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COVID-19 Pandemic Creates Financial Challenges
By Mike O’Brien, Vice President and Athletic Director
Aug. 5, 2020
Dear Rocket Nation,
August is normally the time of year when we are getting ready for the return of our students on campus and anticipating the excitement of our fall sports season. But as you know very well, there is nothing “normal” about this year.
I wish I had more definitive news about the start of our 2020 football season, as well as the resumption of all of our varsity sports. The truth is, we are still waiting on decisions from the Mid-American Conference that will determine if we are playing fall sports this year, what the seasons would look like if we do, and how many (if any) of our fans will be able to attend. As always, the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans will remain a high priority. And while we remain optimistic, we must also plan ahead for some of the potential realities that we may be facing.
As you may already know, we have two football games on the 2020 schedule that have been canceled due to the pandemic, a road game at Michigan State that was scheduled for Sept. 19 and a home game against Central Connecticut State on Sept. 26. That currently leaves us with 10 games, five on the road and five at home. While we are not ruling out adding more games to the schedule, as of right now we are left with the prospect of playing only 10 games. It is also possible that we may play fewer than 10 games, or even, in the worst case scenario, none at all. We simply do not know yet.
These schedule changes will have a definite financial impact. With the cancellation of the Michigan State game, that alone resulted in a $1.2 million reduction to our budget, while a lost home game costs us ticket revenue, parking, concessions, etc. Obviously, if we are not able to play any football this fall, it will create an even greater challenge to our ability to generate the revenue that helps support our programs. But the reality is that no matter what happens with our football season, we are still facing a steep climb to meet our revenue goals. Last spring we made some significant cuts to our program in order to offset reductions in revenue that resulted from the cancellation of the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. Fortunately, we were able to do this without sacrificing core support for our athletic programs and our student-athletes. However, it is increasingly likely that further belt-tightening measures may be on the horizon.
Which brings me to this important request. If you are a football season-ticket holder, you will soon be receiving a survey from our ticket office asking your intentions for the 2020 season, depending on various scenarios. Some of you may have decided not to renew your season tickets. Others, may have renewed their tickets but are still undecided as to whether to attend games, assuming that remains an option. In either case, here is how you can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of Rocket student-athletes:
- If you have already renewed your football season tickets, and some or all of the 2020 football season is ultimately canceled, please consider donating the cost of your season ticket or the portion of the canceled games to the Athletic Department.
- For all supporters, including those who do not plan to renew their football season tickets, please consider making a one-time gift to the Athletic Department Progress Fund. This fund is vital to our mission of providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes. Donate here.
Of course, in these hard economic times, we understand that some of you may not be in a position to make a donation; we will offer a refund to anyone who requests it. But for those of you who are able to make a donation, we are sincerely grateful. Many of you already support our program with your generous financial gifts. More than anything else, supporters like you are the foundation of what makes The University of Toledo great. We simply cannot make this happen without you, nor can we ever thank you enough for doing so.
So while we hope that the circumstances of our current health crisis will turn in our favor and allow us to resume something resembling our normal operations, we must prepare for more challenging outcomes. No matter what occurs, we always appreciate you and your steadfast support. We will get through these tough times, both as a country and as Rocket Nation!
We will continue to send you the latest updates on the upcoming season as soon as information becomes available. In the meantime, we wish you and your loved ones continued health.
Take care, stay safe, and as always, Go Rockets!
Previous Rocket Blogs
Planning Continues for 2020-21 Season (May 22, 2020)
Women's Golf: A Season of Challenges and Achievements (April 24, 2020)
Quarantine: A Time to Reflect on My Journey to Rocket Nation (April 11, 2020)
So Is This the Honeymoon Phase? (April 8, 2020)
Why I Buy Season Tickets (April 5, 2020)
A Promising Season Ends in Surreal Fashion (April 1, 2020)
Coming Together as a Team to Help Sara (March 31, 2020)
Isolation Can Make Time Management a Challenge For Students (March 28, 2020)
Many Challenges Are Ahead for Rocket Athletics (March 25, 2020)
Waking Up From a Perfect Dream to Face a New Reality (March 20, 2020)
Saranlak Tumfong Begins Fight Against Cancer (March 19, 2020)
Healthy Ways to Deal with Anxiety During a Health Crisis (March 18, 2020)
A Note From the Athletic Director: Stay Strong Rocket Nation! (March 17, 2020)
How Can We Live Without Sports? For Now, We Must (March 14, 2020)
