Let’s hope new stadium helps USF join UCF in Big 12 | Commentary
Forgive me, UCF fans, for what I am about to say.Don’t take it personally.
Don’t cancel me.
It’s nothing against UCF.
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In fact, in the long run, I believe it will help UCF.
Here’s what I want to say:
Go Bulls!
Go USF!
Go for it!
Here’s hoping USF’s decision earlier this week to move forward and approve the funding for a new [COLOR=var(--primary)]$340 million on-campus football stadium[/COLOR] will help the Bulls join UCF in the Big 12 someday.
“As you all know [in Orlando], this can make a huge difference in the trajectory of your athletic program,” [COLOR=var(--primary)]USF athletic director Michael Kelly[/COLOR] told me on Friday when asked how this might help USF during the next round of conference realignment. “Obviously, you don’t do this strictly for that reason … but I do think this makes us much more attractive for whatever our future might hold.”
I’ve been consistent over the years in my contention that the Big 12 should have added UCF and USF whenever it chose to expand. It’s always baffled me why a Power 5 league wouldn’t want to have two thriving, growing universities in huge TV markets. If the Big 12 had UCF and USF, it could dominate the I-4 corridor that runs through the center of one of the most populated, recruiting-rich, football-fanatical states in the country.
Even former UCF football coach George O’Leary — certainly no fan of USF — was pushing for the Big 12 to take the Knights and Bulls as a package deal several years ago. O’Leary rightfully believed that geographic rivalries are the lifeblood of college football and often said that the Knights and the Bulls being in the same conference and playing each other every year elevated both programs.
“When you combine Orlando and Tampa, we’re the fourth-largest TV market in the country behind New York, L.A. and Chicago,” O’Leary told me once when asked if the Big 12 should consider UCF and USF. “That brings substantial revenue to any conference that is looking to expand. I think we have a lot to sell, but you need to be ready or you’re going to be left behind.”
UCF’s program, of course, was in the right place at the right time while USF’s was not. That’s why the Knights are moving into the Big 12 and USF is left behind in a watered-down American Athletic Conference. The Knights were the first college program in the state to build an indoor practice facility and followed that up by moving out of the old Citrus Bowl and into their new on-campus stadium 16 years ago.
Shortsighted USF fans and former administrators used to make fun of UCF’s cheaply built “Bounce House” while the Bulls were playing in the Tampa Bay Bucs’ palatial NFL stadium. However, Kelly and USF’s current administration commend UCF’s foresight all those years ago. While the Bulls were paying rent to the Bucs, UCF was building financial equity by owning its own stadium and investing that equity in the infrastructure of their program.
In addition, when the stadium opened, Saturday afternoons became a gathering spot where former students and current students tailgated together. O’Leary and late president John Hitt were amazed at how many longtime alumni told them that the stadium brought them back to campus for the first time since they’d graduated. As a result, booster donations rose significantly.
“Having an on-campus stadium injects a great school spirit into campus life, which obviously is a great asset to athletics,” Kelly said. “Also, ironically, the three teams from the American [UCF, Houston and Cincinnati] that are moving on to the Big 12 have all either built or done significant $100 million renovations to their stadiums in the last 15 years or so. It’s not coincidental that this has led to their opportunity.”
Then again, it takes more than an on-campus stadium and upgraded facilities to get into a Power 5 league; it takes some luck, opportunity — and winning. Let’s face it, the main reason UCF got into the Big 12 wasn’t because the Knights had an on-campus stadium; it was because they had back-to-back unbeaten seasons in 2017 and ’18 and built a national brand. If the roles were reversed and USF had been the “hot” program when the Big 12 was realigning, the Bulls would be in the big-time and UCF would be left behind.
The major question those in Tampa are having centers on whether USF’s gamble pay off. After all, the Bulls are planning to borrow more than half of the cost of the $340 million stadium — $200 million over 20 years with an interest rate estimated at 5.5%. Will the new stadium generate enough money to pay off the $18 million annual debt and still generate significant revenue for the athletic department? In contrast, UCF’s stadium was built for about $60 million with very little debt and became an immediate money-maker.
Although the Bulls are moving forward with the new stadium, upgrading their other athletic facilities (they just opened a new $22 million indoor practice facility) and enhancing their academic reputation (USF just got invited into the prestigious Association of American Universities), there is no guarantee they will ever get invited into a Power 5 league.
Even so, when I asked Kelly if the $340 million stadium gamble is worth it, he didn’t hesitate.
“Oh, yeah, I think it’s absolutely worth it,” he replied. “A lot of athletic departments have to take on debt to get certain things done. And one thing I know for absolute certain, if we’re going to build a stadium, it’s not going to get any cheaper moving forward. As our board [of trustees] chairman said, ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, but the second-best time is now.’ ”
Here’s hoping USF’s tree will someday soon be growing beside UCF’s tree in the Big 12.
Go Bulls!
