This is sad news. Fingers crossed our AD can hold it together.
Anyone else heard about this?
From the App State Chancellor weekly update that came out today.
We are working each day to manage the significant ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its financial impact on our campus has hit our receipt-supported areas the hardest. Athletics in particular, has faced a significant budget shortfall, which is projected to be at least $5 million as a result of this pandemic. This week we took an extremely difficult step, informing Athletics staff of mandatory furloughs that will impact every full-time employee of the department, a total of 106 employees. By implementing furloughs, it is our goal to protect as many jobs as possible as we navigate the financial consequences of this pandemic. The furlough plan will reduce the hours worked by most Athletics employees over a 90-day period. A smaller number of employees will be on continuous furloughs, but for shorter periods of time. All employees will retain health insurance and other employee benefits. Athletics has implemented operating budget cuts, sport reductions and changes to scheduling and travel strategies. We are hopeful this will be the last step we need to take to address their significant financial challenges.
On one side this makes me laugh. They have a crappy market and are a one trick pony with football. This climate will help separate those with the capability to survive and move up in the G5 level and above. With that said, this could still impact us and I hate seeing athletes and staff impacted at a school where I had friends graduate and attend.
“This week we took an extremely difficult step, informing Athletics staff of mandatory furloughs that will impact every full-time employee of the department, a total of 106 employees.”
Yikes, might be some tough decisions for them going forward if they see reduced capacity crowds for this football season. I would imagine the football gate is extremely important to them at this point.
The thing that should worry App fans…is the largest money making sport is the sport they are at their all time best as of right now. If they are at their zenith in the highest revenue sport they have…and they are still struggling with $$…that’s not good.
We all know that the current financial landscape of AMATEUR college sports is ridiculous, but as long as the big boys can weather this situation the landscape will not change.
I talked to some folks in the AD last week they are confident that the season will happen. Not all that confident about crowds.
I mean that isnt good for anyone, but have to imagine it really hurts the appys they depend on that gate more than we do since well our gate has been weak anyway.
Appy may be in even more trouble than it appeared. Here are some numbers.
“The $5-million puzzle continues for Appalachian State athletics.”
“In an effort to trim its yearly budget of around $25 million by roughly 20% to combat COVID-19 losses, App State first cut three men’s sports: indoor track and field, soccer and tennis.”
In furloughing of the Athletic Dept, “the hope is that it will save the athletics department approximately $535,000, according to App State chief communications office Megan Hayes.”
So they need to save $5 million, and it appears they have gotten to just over $1.5 million. If football doesn’t happen, or stadiums can only be 50% full, where does this leave them as this is their only revenue sport.
