tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327069433246447816.post7392637138234355266..comments2024-03-21T17:47:00.116-04:00Comments on Thank You Terry: Three Stars: September 10-16Kyle Rossihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03988727251887693489noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327069433246447816.post-32909611442419223882012-09-19T10:53:49.025-04:002012-09-19T10:53:49.025-04:00For whatever bad he did, perhaps Curley was wise t...For whatever bad he did, perhaps Curley was wise to hold out for a big "anchor" donor for hockey for the reasons you state. So far, I can't complain with how the Pegulas have generally behaved. As far as I know, they aren't calling Guy at home and suggesting line combinations or anything like that.<br /><br /><br />Other projects have been put on hold too. Jeffrey Field needs proper locker rooms. It always has. There are plans to build them, but I guess they're still waiting for somebody to pay for it. Likewise, they built the new lacrosse field because the rink destroyed the old one, but I think the hope is that more money will come in to finish it off. Right now it's a great field but the seating around it isn't ideal. A new pool can't really be put together in that kind of piecemeal fashion.<br /><br /><br /><br />The main reason football's attendance is down is the STEP program and the high cost of those seats on the east and west side. It really has nothing to do with the scandal or even much to do with the results on the field, although I'm sure the national media portrays it that way. <br /><br />Joyner said they will think about adjusting the STEP program. Good idea. For seats on the east or west side, it's $400 or $600 per seat per year on top of the already steep ticket price. It doesn't matter how good PSU football is or who they're playing, that is more than most people can justify spending on a sporting event these days. Meanwhile, there's more than enough demand for the endzone tickets where the donation required is $100 per year per seat. <br /><br />PSU is apparently coming out ahead financially with STEP, but it doesn't help anyone to have empty seats.Reednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327069433246447816.post-73015604757124269782012-09-19T02:32:22.162-04:002012-09-19T02:32:22.162-04:00Good takes as always. Reading the post again, I pr...Good takes as always. Reading the post again, I probably do come off as upset about the cancellation of the facility upgrades, which was not really my intent. To use an expression that I can't stand, it is what it is. Penn State would be foolish to take on anything of that scope that isn't an absolute necessity right now. <br /><br />So much of this stuff is an unknown. Football's attendance is still fairly strong, but what happens after four years of a lot of losing (in the event it plays out that way, hopefully it doesn't)? More specifically, what happens in four years when the NCAA sanctions are up, the non-revenue budgets are back in play, and Sugar Daddy Football isn't quite as robust as it used to be? I hope it doesn't come down to cutting sports, but offering the number PSU does is a luxury, and if you're a drain on the system (factoring in intangibles as well), there should probably be at least a little bit of scrutiny.<br /><br />I can't say much without risking pissing off an important source of mine, but believe me when I say that everything was on the line with hockey in December. As new varsity programs, they're obviously an easy target, and there were options explored with a certain large donation the university received a couple years ago. Like I said in the post, I'm not a huge fan of owing everything to one guy who effectively "owns" the program just as he does the Sabres, but it was definitely beneficial to have him around as the inevitable belt tightening takes place. If swimming and tennis are lucky, they'll eventually have a backer that carries that much weight as well. But until they do...Kyle Rossihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03988727251887693489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327069433246447816.post-32225772416396224472012-09-18T12:51:55.797-04:002012-09-18T12:51:55.797-04:00I've seen a lot of comments from PSU swimming ...I've seen a lot of comments from PSU swimming people in particular who seem to think the university "owes" them a new pool or that it's obviously something that they must do to keep up in the BigTen, as if winning the BigTen swimming title ought to be a priority of the university. <br /><br />Sorry, with all do respect to swimmers and tennis players who work hard and all of that - Penn State is not morally obligated to sponsor every sport, let alone try to win championships in every sport. Only Ohio State, Stanford, Harvard, the service academies and a few others offer as many sports as PSU does. It's a huge burden to take on and it's not cheap and in these days of state budget cuts, it really comes down to private money to keep these all going. (The NCAA sanctions just make it harder, of course, but then again, I can't get too upset about money going to fight child abuse rather than a new pool and tennis courts.) <br /><br />Swimming and tennis are fine sports for the people who participate in them and the handful of fans that like to watch, but they don't really have much potential to drive revenue, so they cannot "pay their own way." And they don't do much to enhance PSU's overall image or "brand" or any of those intangibles - not because the athletes aren't great kids, it's just that college swimming and college tennis just don't seem to be getting any traction with TV, etc, so the expenses can't be justified as a form of marketing.<br /><br />On the plus side, the community can use the tennis and swimming facilities and better facilities would draw high school championships and so forth. That's great, but those users are probably not going to provide enough revenue to pay for all of the upgrades the D1 teams want. For most youth and recreational swimmers and tennis players, the pool at the Y and the courts provided by the P&R department are good enough for what they're able to pay.<br /><br />So one way or another, if these teams want a new pool or tennis building, they need to find their Terry Pegula. Or a series of Terry Pegulas. Some money can come from student fees and user fees but, a big chunk of the money is almost certainly going to have to come from people who want to give PSU tennis and swimming facilities just because they're passionate about those sports. That's fine. There are worse things to spend one's excess wealth on. I certainly hope that happens and believe it will, sooner or later. <br /><br />But those people, if they're out there, need to step forward. If they don't, PSU will either have to drop those sports or just accept that it's at a facilities disadvantage and will never be able to outrecruit Michigan or Northwestern or whomever in those sports.Reednoreply@blogger.com