Navy Athletics Budget Crisis...New $20 Mil Complex?

The "Physical Mission Center" sounds like a glorified museum celebrating past sports achievements with "interactive media displays" that sports teams can use for recruiting purposes.

Uh, we need that?

Personally, I would rather see them sink another $20 million into more hands-on teaching facilities like the Center for Cyber studies, or something that puts USNA on the cutting edge of something STEM-related. That's just me, though.

Or you know, build a $15 million building and pay off your $5 million deficit. o_O
 
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I understand that certain funds are allocated for certain things. NAAA is a different pot from anything else at USNA. What I don’t understand is there never being money for club sports or unbroken gym equipment for your “average joe” midshipman...
 
NAAA is a non-profit that has raised funds for various projects, often in partnership with the Naval Academy Alumni Assn, also a non-profit independent of USNA, a DOD entity.

Donated funds are often earmarked for specific projects, with the donors understanding that their funds are going to Project X. NAAA operating expenses are what is out of whack here. Revenues taken in from those $5 pretzels at the Stadium are not keeping up with outlays. Personnel overhead (salary and benefits) are usually one of the biggest costs of any for-profit or non-profit organization, and the first place cuts are made to control recurring costs.

As for club sports and broken gym gear, that is DON appropriated (taxpayer) funds, part of the Supe’s budget, completely separate from NAAA. I believe NAAA administers the club sports program for USNA. Appropriated funds flow from DOD to DON to the Fleet, including shore establishments. The first priority will ALWAYS be operating units. Shore commands and schoolhouses usually go hungrier than operational units. That AF money also comes in different flavors, such as maintenance/repair, acquisition, new construction, operating expenses (fuel, etc.), personnel, MWR. The money for those pots is generally not allowed to cross between pots. When times are lean in DOD, the MWR pot is one of the first to be skimmed. That’s also the pot that funds recreational services, athletic teams, gym gear and sports programs at every homeport. There are no doubt broken ellipticals at NAVSTA Norfolk.
 
Been following this one too. Totally understand what Capt MJ started and agree with how the money works. NAAA appears to have out spent itself. Could of made some investment that just aren’t clear in the article.l and recovering from it. Facilities like Wesley Brown mostly came from NAAA with some govt $ as it supports athletics and Midshipmenr activities.

As to the purpose of this new building. Many questions from me too. Seems excessive and not in line with the USNA mission, but I am reserving judgement until I hear more about it. I also know broken gym gear is a gripe of most Mids. I think there are ways for alumni to help with that too. Instead of buying another class bench or statue (we know there are enough of those) why not have some donations go to new gym gear or even fixing what is broke. Let’s face it, the OGs put alot of our $ into USNA because we believe in it. Alumni donate more today then ever to help fund athletics, all these programs (many are a lot of these amazing summer programs) and other things like character programs. We just need to think outside the box a little and maybe just buy a nice weight bench instead of one on Stribling and stick our class year on that instead.
 
Multi-million dollar donations often come with strings attached - usually the donor's name on the building. USMA built some very nice athletic facilities with money from big donors while barracks relying on government funds deteriorated. Frustrating, but no one expects an SA to turn down a donation that has restrictions attached.
 
Multi-million dollar donations often come with strings attached - usually the donor's name on the building. USMA built some very nice athletic facilities with money from big donors while barracks relying on government funds deteriorated. Frustrating, but no one expects an SA to turn down a donation that has restrictions attached.
I have a classmate who has his name on an athletic facility at USNA and by the way, its for a team that he was NOT a part of. Should have donated the cash to hire exterminators to rid Bancroft of mice or to repair air conditioning? Heck, I can't say but I appreciate his donation just the same. I'm going to try to fund an annual Graduation Week trophy/award to the Varsity Team that both my son and I were on and if I get criticized for not putting the money into floor maintenance/upgrades in Smoke Hall, maybe I'll just put my money elsewhere.

NOTE: My money is pretty small potatoes
 
I think the main point is that the facilities for regular mids (MACD and 7th Wing), are completely falling apart.

Why can't Alumni donations for the physical mission go towards those facilities? Instead of yet another fancy facility for varsity athletes.
 
I think the main point is that the facilities for regular mids (MACD and 7th Wing), are completely falling apart.

Why can't Alumni donations for the physical mission go towards those facilities? Instead of yet another fancy facility for varsity athletes.
Why doesn't Harvard use their (huge) endowment to lower tuition? Its the same reason which is that endowments (and donations) are generally used to fund capital investments/facilities and not OPERATING EXPENSES which include salaries and maintenance. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the different PRIVATE funding streams that help USNA but I can tell you that the Alumni Association UNRESTRICTED funds are generally used to cover things that the Superintendent requests such as the furnishing of Hopper Hall which I personally think really should have been government funded because a classroom building that is delivered/funded with empty rooms is a job that is not DONE.
The Alumni Association also manages restricted funds which are often from specific classes for things that they vote to fund. As Admissions and Ethics leadership are from my class, we have stepped up and raised money to support both of those activities.
The Athletic Association (NAAA) funds all of the varsity sports and many facilities in and around the Yard and they do it with Football and Basketball money as well as small funding streams from other sports (example: baseball concessions) and donations to them. In addition to varsity sports, they also help with intramurals. When I was a mid and out of my varsity seasons, I played football on my company team - our jerseys and the football cleats that I wore came from the "NAAA cage" which was at that time (I think) in Halsey Fieldhouse and McDonagh Hall.
Should that PRIVATE group be forced to provide funding maintenance of the equipment that the government should be supporting?
 
Why doesn't Harvard use their (huge) endowment to lower tuition? Its the same reason which is that endowments (and donations) are generally used to fund capital investments/facilities and not OPERATING EXPENSES which include salaries and maintenance. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the different PRIVATE funding streams that help USNA but I can tell you that the Alumni Association UNRESTRICTED funds are generally used to cover things that the Superintendent requests such as the furnishing of Hopper Hall which I personally think really should have been government funded because a classroom building that is delivered/funded with empty rooms is a job that is not DONE.
The Alumni Association also manages restricted funds which are often from specific classes for things that they vote to fund. As Admissions and Ethics leadership are from my class, we have stepped up and raised money to support both of those activities.
The Athletic Association (NAAA) funds all of the varsity sports and many facilities in and around the Yard and they do it with Football and Basketball money as well as small funding streams from other sports (example: baseball concessions) and donations to them. In addition to varsity sports, they also help with intramurals. When I was a mid and out of my varsity seasons, I played football on my company team - our jerseys and the football cleats that I wore came from the "NAAA cage" which was at that time (I think) in Halsey Fieldhouse and McDonagh Hall.
Should that PRIVATE group be forced to provide funding maintenance of the equipment that the government should be supporting?

But the fact the government isn't supporting the physical mission of regular mids means that instead of donating money for NAAA to renovate Rickets (which really didn't need it), maybe that money should be earmarked to improve the conditions of other areas on the yard?

Considering NAAA pays for other sports facilities on the yard, they could easily play a role in fixing the horrible shape that both MACD and the 7th Wing gym are in.
 
But the fact the government isn't supporting the physical mission of regular mids means that instead of donating money for NAAA to renovate Rickets (which really didn't need it), maybe that money should be earmarked to improve the conditions of other areas on the yard?

Considering NAAA pays for other sports facilities on the yard, they could easily play a role in fixing the horrible shape that both MACD and the 7th Wing gym are in.

Their money, their decision. If you don't agree, join and attempt to influence future decisions. Conversely, if it is not part of their mission, try to get it onto the Supe's priority list for Alumni Assoc unrestricted funding. If you're the parent of a mid, get a parent's group to do this.
Its ALL volunteer funds - you too can be part of the solution to a problem that you seem to be adamant about.
 
YGBSM. Navy gets $17 Million a year from their cut of AAC revenues, another million from the broadcast rights to the Army-Navy game plus they don't even have to raise money for athletic grants; if they are still running a deficit under those conditions something is really FUBAR and the AD needs to get shown the door. Staff of 200? Ridiculous, sounds like some belt tightening is the first order of business.
 
YGBSM. Navy gets $17 Million a year from their cut of AAC revenues, another million from the broadcast rights to the Army-Navy game plus they don't even have to raise money for athletic grants; if they are still running a deficit under those conditions something is really FUBAR and the AD needs to get shown the door. Staff of 200? Ridiculous, sounds like some belt tightening is the first order of business.
How big should the staff be for a Varsity Sports program the size of USNA's?
 
YGBSM. Navy gets $17 Million a year from their cut of AAC revenues, another million from the broadcast rights to the Army-Navy game plus they don't even have to raise money for athletic grants; if they are still running a deficit under those conditions something is really FUBAR and the AD needs to get shown the door. Staff of 200? Ridiculous, sounds like some belt tightening is the first order of business.
How big should the staff be for a Varsity Sports program the size of USNA's?


3 people
 
YGBSM. Navy gets $17 Million a year from their cut of AAC revenues, another million from the broadcast rights to the Army-Navy game plus they don't even have to raise money for athletic grants; if they are still running a deficit under those conditions something is really FUBAR and the AD needs to get shown the door. Staff of 200? Ridiculous, sounds like some belt tightening is the first order of business.
How big should the staff be for a Varsity Sports program the size of USNA's?


3 people
Please come back when you're ready to be serious. Over 30 varsity sports managed and funded by NAAA. US Gov't money is not doing this.
 
YGBSM. Navy gets $17 Million a year from their cut of AAC revenues, another million from the broadcast rights to the Army-Navy game plus they don't even have to raise money for athletic grants; if they are still running a deficit under those conditions something is really FUBAR and the AD needs to get shown the door. Staff of 200? Ridiculous, sounds like some belt tightening is the first order of business.
How big should the staff be for a Varsity Sports program the size of USNA's?


3 people
Please come back when you're ready to be serious. Over 30 varsity sports managed and funded by NAAA. US Gov't money is not doing this.

OK, maybe 4 people... but with diminishing returns on the 4th person, so I'm leaning toward 3.
 
SWO you are the one that needs to wake up, NAAA doesn't manage sports that's the job of the Athletic Director and his staff; which by the way is about 180 people. 200 people just for fundraising is absurd.
 
SWO you are the one that needs to wake up, NAAA doesn't manage sports that's the job of the Athletic Director and his staff; which by the way is about 180 people. 200 people just for fundraising is absurd.
How incredibly asleep I must be. Here I thought that USNA's Athletic Director was Chet Gladchuk, who is part of the Athletic Association as are the vast majority of coaches of the varsity teams at USNA along with assistants, etc.

V/R
Former Coach at USNA

PS: We can't post links here but if you find your way to the staff directory, there are only a small number of people that are in fundraising or even ticket sales. I really have no idea where you get the idea that 200 people are working fundraising.
 
I think the main point is that the facilities for regular mids (MACD and 7th Wing), are completely falling apart.

Why can't Alumni donations for the physical mission go towards those facilities? Instead of yet another fancy facility for varsity athletes.

My understanding is that private funding cannot be use to maintain or improve government facilities. For West Point, the Association of Graudate works closely with the Army Athletic Association and West Point to build gifted athletic facilities (some of the recent ones are indoor lacrosse field, rugby field, indoor tennis courts). I know previous Supe was very wavy working the Congress to fund facility improvements. The new barracks at West Point is $186 million plus. West Point AOG has about 30 on the fund rasing staff. I don’t know how many fund rasing staff the Army Athletic Association has.
 
Should that PRIVATE group be forced to provide funding maintenance of the equipment that the government should be supporting?

Your post remind me an old joke about how Air Force will build a golf course on a base first, then go back to Congress for money to build the runway.

We should better define what things the government should be supporting at service academies.

I don’t know how the Navy budget works, it the Army, the commmander had some discretion on how certain funding were used, something like buy new furnitures or pay for cleaning service.

My personal opinion is that beyond basic educational requirements, private donors should support additional developmental opportunities. Why are Ivy League schools good, a part of is the alumni network to include donations.
 
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