:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67993731/1179500807.jpg.0.jpg)
It’s been repeated, with merit, that the financial impacts on Florida State Seminoles football having a single football game postponed could be major.
With now two straight home games having been rescheduled, with the potential of not being played, the financial hits keep coming for a department already strapped for cash.
It hasn’t just been football, either — in the last week, three FSU basketball games (2 for the women, one for the men) have either been postponed or cancelled.
As of today, all team operations for teams not in season — basically everybody but football and the two basketball teams — have effectively shut down to save on COVID-19 tests and other related costs.
If more postponements turn into cancellations, temporary program shutdowns could turn into permanent shutdowns.
It obviously benefits FSU to get the home games back, but it also behooves the ACC to reschedule these games because every game = TV rev for the league. Guestimates on TV revenue per game is $2.5 mil per game. (2-9)
— Tom Block (@_TomBlock) November 28, 2020
In the world of big college athletic budgets, maybe that seems insignificant. It’s not, especially in a COVID year. And we’re talking a ND TV game and an FSU/Clem game, so the $ may be higher. (4-9)
— Tom Block (@_TomBlock) November 28, 2020
On Nov. 20, athletic director David Coburn outlined the current financial situation for FSU Athletics. He said he’s reduced the FSU athletics budget by approximately $20 million and even with those cuts, the department is still facing a significant deficit — this even after the entire athletics department, including head coaches, took a pay cut. In August a 20 percent budget cut was enacted, with layoffs coming throughout the department.
It’s something compounded by the fact that there’s been an overall downturn in financial support for the football program — season ticket sales have fallen year over year, with only around 30,000 being sold in 2019.
All that said, just this week the Florida HS state football championships were rescheduled for Doak Campbell Stadium from Dec 16-19. So that’s now a weekend FSU can’t make up a home game (unless they could play 12/20?). (5-
— Tom Block (@_TomBlock) November 28, 2020
I haven’t looked at all the schedule scenarios, but if FSU was to somehow make up both these games and still play Duke, looks to me like they’d have to play UVA next week, Clem 12/12, and go to Duke 12/19. (6-9)
— Tom Block (@_TomBlock) November 28, 2020
Additionally, the Seminole Boosters reported a fall off in support on that Nov. 20 Board of Trustees call, falling to 9000 boosters from 13,000.
Right now, the worst case scenario for Florida State is losing chances to compete in some games this season.
Worst case scenario in the long run? Losing athletic programs.
This affects the players/coaches/staffs/families/schools/fans/boosters/league, but also local businesses which are already taking a beating. Today is small business Saturday. If you’re holiday shopping today, support your local small businesses. (8-9)
— Tom Block (@_TomBlock) November 28, 2020
That’s looking at it through an FSU lens, not an ACC lens, so no idea if that’s where it’ll land. That’s also assuming FSU has enough guys able to play any of the remaining weekends given COVID concerns. They’re that thin given roster attrition. (7-9)
— Tom Block (@_TomBlock) November 28, 2020
If you were planning to spend $ at the game tonight or were going out to watch the game, keep your plans or order out from a local restaurant. (8-9)That’s it, that’s the tweets. Enjoy your day/weekend. (9-9)
— Tom Block (@_TomBlock) November 28, 2020