And that's mostly because they put us all at financial risk. There's no more safety net when we foo-bar with a decision, or something isn't working out as planned.
A project like the arena that's struggling financially needs everything to work out well with the team occupying it. A coach in one of your major programs cannot start having unexpected problems. You have no financial cushion anymore to take corrective action. There's no money in the bank to use.
Regardless of the cost, I'd argue--and have--it's questionable whether you have the people in charge to make a key decision. It's the same people above who led us into this blind alley.
Things aren't going well in either major sport. Football is obvious, and that was before the season started. Football ticket revenue is budgeted to be down this year 18% on a comparable basis from last year. With the start this season, that decline is likely going to be understated. And the guys above knew we were coming into a year where we had six thousand MORE stadium seats to sell. There sure as hell isn't $15 million lying around to hire a new coach.
And before I hear about Mack's recruiting, basketball attendance last year was down 20%, and the guys above budgeted ticket revenue to be down another 15% this year. What do you think that's gonna do to arena financials that the guys above already committed another $2-3 million to annually that we don't have? You think the LAA is through hitting its primary tenant up for more money?
This problem is bigger than football or a football coach. You had a revenue generating machine that was well managed and performed for years. But it had offsetting risks that were managed along with the bank accounts. And Murphy's Law tells you over and over and over that when you aren't prepared for something, it happens. And it will keep happening.
The "best" is yet to come...
