Oklahoma softball generated $600k more than both bball teams combined in...
ticket revenue in 2024.
Link:
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28 Replies
2
2hhoop3
1y
at least for me, to get a little deeper into those numbers. What were the ticket sales prior to the move to Love field? How much did they put into new revenue generating amenities at Love? What were the comparative attendance numbers? The program still lost nearly $3MM for the year and the comparisons to the basketball programs begs the question of how much those two programs lost.
Clearly, football must be a cash cow supporting the sizeable losses in other programs. It will be interesting to see how all schools, not just OU, absorb the $20.5MM hit likely coming from the pending House settlement. More and more each day as numbers come out the feeling increases that at many places college athletics is a house of cards teetering on the brink of either financial collapse or a massive reorganization.
(In response to this post by Nick Brown)
S
saret
1y
but you know none of the data you mention is available, nor will it be.
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
2
2hhoop3
1y
Appreciate Nick linking the article and had/have no expectations of additional details. IMO, things are really going to tighten up going forward financially for everybody and funding perennial losing operations and financial mistakes will take on an entirely different sense of urgency. They enjoyed an essentially carefree ride when money was rolling in and they were the beneficiaries of an artificially deflated cost of doing business model.
(In response to this post by saret)
1y
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
1y
"OU softball ticket sales were way up
"With the move to Love’s Field, the increase wasn’t a big surprise but OU softball ticket sales were more than $2.6 million.
"That is nearly $600,000 more than men’s basketball and still more than men’s and women’s basketball combined.
"Softball ticket sales made up more than 80% of ticket sales among women’s sports."
THAT'S JUST TICKETS SALES, FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!
(In response to this post by Nick Brown)
1y
I think it was a little over 2,000 for the regionals with the bleachers. Think we should just invest in those and make them “permanent”
** Edited by hokiepro at 2/19/2025, 1:34:19 PM
(In response to this post by VintonHokies)
1y
That said…we barely get full stands when it’s free. When we’re really good we fill it up and can fill LF line bleachers. But we really need upgraded seating and fencing/concourse if we’re going to do all that and charge
(In response to this post by VTChip)
1y
... and entrance gate, etc., etc.?
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
1y
2) we don’t have much in the way of amenities that attracts people to the stadium itself (Love’s family of the truck stop fame poured $$ into that facility) aside from a darn good softball team
3) our weather isn’t great for the softball calendar
I think we should figure out a way to make some $$$ off the gate yes…and IMO we should do so while we’ve got a top 20 program…but we sorely need a new or renovated stadium to attract more people and make it worthwhile
Honestly we just seem to have a dedicated chunk of softball fans who are funding this program to be competitive enough to be in the top 16-32 every year. We don’t appear to have either 1) an AD who cares about raising funds for softball or 2) a very wealthy alum who can fund something like a state of the art stadium or renovation
(In response to this post by Atlee Hokie)
1y
but they would work. Just need those in the leadership positions to lead.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
Given the fact that we won’t hire a dedicated headcount solely responsible
for the Hokie Club, and overall fundraising, and we haven’t had a publicly dedicated emphasis on growing the Hokie Club donor base, depth/breadth since what, the “Drive for 25,” it seems to me we have an AD who doesn’t give a 💩 about fundraising at all.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
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saret
1y
excuses (not reasons, excuses) why we don't charge for SB. Even with a drop in attendance if we started charging (and I question if attendance would drop), the revenue from ticket sales would be 100% more than we're making now. Whit's just full of it, and his minion (Helms and Wurthman) are no better.
** Edited by saret at 2/19/2025, 11:16:29 AM
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
1y
See above
I don’t think “excuses” are the same as “reasons”
I agree the AD is making excuses but there are some reasons that are at play here too. Both can be true
(In response to this post by saret)
1y
"just do it" and VT doesn't seem to have that.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
2
2hhoop3
1y
at present, to adequately evaluate the responses as reason or excuse? Unless I have missed more detailed explanations the disclosures so far amount to little more than "because we said so" or "trust us".
Now I will concede it is their choice how they choose to communicate or not communicate. However, I would also contend, that people doing the heavy lifting, like Chip, to support the program have earned the right to a more detailed explanation of the rationale. That leads to one more question, why the hesitancy to be more open and transparent? Sadly, that is a question that does not just pertain to the softball ticketing decision. It is also possibly an impediment to past, present and future fundraising because donors want to know what the vision is and how their donations will be used.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
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saret
1y
is just a microcosmic issue which leads to my personal distrust of the AthDept leadership. And, as you well point out, the lack of/poor communication is a big contributing factor. This whole lack of communication has major ramifications, imho, beyond just softball. Again, a great post!
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
1y
don't give reasons or excuses (which are one and the same)
(In response to this post by saret)
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saret
1y
I examine the credibility of the source. That being said, I hope you're doing well.
(In response to this post by hokiepro)
1y
... it cost more to set up for ticket sales than SB can generate during ticket sakes.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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saret
1y
truth.
(In response to this post by Atlee Hokie)
T
TheFacts
1y
Also those ticket sales are roughly 13x what Hokies baseball does.
(In response to this post by Atlee Hokie)
1y
"you can't believe everything you read on the internet"
The former says you can't sell tickets, the latter doesn't care either way.
(In response to this post by gelded turkey)