Bourne Dialogue - Dukes Unite
Don't see were this was posted today, so here it is...
We broke - send money!
JMU Nation,
Often my correspondence paints a pleasant picture about the state of JMU Athletics and what lies ahead. To be clear, yes, we have bright days ahead, but I want to be more direct in this message about the uncertainty of our future.
COVID-19 continues to take its toll on our department. First, we lost Spring 2020 competition, which was followed by the postponement of Fall 2020 competition to Spring 2021. Now basketball has been delayed by two weeks and the number of games modified. We are still building schedules and trying to optimize what remains of those seasons. We paused all workouts for 15 of our 18 sport programs in September due to positive cases on our campus. The continued uncertainty on our student-athletes and staff have taken a mental and emotional toll as well.
All that said, our fortitude is strong and we continue to approach each day with resolve and purpose. It is with this sense of strength that we call upon all Dukes to Unite and Play Your Part to ensure the short-term and long-term vitality of JMU Athletics.
The Dukes Unite fundraising campaign for JMU Athletics launches October 1 and runs five weeks to November 7, which would have been Homecoming Weekend. We currently face a budget shortfall in excess of $5 million, which could grow larger.
The following items contribute to 2020-2021 JMU Athletics revenue shortfalls:
- Lost football ticket revenue (refunds, deferrals, lost sales, donor seat contributions
- Lost $500,000 guarantee to play North Carolina (game moved to 2028)
- Duke Club “Proud and True” Fund giving shortfall
- COVID-19 testing and safety protocols
- Scholarship expenses for Spring 2020 student-athletes who returned due to eligibility relief
- Additional future impact of NCAA edict to provide 2020-21 scholarship relief for all Fall student-athletes
- Anticipated ticket shortfalls for basketball, included reduced exposure and excitement for a “full” opening of the Atlantic Union Bank Center
- Loss of other revenue-generating events in the Atlantic Union Bank Center, such as concerts, which have been delayed due to safety limitations
- Lost sponsorship revenue that was tied to quantity and nature of home athletics contests
- Possibility and/or uncertainty of refunds to JMU students for the comprehensive fee in light of an online learning environment
The implications of such shortfalls could reverberate for a long time in the department. The impact will or could include: salary reductions, frozen open positions, budget spending freezes, reduced team travel, lowered number of competitions, limits on recruiting travel, cuts to professional development for coaches and staff, and more. While we are committed to our student-athletes and their experience at James Madison in the form of scholarships and support services, there is a pronounced reality to our inability to maintain these other expenses in light of our shortfalls.
Particularly unfortunate, with spectator and participant safety in mind, we will not be able to maximize the first season of the Atlantic Union Bank Center, as we had hoped. Optimism remains about the impact of this facility on our campus, but expectations have been tempered by the reality of the impact of COVID-19. Rest assured, we will still do what we can to take advantage of our new home in 2020-2021, and we will still benefit from the gains of this new facility for years to come.
So how can JMU Athletics overcome dire circumstances to achieve short-term and long-term success? Our culture has always set us apart from our peers. There is a special tie that binds JMU Nation, a purple-and-gold spirit that runs through each of us. When a foe stands before us, Dukes Unite to conquer the day.
In addition to addressing shortages, we have an opportunity to recalibrate the fundraising culture at JMU for years to come. JMU enjoys alumni satisfaction far superior to most peer institutions. Affinity for JMU is off the charts, yet less than 10% of alumni give back. Mary Lou and I played our part, and we call upon all Dukes to Play Your Part and keep JMU Athletics well-positioned in the national college athletics landscape. Your gift truly makes a difference!
Dukes Unite!
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