UMass and Other MAC Football & Athletic Budgets vs. the Zips

[ClevelandZip]

15 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

I dated a girl from Canton for a while. She went to UA. She said being from Canton she always considered Akron a much bigger (kind of scary) city.  I forget how she put it, but Akron made her nervous at first... till she got used to it. Then she loved it. She still works & lives in Akron today.  I think a lot of ppl from south of town feel that way.  However, the double-whammy of COVID and the 3-year-long-marathon of Main Street demolition derby/reconstruction took a toll on downtown. More than a handful of restaurants/bars closed.  If we can get Main Street back to where it was pre-covid there's much more to do around UA & downtown than there is in KSUcks or anywhere south of town till you get to OU.

Agreed, downtown Akron is kind of depressing these days. Me and my friends actually used to do almost all our drinking down there rather than the Exchange Street bars. Would love to see it come back to life!

[Reslife4Life]

25 minutes ago, ClevelandZip said:

Agreed, downtown Akron is kind of depressing these days. Me and my friends actually used to do almost all our drinking down there rather than the Exchange Street bars. Would love to see it come back to life!

It’s getting better than the last couple years with the completion of a few new apartment buildings. One thing that I can’t stand is that right across from canal park there are 2 parking lots that are completely blocked off and haven’t been used in 2 years. Using it for parking is the bare minimum, build something on it

[Blue & Gold]

5 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said:

It’s getting better than the last couple years with the completion of a few new apartment buildings. One thing that I can’t stand is that right across from canal park there are 2 parking lots that are completely blocked off and haven’t been used in 2 years. Using it for parking is the bare minimum, build something on it

That’s where they’d like to build the arena so those lots are quasi land banked.

Edited March 14 by Blue & Gold

[kreed5120]

On 3/13/2024 at 8:52 AM, UA1996MAENG said:

I heard the same thing. My son lives in the Honors Complex.  That's the paradox about UA - the dormatory space is filled but enrollment is down.  

That's because there was a shortage of dorms before. The enrollment decline probably just brought it back to equilibrium.

[LZIp]

On 3/12/2024 at 2:44 AM, ZippyRulz said:

Those numbers don't seem to include facilities financing. They really should.

 

Should it though? Obviously built with football in mind, but I’d bet the fieldhouse and stadium are used for activities besides football more than football uses them.

 

regardless- are the other schools including facility fees in their budget? Would think the treatment is generally the same across the board.

[kreed5120]

12 hours ago, LZIp said:

Should it though? Obviously built with football in mind, but I’d bet the fieldhouse and stadium are used for activities besides football more than football uses them.

 

regardless- are the other schools including facility fees in their budget? Would think the treatment is generally the same across the board.

It should certainly be included as its a cost of doing business. I believe it's included as part of the overall athletic budget, but just isn't hitting football directly. It just gets lumped under facilities as a whole for athletics.

 

If I remember correctly, Infocision is being financed at a cost of ~4.5 million/yr. $4 million of that is being charged to the athletic department and $500k is being charged to the general fund to compensate for those other miscellaneous uses you mention. 

Edited March 15 by kreed5120

[UA1996MAENG]

21 hours ago, ClevelandZip said:

Agreed, downtown Akron is kind of depressing these days. Me and my friends actually used to do almost all our drinking down there rather than the Exchange Street bars. Would love to see it come back to life!

I was a graduate student at UA from 1993 to 1996.  Compared to what we had in those days in regard to bars and restaurants, downtown Akron is a gem today.  

[GP1]

3 hours ago, UA1996MAENG said:

I was a graduate student at UA from 1993 to 1996.  Compared to what we had in those days in regard to bars and restaurants, downtown Akron is a gem today.  

I agree. The City of Akron is much better now than when I lived there 16 years ago. It's good to live in a city at some point in your life even if it's only for 4 years. 

[zipsrowdy88]

On 3/13/2024 at 8:52 AM, UA1996MAENG said:

I heard the same thing. My son lives in the Honors Complex.  That's the paradox about UA - the dormatory space is filled but enrollment is down.  

Dr. Miller mentioned in an alumni event recently how there are WAY more students who want to live on campus and not commute. Great news overall?

[zipsrowdy88]

A lot of complaining in this chat comparing to haydays of Akron. I graduated in 23’ and loved all four years. Akron isn’t Harvard, OSU, hell even OU, but its the charm of going to Akron and loving the Akron experiences that make it special.

 

The city is growing and recovering from COVID, a young mayor that seems to care, and a president that has gotten us back to a stable situation. 

 

We are seeing positive changes!

[UA1996MAENG]

21 hours ago, zipsrowdy88 said:

Dr. Miller mentioned in an alumni event recently how there are WAY more students who want to live on campus and not commute. Great news overall?

I think it's certainly good that the campus has something desireable to offer in terms of housing. However, it's important to increase overall enrollment.  We have a campus made for a population of 25 - 30k.  UA might not ever get back to that, but certianly getting back to 18-20 would be a benefical across the board.

[AkronAlumnus]

1 hour ago, UA1996MAENG said:

I think it's certainly good that the campus has something desireable to offer in terms of housing. However, it's important to increase overall enrollment.  We have a campus made for a population of 25 - 30k.  UA might not ever get back to that, but certianly getting back to 18-20 would be a benefical across the board.

I couldn't agree more but it seems like wishful thinking bc there's how many colleges/universities within 50 miles of Akron (rhetorically) - the market is way too saturated in NEO. Plus college isn't for everyone and some people are starting to realize just how lucrative the trades can be.

[UA1996MAENG]

22 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

I couldn't agree more but it seems like wishful thinking bc there's how many colleges/universities within 50 miles of Akron (rhetorically) - the market is way too saturated in NEO. Plus college isn't for everyone and some people are starting to realize just how lucrative the trades can be.

Yes, the college landscape has changed, and NEO indeed has a high concentration of colleges and universities, both public and private. Still, UA has a lot to offer and must find a way to bring in more students. I wish I had the answer.

[ZipCat]

Almost makes you wonder if UA should have just cut the Football program when it had a chance. Decaying Football Stadium seemed like the opportune time to do so. 🫣

 

I wasn't around for those conversations (obviously), I do remember my first semester on Campus watching them build the Football Stadium though

[ZipCat]

6 hours ago, UA1996MAENG said:

 Still, UA has a lot to offer and must find a way to bring in more students. I wish I had the answer.

 

I feel like it starts with having administration that give-a-damn about the University and don't just see it as a resume-building opportunity. The pendulum needs to swing back in the opposite direction that leached over from the private sector where you job-hop from place to place every couple of years, only focusing on building the resume...as opposed to long-term investment in something because you believe it matters. We had a few, all too few, of those kinds of people when I was on campus and they've all since been driven away.

[UA1996MAENG]

13 hours ago, ZipCat said:

 

I feel like it starts with having administration that give-a-damn about the University and don't just see it as a resume-building opportunity. The pendulum needs to swing back in the opposite direction that leached over from the private sector where you job-hop from place to place every couple of years, only focusing on building the resume...as opposed to long-term investment in something because you believe it matters. We had a few, all too few, of those kinds of people when I was on campus and they've all since been driven away.

My experience as a UA student was long ago and very good. My expereince as a parent of a current UA freshamn has been very postive.  Everyone with whom I have had contact has been great (admissions, Office of Academic Retention Services, Williams Honors College, The College of Engineering, etc.), and my son is having a great expereince.  So my current sense is that there are a lot of people on campus who care a lot about UA. I don't doubt there are problems, as there are on many campuses, but I feel like the current leadership is overall very good.

[Blue & Gold]

1 hour ago, UA1996MAENG said:

My experience as a UA student was long ago and very good. My expereince as a parent of a current UA freshamn has been very postive.  Everyone with whom I have had contact has been great (admissions, Office of Academic Retention Services, Williams Honors College, The College of Engineering, etc.), and my son is having a great expereince.  So my current sense is that there are a lot of people on campus who care a lot about UA. I don't doubt there are problems, as there are on many campuses, but I feel like the current leadership is overall very good.

We hit a home run in Gary Miller.  He's very humble and approachable. The kids seem to love him.  If the president sets the tone/culture we're in good hands now and moving forward.

[GP1]

14 hours ago, ZipCat said:

Almost makes you wonder if UA should have just cut the Football program when it had a chance. 

When was that chance?  At the time the stadium was built, the football program was relatively successful and looked to have turned a corner after a mac championship.

[GP1]

10 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

We hit a home run in Gary Miller.  He's very humble and approachable. The kids seem to love him.  If the president sets the tone/culture we're in good hands now and moving forward.

My personal experiences with him have been very positive. Has he made mistakes? Yes, but they aren't front page disasters as in the past. His mistakes are very low key to the point the local media cannot even blow them out of proportion. 

 

I see a President who is using social media to stay in contact with students,  alumni and the general NE Ohio community. I see him engaged with alumni at mixers around the country. I see the dorms are full. I believe athletics as a whole are progressing nicely. I'd hire a new Akron graduate if I needed someone. I believe the faculty is strong. It all points in the right direction. 

[ZipCat]

17 minutes ago, GP1 said:

When was that chance?  At the time the stadium was built, the football program was relatively successful and looked to have turned a corner after a mac championship.

 

I'm saying that was the chance. There wasn't anybody in the room who thought, maybe we should stop chasing the jones'. Like I know hindsight is 20/20...but that would have been the time to cut the program. While everyone else was doubling down on the investment that was the time to go "maybe WE won't".

 

Like UA invested heavily in new Lab Space for Biology at around the same time they invested heavily in the football program. A lot of the Lab Space and equipment ended up being liquidated with many programs during the Scarborough years, yet the football program still exists.

 

I mean as a Freshman on campus I thought it was a dumb idea to be investing millions in Akron Football...as I watched them building the stadium.

[GP1]

4 hours ago, ZipCat said:

 

I'm saying that was the chance. There wasn't anybody in the room who thought, maybe we should stop chasing the jones'. Like I know hindsight is 20/20...but that would have been the time to cut the program. While everyone else was doubling down on the investment that was the time to go "maybe WE won't".

 

Like UA invested heavily in new Lab Space for Biology at around the same time they invested heavily in the football program. A lot of the Lab Space and equipment ended up being liquidated with many programs during the Scarborough years, yet the football program still exists.

 

I mean as a Freshman on campus I thought it was a dumb idea to be investing millions in Akron Football...as I watched them building the stadium.

Alabama should have saved all the money they have spent on football by cutting their football program after their first national championship in 1925. 

Edited March 21 by GP1

[ZippyRulz]

On 3/19/2024 at 1:56 PM, zipsrowdy88 said:

A lot of complaining in this chat comparing to haydays of Akron. I graduated in 23’ and loved all four years. Akron isn’t Harvard, OSU, hell even OU, but its the charm of going to Akron and loving the Akron experiences that make it special.

 

The city is growing and recovering from COVID, a young mayor that seems to care, and a president that has gotten us back to a stable situation. 

 

We are seeing positive changes!

 

For a lot of us, it was about the convenience and cost effectiveness of attending college in our home area, often while working on the side. For purposes of getting a starting job in an in-demand field like engineering/ IT, nursing, accounting, etc. it's as good as any of the others. If you want to work on Wall Street, get into  an elite grad program, or climb to the top in business or government then the Harvard or OSU brands will help.

 

 

Edited March 24 by ZippyRulz

[GP1]

13 hours ago, ZippyRulz said:

If you want to work on Wall Street, get into  an elite grad program, or climb to the top in business or government then the Harvard or OSU brands will help.

Harvard, yes. OSU, no. 

 

There is a great book about the Harvard Business School called The Golden Passport. It goes through the decades of HBS. The central question centers around whether or not HBS is helpful or harmful to the country. Looking at facts, it's been a disaster for the county. 

[kreed5120]

On 3/20/2024 at 10:59 AM, UA1996MAENG said:

I think it's certainly good that the campus has something desireable to offer in terms of housing. However, it's important to increase overall enrollment.  We have a campus made for a population of 25 - 30k.  UA might not ever get back to that, but certianly getting back to 18-20 would be a benefical across the board.

Honestly, I think the University should consider right sizing itself to reduce overhead and eliminate debt. It probably won't happen because they're in the process of a major renovation, but selling Polsky would have made the most sense. I know it's used for some classes currently, but with enrollment down they could easily move those back to campus. 

 

They could also try selling Quaker Square, but that might be harder to find a buyer for.

[UA1996MAENG]

11 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

Honestly, I think the University should consider right sizing itself to reduce overhead and eliminate debt. It probably won't happen because they're in the process of a major renovation, but selling Polsky would have made the most sense. I know it's used for some classes currently, but with enrollment down they could easily move those back to campus. 

 

They could also try selling Quaker Square, but that might be harder to find a buyer for.

I agree that the Polsky building and Quaker Square should be sold.  However, the problem with that type of sale is how difficult it is to unload a building or complex of that type in a small city. As my dad would have said, "Who the hell would want it? Imagine the heating bills!" I'm suprised that the Akron Public Schools could not utilize it for one of its high schools. However, APS is already looking to end its lease on the Central Hower HS building - yet another large propertyy that UA simply does not need.