SMU boosters raise $159 million

[storrsroars]

Over the nine years where SMU won't receive a share of ACC revenue, that comes out to $17.67 mill/year. Pretty close to half of what they'd make receiving a full share.

SMU Raises Whopping $159 Million for Sports Ahead of ACC Move

The athletic department's fundraising is critical as it will miss out on media-rights revenue in the ACC for much of the next decade.

frontofficesports.com

If UConn gets into the ACC, I'd think we'd expect to take a haircut. Unfortunately, I don't think our boosters could raise anything remotely close to this.

 

[hoopsfan22]

They love their sports in Texas and are willing to put up the big $$$ to show it.

 

[UConnJim]

Over the nine years where SMU won't receive a share of ACC revenue, that comes out to $17.67 mill/year. Pretty close to half of what they'd make receiving a full share.

SMU Raises Whopping $159 Million for Sports Ahead of ACC Move

The athletic department's fundraising is critical as it will miss out on media-rights revenue in the ACC for much of the next decade.

frontofficesports.com

If UConn gets into the ACC, I'd think we'd expect to take a haircut. Unfortunately, I don't think our boosters could raise anything remotely close to this.

The difference between a private school and a public school when it comes to athletics is that the private school has to come close to breakeven every year or have significant donations to make up the difference. According to SMU, in 2021/2022, 63% of athletic department revenues came from direct and in-kind gifts, 13% from contributions and only 4% from ticket sales. SMU athletics are dependent on donations to run the department and not fans going to games.

 

[CL82]

Over the nine years where SMU won't receive a share of ACC revenue, that comes out to $17.67 mill/year. Pretty close to half of what they'd make receiving a full share.

SMU Raises Whopping $159 Million for Sports Ahead of ACC Move

The athletic department's fundraising is critical as it will miss out on media-rights revenue in the ACC for much of the next decade.

frontofficesports.com

If UConn gets into the ACC, I'd think we'd expect to take a haircut. Unfortunately, I don't think our boosters could raise anything remotely close to this.

Depends on the circumstances. If they vote to let us in today, we probably take the SMU deal. If, instead they are reaching out to us after the departure of FSU, Clemson, UNC and possibly Georgia Tech and or Virginia, then I think we need to get a full share, because the value of the conference would be dramatically reduced addition of a big brand to the conference would have greater value to them.

Something else to keep in mind is that the money that "needs to be made up" isn't the full share that you didn't get but the full share that you gave up. As things stand now that would be the 4 million that we get from the big east.

 

[ZooCougar]

People here are so amusing.

Do you guys have any idea who and what types of people go to SMU. Their alums are supremely wealthy.

 

[August_West]

People here are so amusing.

Do you guys have any idea who and what types of people go to SMU. Their alums are supremely wealthy.

Oil $$$$$$$

 

[Durks07]

They love their sports in Texas and are willing to put up the big $$$ to show it.

Its a shame that their teams win so little to show for it all.

 

[Rufus]

SMU’s replacement….

Welcoming Army To The American

IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference Board of Directors and Commissioner Mike Aresco have announced that the Army West Point Athletic Association Inc.'s application for membership in The American was approved by the board.

theamerican.org

 

[billybud]

Its a shame that their teams win so little to show for it all.

SMU picked a good year (2023) to go 11-3....some fans would be thrilled to have an 11 win season with Oklahoma, TCU, ECU, BC, Navy, Tulane, Memphis on the schedule

 

[Rufus]

Conference USA Officially Welcomes Kennesaw State as 10th Member

DALLAS – Conference USA welcomes Kennesaw State University as the league’s 10th member with Monday marking their official start in the conference.

conferenceusa.com

 

[Rufus]

By the way, as of 10:24am, the ACC has not yet welcomed SMU as a member on its website.

 

[DFW HOYA]

The difference between a private school and a public school when it comes to athletics is that the private school has to come close to breakeven every year or have significant donations to make up the difference. According to SMU, in 2021/2022, 63% of athletic department revenues came from direct and in-kind gifts, 13% from contributions and only 4% from ticket sales. SMU athletics are dependent on donations to run the department and not fans going to games.

Attendance has been a problem for years at SMU. It does not market beyond a very narrow base.

 

[Rufus]

ACC finally got around to welcoming SMU. They also welcomed Cal and Stanford in the same post, just indicating it doesn't happen until August 2nd. Too lazy to do this twice I guess. lol

ACC Officially Welcomes Cal, SMU and Stanford to the League

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference continues to ACCOMPLISH GREATNESS with the addition of three world-class institutions in the University of California, Berkeley (Cal), Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Stanford University as full members with full voting...

theacc.com

 

[CL82]

ACC finally got around to welcoming SMU. They also welcomed Cal and Stanford in the same post, just indicating it doesn't happen until August 2nd. Too lazy to do this twice I guess. lol

Or didn't want to welcome SMU as a standalone?

 

[Waquoit]

The ACC Welcomes SMU University

 

[JohnFSilver]

The fact smu has this money from their donors is appalling in a way.

They don’t want to fund something a little more impactful?

 

[billybud]

Well. At least it isn’t government taxes supporting the athletic department. But, that $150 million came from a room of billionaires. Pocket money for them.

 

[Chin Diesel]

The fact smu has this money from their donors is appalling in a way.

They don’t want to fund something a little more impactful?

And you know they don't?

 

[August_West]

The fact smu has this money from their donors is appalling in a way.

They don’t want to fund something a little more impactful?

That just sounds like sour grapes.

 

[CL82]

With all due respect if I won power ball or whatever UConn athletics would be top 5 on my priority list lol

Same.

 

[Kolumbo]

Remember, Athletics are the front porch of the university. Plus SMU had a long road back from the death penalty (oh the irony of it all). SMU joining and competing with the likes of FSU, Clemson, Miami, UNC, Duke and now Stanford can go a long way to lifting SMU in both athletics and academics. SMU was one of the potential "Magnolia Conference" members. I'm not saying these boosters care about academics but there will certainly be a benefit on that side. Money well spent.

The ACC can add Tulane and Rice and after it loses the big public football programs, it may just have its "Southern Ivies"

SMU Turned Eric Dickerson’s Gold Trans Am Into a Recruiting Image

Long a symbol of SMU football’s 1980s rule-breaking, the flashy car has become an edgy marketing strategy, and Dickerson loves it.

www.texasmonthly.com

 

[Kolumbo]

Gotta say, it's not bad

 

[Chuck]

And you know they don't?

I agree that you have no idea who is giving and to whom else they are giving to. But my daughter has a friend going to SMU in fall. I've always heard what a rich school SMU is so I was a bit surprised that the school's endowment per student is adequate, but not spectacular. The endowment per student is only ahead of Miami and Syracuse amongst the ACC private schools. I guess if you can make a few calls and come up with $159mm for a pet project the endowment isn't as important though.