Griz Nation,
As a new year opens, I want to first express my gratitude to Griz fans everywhere. Your passion and financial investment never go unnoticed. Thank you! It is what makes this place amazing.
Our goals in Grizzly athletics are crystal clear:
- Graduate student-athletes and help them develop in to leaders.
- Win conference championships.
- Win a national championship in football.
- Compete in NCAA Division I championships.
With your help and increased support from the university, we are providing the resources necessary to compete in the changing landscape of college athletics. Strategic planning is no longer the development of a five-to-10-year plan. Of course, a long-term vision is a must, but any plan must be a process that is constantly evaluated, adjusted, and implemented. Our peers are investing, but so are we! Our facilities are second to none and our fan base is the best. We have the foundation to win!
Since opting in to the House Settlement more than six months ago, we have taken meaningful steps to position Grizzly athletics for success in this new era of college sports. We are treating our department more like a business — maximizing efficiency, generating new revenue, and reinvesting those resources back into our programs. We are sharing revenue with many of our student-athletes.
Through our partnership with Teamworks GM we are executing revenue share agreements between the university and the student-athletes, with seamless and timely payments. Marcus Welnel, Chief Revenue Officer, is managing all these transactions.
Where is this revenue coming from? What are the strategies we are using? How is that revenue share being distributed?
Revenue derived off the following initiatives is shared with football, men’s basketball and beginning next season with Lady Griz basketball. The vast majority is allocated to football, next with men’s basketball, and then Lady Griz basketball. We are always looking for additional options.
- Increased fee added to all tickets sold to athletic events and other select events that go directly to revenue share.
- Increased fee for each suite in Washington-Grizzly Stadium that goes directly to revenue share.
- Operation of the Adams Center and Washington-Grizzly Stadium as entertainment and concert venues with revenue generated supporting athletic operations and revenue share.
- Establishing various licensing partnerships (with more coming) for products such as the Up With beer at Draught Works that goes directly to revenue share.
- Partnerships with local hotels that provide support back to our revenue share as athletics brings events to the Missoula community.
- Fan contributions to general revenue share through Good Ol’ Grizzlies, which is now operated by the athletic department, through the UM Foundation.
What about all the other sports? Or, what if I want my support directed to a specific program?
There is a path to support revenue share and scholarship financial enhancements through the UM Foundation. Revenue share accounts for each of the university’s 15 NCAA Division I sports have been established and contributions may be directed to a specific sport.
Grizzly Sports Properties (GSP) is also actively generating revenue for the department through a variety of sponsorship opportunities for local, regional and national businesses. GSP is also working diligently to match businesses with student-athletes who can then promote the business using their name, image and likeness.
Not lost in all this “revenue share” world is the absolute importance of a scholarship. We are still focused on providing educational opportunities for student-athletes and WILL NOT diminish the importance of a college education. We have increased scholarship budgets in many sports and make raising money to support scholarships a top priority.
We have the data and the personnel to support the coaches in this new world of sharing revenue with the student-athletes. While coaches determine recruiting strategy, including whom and where to recruit and how scholarship and revenue-share resources are deployed, my charge has always been clear: to invest strategically in ways that give us the best chance to compete.
How can you help? Here are just some of the ways:
- Renew your season tickets.
- Continue to buy tickets to athletic events and concerts.
- Contribute to the Grizzly Scholarship Association.
- Purchase products that are licensed to support Grizzly student-athletes
- Support the individual sports directly like the QB club, Hoop Club, Roundball Club, etc. These funds go to the greatest needs within each sport, which may include revenue share and scholarship funding.
- Consider a major gift supporting scholarships, revenue share, or other initiatives within athletics.
- Contribute directly to revenue share.
- If you own a business, consider opportunities to utilize student-athletes in your marketing plans.
So, who can answer your questions? We all stand ready to help! For specific direction here are your contacts:
- Revenue share and Good Ol’ Grizzlies – Marcus Welnel at 406-243-5493
- Major gifts and sport specific support – Dan Ingram at 406-243-7470 and Bella O’Brien at 406-243-7471
- Sponsorship opportunities – Kyle Krueger at 406-519-0261
- Grizzly Scholarship Association – Coleson Randall at 406-243-6481
One last update regarding facility improvements. Here is where we stand and what is planned short-term moving forward:
- The Lady Griz locker room is nearing completion. The space is wonderful and will be in use in the weeks to come.
- Fundraising for a renovation of the women’s volleyball locker room is nearing completion with work beginning soon.
- Work is beginning on a renovation of the auxiliary gyms with new floors, baskets, and volleyball sleeves to be installed, converting these two gyms in to practice spaces for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. This is being accomplished by a major gift from a generous donor, along with others.
- Restrooms will be installed at the softball stadium, significantly improving the fan experience at this already top-notch facility. The project will most likely not be done in time for the upcoming softball season. This again is being accomplished by a major gift from a generous donor.
- Plans for the soccer locker room remodel have been finalized, with a significant gift already committed.
We cannot do this without your help. I repeat my gratitude. Grizzly athletics is poised to continue the march to championships!
Go Griz! |
more attendance after work on a Thursday night.
