June 19, 2009
Bowling Green Starts Fund-Raising Feasibility Studies
CHN Staff Report
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Bowling Green State University has approved a feasibility study, intended to gauge interest and capacity for a fund-raising campaign that would help keep the hockey program viable.
BGSU President Carol Cartwright said the school has hired Bentz Whaley Flessner, a national fund-raising consulting firm, to assess the potential for funding. The decision is based on the preliminary work of the two groups that were formed in March to study Intercollegiate Athletics and the BGSU Ice Arena, respectively.
“These are two important processes, and I appreciate the time and efforts of all involved,” said Cartwright. “We believe the information generated will help create solutions that can help shape the future of BGSU and the community.
“A long-term renovation of the Ice Arena will require broad support. Similarly, sustaining varsity hockey means creating a strong foundation for the program to have the opportunity to succeed. The goal is ambitious, but in order to fix the arena and adequately fund hockey, we are proceeding with the next step to professionally evaluate the interest in a fund-raising campaign for the building and a potential scholarship endowment.”
Bentz Whaley Flessner began work this week, conducting interviews with key alumni, community members and former players. The interviews are expected to help BGSU target a realistic goal for potential fund-raising.
“Preliminary discussions from the two working groups helped to direct this next step,” Cartwright said. “Now we need to measure the levels of support. If the feasibility study demonstrates support for a renovation and endowment campaign, we will move forward.”
In the past, Bowling Green hockey alumni have expressed willingness to contribute, if they knew the funds would be used widely, and towards the long-term viability of the program.
Bowling Green's athletic department is under a financial crunch, and there was talk earlier this year that the hockey program may need to be disbanded in order to make up the shortfall. Cuts were made across the board in order to save the program temporarily, but a longer-term solution is being sought.
Miami is another Ohio state institution that had faced similar problems in the past. It eventually righted the ship by raising funds, including endowing the athletic scholarships. Miami has so far endowed half of the 18 annual scholarships allowed under NCAA rules.
“Look no farther than Miami University,” BG athletic director Greg Christopher said. “Through a similar plan, their former players, alumni and supporters stepped forward and endowed the team’s scholarships. It’s a vital step that frees resources to help make the operating budget more competitive.”
Christopher said that the endowment idea is most likely the most feasible long-term solution.
The Bowling Green study will take place in the coming weeks, while the work from the Ice Arena and Intercollegiate Athletics groups is finalized. The University expects to announce outcomes and ultimate direction in August.
While the fund-raising feasibility study is conducted, some of the initial recommendations from the Ice Arena and Intercollegiate Athletics working groups will be implemented.
The Ice Arena working group was overseen by Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Whipple, and chaired by industry veteran and Jack Vivian, the first head coach in Bowling Green history.
Recommendations from the Ice Arena working group that will be acted on immediately include:
* Operational changes to tighten turnaround times and improve ice usage.
* Rate structures that more adequately reflect current markets.
* An evaluation of programming, with a focus on intramural, educational and recreational ice activities.
Another recommendation from the committee includes planning for a renovation, with the existing footprint of the building remaining the same. Top priorities are infrastructure repairs, locker room improvements, fan amenities and changing the curling ice to multipurpose ice. Action on this recommendation will follow the feasibility study.
“The Ice Arena is an important part of our campus and community,” said Whipple. “The business model must be further developed and focused. The recommendations from the working group are important first steps.”
According to Whipple, the renovation of the arena is critical for its long-term sustainability; he noted that some work is already under way. “We have invested more than $275,000 this summer to address an immediate issue with compressors,” Whipple said. “As we look toward a fund-raising campaign, there are roles for everyone—from the University, the community and alumni.”
The Intercollegiate Athletics working group, led by Director of Athletics Greg Christopher, studied benchmark and industry information provided by NACDA Consulting, along with the directional options that had been presented to the University’s leadership in early March.
As a starting point for the two working groups, Dr. Cartwright provided a list of “non-negotiables” tied to the future of Intercollegiate Athletics. Those included:
* An institutional commitment to remaining within the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division 1-A), and the requirements that come with it.
* BGSU will remain in the Mid-American Conference.
* A commitment to student-athlete success in the classroom.
* An expectation of competitiveness from intercollegiate athletics teams.
“Intercollegiate Athletics plays an important role at Bowling Green State University on many levels -- some that aren’t easily defined, such as institutional pride and positioning, and others that are more measurable, like exposure and engagement,” Cartwright said. “While athletics adds a great deal to our campus, there are some inherent realities with our funding model and enrollment.”
Cartwright also expressed support for the group’s recommendation that the University athletics director become a part of the president’s Cabinet.
“This is essentially how we’ve operated since I’ve been here,” Cartwright said. “We will formalize that relationship for the University. Greg Christopher will continue to work closely with Ed Whipple -- particularly on day-to-day operations.”
Cartwright added that the NCAA’s Knight Commission -- of which she is a member -- speaks to presidential accountability for Intercollegiate Athletics. “The new Cabinet post illustrates a clear commitment to the visibility and important role that athletics plays for BGSU,” she said.
Falcon FrenzyJun 22 2009, 11:40 pm
The time is now. Unfortunately, too many of the alumni simply reminisce about BG hockey during their tenure at the university. Hockey is Bowling Green's legacy; not football, basketball, or any other D-1 sport. Buy tickets, attend home games, plan a hockey/football weekend, etc. Weekly information is posted on the Bowling Green Hockey group on LInkedIn, which includes Jack Vivian as a member and supporter. There is no reason that BG cannot reach the winning tradition they once exhibited.
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