AD acknowledges challenges

[aubiefifty 18,231]

AD acknowledges challenges Auburn faces due to pandemic

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

4-5 minutes

In an open letter to season-ticket holders and donors that was published on Auburn’s athletics website Friday afternoon, Auburn athletics director Allen Greene publicly acknowledged the financial challenges the program faces in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

While noting that many fans and supporters of the program have faced their own difficulties over the last four-plus months as COVID-19 has spread throughout the nation, Greene stated what many have already projected: The pandemic will have an adverse effect on the financials of Auburn’s athletics department. That much was expected, especially after the suspension of spring sports seasons and championships, including the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and the uncertain status of the 2020 football season.

Some FCS conferences have already canceled their fall sports seasons, including the SWAC -- which resulted in the cancelation of Auburn’s season opener against Alcorn State, while other FBS conferences have already voted to move to a conference-only schedule. The SEC is expected to make a decision on its season -- whether to postpone it, move to a conference-only schedule or other alterations due to the virus -- next week.

Become an Auburn Insider: Sign up here for $4.99 a month to text, chat directly with AL.com beat writers

As uncertainty looms over the fall sports season, so too does it hang over the financials of Auburn’s athletics department, with Greene acknowledging the program will face a “significant” fiscal challenge.

“Auburn Athletics is no different, particularly when it comes to forecasting our financial position,” Greene wrote. “While the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming college football season and other fall sports prevents us from knowing the full extent of the fiscal challenge we’ll face in 2020-21, we know it will be significant. To manage the financial impact of COVID-19, we are evaluating every expense while seeking to preserve the unparalleled student-athlete experience for which Auburn is renowned.”

Auburn is coming off a fiscal year in which it recorded record revenue and nearly $13.2 million in profit, with its $152.4 million in revenue during the 2018-19 fiscal year ranking 13th nationally, according to USA Today’s annual college athletics financial database.

With the full financial impact of the pandemic still uncertain, Greene told season-ticket holders that their support has “never been more critical than it is right now,” since ticket sales, donations and media rights make up the athletics department’s three largest sources of revenue. Auburn reported $31,925,504 in ticket sales last year, as well as $35,173,363 in contributions and $40,147,569 in media rights.

In all, according to a graphic included in the letter, $63 million of Auburn’s annual operating budget of $150 million is directly funded by football donations and ticket sales.

“Any alteration to the 2020 football season, whether fewer games, fewer fans or both, would further magnify Auburn’s reliance on the generosity of our donors,” Greene said.

According to the letter, Auburn’s 550 student-athletes “continue to have everything they need” at this time, including scholarships, coaching, facilities, nutrition, sports medicine, academic support and mental health services.

Greene did not address any potential changes to attendance or venue protocols this fall in his letter.

“Thank you for your unwavering commitment to Auburn University and our student-athletes,” Greene wrote. “Because of your investment, we will meet the challenges associated with COVID-19. Your contributions will help Auburn weather this crisis and position the Tigers to enjoy even greater success after the coronavirus storm has passed.”

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.