Survey reveals insight into challenges, emphasis on game day experience and attracting recruits
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 23, 2016) — A survey of college athletic directors by the Ohio University Center for Sports Administration in Athens, and AECOM, a global leader in sports venue design and construction, reveals new insight into the facility investment plans of NCAA programs across the country. Of participating athletic directors, nearly all (99 percent) said they plan to invest more than US$500,000 in athletic facilities over the next five years, and half (50 percent) plan to invest at least US$25 million in that time.
Athletic directors who participated in the survey perceive fan amenities to be of increasing importance to the game day experience, while training facilities and locker rooms remain top priorities for attracting recruits, with a growing emphasis on academic spaces.
The survey was administered in November 2015 to 87 NCAA athletic directors from 25 Division I conferences. It is a follow-up to a survey conducted in 2014.
Since the first survey, the percentage of athletic directors planning to invest more than US$10 million in facilities over the next year has risen from 31 percent to 38 percent. The percentage of athletic directors planning to invest more than US$50 million over the next five years has risen from 21 percent to 29 percent.
“The data shows some of the unique challenges collegiate athletic programs face,” said Drew Berst, director of business development, sports, AECOM. “Athletic directors are in the precarious position of needing facilities that serve multiple constituencies. Our data shows that athletic departments are increasingly investing in student-athlete education, and are seeking to maximize the revenue potential of their venues so they can rely less on university and public funding to support their programs.”
“This investment in growth is associated with a shift toward support for student-athletes,” said Dr. Heather Lawrence, associate professor of sports administration and the AECOM professor of sport business, Ohio University. “We’re seeing increased focus on the value of investment in the student-athlete experience both on the field and academically.”
In the current survey, athletic directors perceived fan amenities (connectivity, food and beverage, premium seating, public space, transportation) to be more important across the board than in 2014, with concessions and premium seating ranked highest.
In 2015, Terry Mohajir, director of athletics at Arkansas State University, guided a major upgrade of Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, part of an effort to elevate the program nationally and appeal to fans. The renovation included improved suite offerings and concessions.
“Not only has the renovation enhanced the game day experience for all Arkansas State fans, it has also allowed us to develop new relationships,” Mohajir said. “When we began this project, we had a vision for a final product that would go above and beyond anyone’s expectations — and that was exactly the outcome.”
For attracting recruits, athletic directors ranked practice and training facilities higher than locker rooms, academic space, lounges and cafeterias, housing and sports medicine in importance. The importance of academic facilities rose since the 2014 survey.
Reflecting this trend, the University of Arizona broke ground on a new academic center on February 12th. “The C.A.T.S. Academic Center will provide a dedicated academic space to challenge and support our student-athletes,” said Greg Byrne, director of athletics, University of Arizona. “This building will house space for life skills, sports psychology and personal development services, areas that are crucial to the growth of student-athletes. AECOM designed a space that maximized programming and budget, and will help all student-athletes reach their full potential.”
To view the full results of the survey, click here or visit https://aecom.com/2016-trends-collegiate-athletics/. Follow the conversation on Twitter using #ADsurvey.
About AECOM
AECOM is built to deliver a better world. We design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organizations in more than 150 countries. As a fully integrated firm, we connect knowledge and experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most complex challenges. From high-performance buildings and infrastructure, to resilient communities and environments, to stable and secure nations, our work is transformative, differentiated and vital. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM had revenue of approximately $18 billion during fiscal year 2015. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.
About Ohio University Sports Administration
As the first institution in the world to offer a master-level degree in Sports Administration, Ohio University has been a pioneer in the sports administration and business world for nearly 50 years. Ranked as the top graduate program in the world by Sport Business International for two consecutive years, Ohio continues its mission of producing the top sports business professionals each year.
The two-year MBA/MSA program as well as the executive level Professional MSA program prepares students for leadership positions by combining the business teaching of the Ohio University program with sport-specific knowledge during the MSA program. The dual MBA/MSA degree combination recognizes the growing complexity of the sports, facility and entertainment industries, and reinforces Ohio University’s commitment to preparing students for the leadership challenges of the future. The Professional MSA degree allows working sport executives to continue their education via online classes, live virtual sessions, and face-to-face residencies.
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AECOM Media Contact:
Erik Miller
1.415.955.2804
Ohio University Sports Contact:
Dr. Heather Lawrence
1.740.597.1520