ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT FINISHES IN THE BLACK


by Anne Dolan

A big jump in revenues received from the Big Eight Conference 
and better-than-projected ticket sales for football and men's 
basketball helped the athletic department finish FY95 nearly 
$750,000 in the black. Athletic director Gene Smith said the 
unanticipated revenues will be used to meet FY96 program 
operating costs and fund several deferred maintenance 
projects at Cyclone Stadium/Jack Trice Field, improvements at 
the Southwest Athletic Complex and a feasibility study on 
football practice fields.

Iowa State received $2.2 million from the Big Eight 
Conference last year, about 50 percent more than was 
budgeted. The increase primarily is because two conference 
schools (rather than the anticipated one) played in football 
bowl games last fall and more conference games were 
televised. Football season ticket sales exceeded the budgeted 
figure by more than $200,000 and men's basketball ticket 
sales generated $224,000 more than expected. In addition, the 
department's new corporate sponsorship program brought in 
more than $105,000.

 However, the actual revenue picture is less than these 
numbers might indicate due to:

--$181,000 budgeted for a reserve fund created in the 
department's five-year plan

--$225,000 in 1995 single-game football ticket sales budgeted 
for this year but sold before July 1

--$100,000 in program operating expenses budgeted for FY95, 
but due to timing of purchases, not used until after July 1

--$150,000 was restored in across-the-board to FY96 sports 
program budgets 

"We said all along that our fiscal 1995 budget was 
conservative," Smith said. "Big Eight and NCAA revenue 
payouts were at record levels, and I believe our marketing 
programs are starting to pay off for us."

But he cautioned that the department's budget, which ran 
deficits the previous two years, is not out of the woods yet.

"We have a $2 million deferred maintenance problem. But this 
budget allows us to address urgent deferred maintenance needs 
and give something back to our programs," Smith said.

Without this income and the additional $250,000 committed by 
the student body for the current fiscal year, Iowa State 
would not be able to maintain a broad-based athletic program 
that could compete against Big 12 Conference schools, Smith 
said. Last spring, the student government approved increases 
in student fees allocated to intercollegiate athletics to 
help maintain and support the broad roster of sports 
offerings. ISU has 20 intercollegiate athletic teams.

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contact:  Anne Dolan, Internal Communications, (515) 294-7065
updated:  9-1-95