the Buffalo Sabres.

http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/091710aaa.html

I'm jealous, and totally frickin impressed.

 

[RU-05]

Are you kidding? Just like a lot other PAC schools their athletic rosters are FILLED with Southern California kids who can't get into/don't want to go to UCLA/USC, etc, hence swimming is no-brainer at ASU.

Yes I was kidding.

 

[robcac26]

11 of 15 home games will be played near campus at Oceanside Ice Arena, which seats 800 (500 prior to renovations this spring & summer), & 4 home games will be played at Gila River Arena in Glendale where the NHL's Coyote's play. Oceanside spent $250,000 of its own $ to renovate & upgrade the arena with new bleachers, locker room, players' lounge, rink, ice baths, stick racks & ASU colors & branding. ASU didn't spend a dime on the renovations & Oceanside said it was happy to be affiliated & align more closely with ASU, even if for only a year or 2, as ASU will likely move out. Anyone think Protec, Bridgewater, Mennen, Aspen or any other local ice rinks would ever do that for us? No chance.

I work at Protec. I'm pretty sure any rink would put down $250,000 for the hours of ice rental or portion of admission/concession sales a D1 team would bring in.

 

[kjb32812]

I'm jealous, and totally frickin impressed.

That arena is absolutely beautiful. I went to a hockey game the Friday evening before the OSU game last year and it was a great experience. I believe the final amount Pegula had to kick in was north of $100M.

My OSU buddy is a pretty good hockey player (I am not and don't care about hockey) and said the team was pretty damn good and the environment fantastic.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Just an aside speaking of boosters and their treatment. Tom Herman bumped Houston boosters out of first class for his lineman on the trips to away games. I'd like to think he got the okay from them before he did it but who knows.



Palmer asked Herman if his seat-swapping angered anyone. He doesn't seem to be losing any sleep over it.

"I asked [Herman] if he received any backlash from boosters about the switch, and he candidly conveyed he didn’t care because they deserve it," Palmer wrote. "And they’re the ones who help us win football games."


http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...ters-out-of-first-class-gave-spots-to-linemen

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ters-out-of-1st-class-to-make-room-for-o-line

 

[e5fdny]

Yes I was kidding.

Sad you had to explain this. lol

I work at Protec. I'm pretty sure any rink would put down $250,000 for the hours of ice rental or portion of admission/concession sales a D1 team would bring in.

How can that be? Somebody on here already said it would never happen. (insert roll eye guy here)