Capital Outlook Viewpoint
Building a fence around Bragg stadium
Published 6/19/08
The College Baseball World Series is being held in Omaha, Neb. this week, and during last weekend's opening games the announcers noted that there are fewer recreation vehicles and campers at the stadium this year than in previous years.
It is reasonable to conclude that the decline in the number of the low-mileage vehicles is linked directly to the price of gasoline, and that some parents and other family members simply could not afford the trip.
Gasoline now costs more than $4 per gallon, and traveling from Miami (or Tallahassee) to Omaha and back is an expensive enterprise.
The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees on last Thursday approved the university's 2008-2009 budget that included $6 million in cuts, in addition to the cuts that were made to the 2007-2008 budget.
That means the university is expected to do the job with less, meaning fewer human, physical, and financial resources.
The FAMU athletics administration has announced a new policy, effective the upcoming football season, that will require a current game-day ticket for entry onto the Bragg Stadium grounds.
This also applies to longtime tailgaters who rarely attend the games, but for years have gathered in the stadium parking lot or adjoining grassy area to tailgate or picnic with local and out-of-town friends.
The stadium will be fenced off along the boundaries of Wahnish Way, Gamble and Perry Streets, with gated, ticketed access for pedestrians and autos. Every person in the vehicle will be required to have a game ticket as well.
Some might grumble, considering this is a change from the way it's always been done.
But like other markets hit hard by these tough economic times, intercollegiate athletics is taking a financial hammering, too.
Tax dollars cannot be used to fund college athletics in Florida, so FAMU must pay lts own way. Athletics Director Bill Hayes has no choice but to be creative in every way he can to generate more revenue for the program.
Travel costs, scholarships, equipment and virtually everything related to athletics cost more today, and the level of funding must increase as well.
Like the College World Series, FAMU's home football games could also experience a decline in out of town attendance because gas prices will also prevent some longtime fans accustomed to driving to Tallahassee on game weekends from attending.
That's a reality we must face, and if we want to have a prosperous program,we must prepare to dig deeper into our pockets to contribute more to the boosters and perhaps at some point prepared to pay more for tickets to events such as football and basketball games
It's tough out there. The administrators everywhere are being forced to make downward adjustments in what can be offered with fewer dollars.
They must generate dollars to offset increased expenses, but there is no easy plan.
The nation's economy is in the tank, The only companies prospering are those like the big oil companies and other corporations benefiting from huge federal tax cuts.
There seems to be very little help for the average American who wants to pay the bills, live a reasonably comfortable life and take in a college football game on Saturday.
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