WSU athletics has a plan to balance the budget

After running a budget deficit year after year and accumulating a significant amount of debt, the WSU Athletics Department is taking steps to right its fiscal wrongs. The department has developed a plan that projects a balanced budget by 2023.

The plan requires the approval of the WSU Board of Regents, who will discuss it at their Woodinville meeting June 7-8. This year, athletics is projected to spend $9.1 million more than they generate in revenue, pushing the department’s cumulative debt to $68 million.

To get into the black WSU is focusing on growing various revenue streams. The plan, which you can find here, expects funds generated from ticket sales, student fees, contributions and media rights to increase significantly between now and 2023.

WSU did note in its press release that ticket revenue is in part limited by the size of Martin Stadium. Perhaps they could again look into expanding alcohol sales at football games to make gamedays more profitable.

Contributions have steadily been on the rise since 2015 and the new budget expects that pattern to hold. Perhaps most surprising is how students fees are projected to bring in twice as much money in 2023 as they did in 2018. An increase would have to be approved by students, which they have done for the Chinook Student Center and Office of Student Media in recent elections.

On the cost side of the equation, WSU projects steady growth to coach and administrator compensation along with athletic aid. Facilities expenditures are expected to remain steady at $9.2 million annually until 2023.

If all goes as planned, the athletics department will run a $200,000 surplus five years from now, and then they can begin to repay their debt.

While the numbers do seem bad, it’s important to note that WSU’s spending doesn’t seem irresponsible in the national context. In fact, no other power five athletic department spent less money in 2016 than Wazzu.

The job won’t be an easy one for Athletic Director Pat Chun, but at least he can focus on ways to bring more money in rather than slashing the budget.

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Athletics:

WSU devises plan to manage projected $85.1 million athletics budget deficit and reach solvency by 2023 | The Seattle Times
The Cougars athletic administration has devised a budget management plan contingent on increased revenue and record donations to the Cougar Athletic Fund, will be presented to the WSU Board of Regents at a retreat at the Willows Lodge in Woodinville from June 7-8.

John Blanchette: Washington State’s plan for balanced athletics budget uses mental gymnastics | The Spokesman-Review
In the world of NCAA sports, Washington State is to fiscal gymnastics what Alabama is to football. If only they handed out national championships for that sort of thing.

Basketball:

Robert Franks came to decision to return to Washington State ‘the night before’ withdrawal deadline | The Spokesman-Review
Franks decided his defense still needed some more work – his rebounding, too – and the opportunity to move from a fringe second-round pick to a bona fide first-rounder was one he felt was too good to pass up.

Baseball:

Clanton, Sunitsch Earn All-Pac-12 Accolades - Washington State University
Washington State designated hitter Blake Clanton and pitcher Scotty Sunitsch were each named All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention as voted on by the league's coach, the conference office announced Thursday.