Department of Intercollegiate Athletics

Maverick athletic venues such as Blakeslee Stadium and Taylor Center's Bresnan Arena host more than 50 events that collectively draw more than 75,000 spectators annually, including students, alumni, fans and other community members. The impression that visitors carry away from these events is based largely on their in-game experience. The scoreboards in these venues are an important part of the visual impact, and as an on-going point of reference during these events, they are central to the overall visitor experience.

Unfortunately, the scoreboard technology in these facilities is severely outdated, at a standard far below that of our competitive peers. This shortfall creates a less-than-dynamic game environment, which is critical to attracting fans in an entertainment-driven market. In addition, sponsors and corporate partners are looking for more bang for their buck than our current scoreboard advertising panels can deliver. That hampers our ability to attract the type of external marketing support so critical to sustaining a successful athletic program.

Future budgets will require a larger portion of self-generated revenue from the Department, and an investment in this video scoreboard technology will put us in a better position to pursue those opportunities. The installation of new video-capable scoreboards in Bresnan Arena and Blakeslee Stadium will transform our facilities both visually and financially. The scoreboards will enhance the overall student-athlete and fan experience, as well as create interest in the marketing and advertisement opportunities the Department can offer to businesses.

The visual impact of these new scoreboards will offer a big-picture perspective, both literally and figuratively. These enhancements will play an important role in the recruitment and retention of both student-athletes and other prospective students who make the athletic facilities a part of their campus visit experience.

What your donation will do: Enhance marketing opportunities and our fans' ingame experience.

An indoor air-supported recreation and athletics practice facility with a synthetic grass surface will become a point of distinction and a major asset for Maverick Athletics, the Minnesota State Mankato campus and the Greater Mankato community. While similar facilities are becoming more commonplace in other communities, there is nothing like this within a 50-mile radius of our campus.

This state-of-the art facility will provide all of Minnesota State Mankato's student-athletes and coaches with a transformative opportunity for practicing and training. In a region where adverse weather conditions are a challenge, access to a climate-controlled facility will put us on a level playing field with competitors who either have such facilities or are located in areas with a milder climate. The top programs in the country are all moving in this direction, and such a facility will be crucial to recruiting and retaining the elite student-athletes who can position us to compete for conference, regional and national championships.

An indoor facility operating under the big top of an air-inflated "bubble" also will create other opportunities. For campus recreation, club programs and academic classes, the facility will be a high-traffic space. It will also free up additional programming time in the heavily utilized Myers Field House. And it will help create important partnerships across the community, while simultaneously creating revenue generation options through its appeal to external sport and recreation teams and individual users.

What your donation will do: Provide an indoor, state-of-the-art, climate-controlled training facility.

Among the top priorities of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to fully equip our student-athletes with the tools necessary to excel, both athletically and academically. While the competitive results may speak for themselves, the demands of obtaining an advanced four-year degree may be less obvious. The time commitments that practice, competition and travel require create challenges for our student-athletes, but our expectations continue to be met, as evidenced by graduation rates and grade point averages that far exceed other student peer groups within the University.

We believe, however, that we can take our onfield and in-classroom success to an even higher level through the completion of the Academic Success Center. Fulfilling the original vision for the Taylor Center to include an educational component will help demonstrate our continued commitment to our student-athletes and create an invaluable asset for the entire campus community. This initiative will offer state-of-the-art space that is technologically intensive and flexible, providing everything from general classroom needs to desperately needed team meeting space.

The Academic Success Center will enrich the learning environment for those in our program by offering study hall, tutoring and other academic counseling services. It will transform currently decentralized services into a comprehensive approach that aims at "Building Champions"–both in sport and life. The Center will exemplify Minnesota State Mankato's deepening commitment to academic excellence within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and will become our foundation for recruiting and retaining high-quality student-athletes.

What your donation will do: Build champions in sport and life through a focus on academic success.

While the final score may be the most important outcome in athletic competition, an even more important objective for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to ensure that our student-athletes walk away from Minnesota State Mankato with a degree in hand. Participating in a sport at the NCAA Division I or II level requires a significant time commitment, and some degree programs now require more than the four-year norm for graduation.

Given that, Degree Completion Scholarships will help our student-athletes finish their degree programs. The scholarships will alleviate some of the financial burden that may come as a natural part of their participation in intercollegiate athletics and the additional time required for obtaining their degree.

Establishing funding earmarked for degree completion will differentiate us from our competition and create a unique recruiting tool for our coaches to engage prospective studentathletes and their families. Our current complement of athletic scholarships helps us start fast to initially recruit high-caliber student-athletes. The Degree Completion Scholarship Fund will give us the means to finish strong and reinforce the depths of our commitment. Not only that, the Fund will help set the stage for the future success of our student-athletes as professional and community leaders.

What your donation will do: Help student-athletes to cross the finish line in obtaining their degree.