Athletics works to cover deficit caused by COVID-19

In response to the vast complications of the coronavirus pandemic, the MSU Athletics Department is seeking to overcome a $3 million deficit. Without the aid of ticket sales, they have turned to fundraising to fill the gap.

Most of the revenue generated by live sports events goes right back into supporting the student athletes of MSU by covering the cost of scholarships, nutritional assistance and medical expenses. In addition to reducing revenue, COVID-19 means an increase in medical expenses, stressing the department even further.

To compensate, Bobcat Athletics, in partnership with the MSU Alumni Foundation, launched the Plant the Flag fundraising campaign to continue supporting athletes. According to associate athletic director Bethany Cordell, the department wants to, “emerge from [the pandemic] stronger and better than ever, and with a significant competitive advantage.”

The fundraising campaign includes a plethora of events to raise money, like the third annual Blue and Gold Gala—which has moved to an online platform this year—a mail-in campaign, unique license plates and MSU Giving Day. The funds raised are intended to prevent any setbacks in the preparation of teams and athletes for their next game, whenever that may be.

Even without a competitive fall season, the MSU football team is continuing to train for its first opportunity to play again. Practices look much different this year, as masks are mandatory and the team trains in smaller groups, according to Ty Okada an MSU junior on the football team.

“I love football. I just want to be able to play the game,” said Okada, a safety for MSU’s football team and an athletic scholarship recipient. “Whether that means modifying how many people we can have in the stands, whatever we need to do to quarantine, so be it.”

The fall 2020 semester is showing promise for the possibility of sports events. On Thursday, Sept. 17, the NCAA announced that universities could allow a fall basketball season starting Nov. 25—a hopeful sign that football may achieve a spring season in 2021.

Tickets will be available—in reduced capacity—for basketball events and most likely other spring sports, although the planning process continues. MSU has been preparing for modified audience sizing and other logistics since April of 2020. Schedules for the basketball season and other sports should be expected within the next “month to six weeks,” according to Cordell. Tickets will be sold in a way that gives season ticket holders, students and sponsors priority for the events.

Despite all the challenges it faces, MSU has “made the commitment to support our student athletes at the same financial level, regardless of what our competition season looks like,”  Cordell said. No student will lose their scholarship even with a significant drop in funding.