The COVID-19 pandemic continues to leave all areas of life in its wake.
The latest is the updated budget projection for the Ohio State athletic department, and it’s not good news. According to a release from the university, OSU athletics projects a $107 million loss for 2020-2021 academic year.
As you would suspect, the loss is a result of lost revenue from — among other things — ticket sales which account for roughly $64 million alone. Without a full season and without fans in the stands for a renewed Big Ten season, the downfall is still projected to be significant.
Despite the gloom outlook, Ohio State does not plan on cutting any of its 36 sports, though there will be further budget cuts including the following:
- 48 members of the athletic training staff and strength and conditioning staff will have a 5-day intermittent furlough, to be completed between Oct. 6 and June 30, 2021;
- 213 staff members are assigned to a 10-day intermittent furlough, to be completed between Oct. 6 and June 30, 2021;
- 84 staff members will go on a 60-day, continuous furlough or redeployment from Oct. 9 through Dec. 31;
- 47 contracted staff members will be asked to take a voluntary, 5 percent salary reduction between Oct. 1 and June 30, 2021; and
- A permanent reduction in force will eliminate 25 full-time athletics positions.
The four staff members in the athletics department’s Sports Psychology and Wellness Services team will not be furloughed in a much-needed nod to mental health.
Ohio State athletics projects $107 million deficit in 2021 fiscal year https://t.co/IgMa7il07E
— BuckeyeXtra.com (@BuckeyeXtra) September 23, 2020
“Our student-athletes are our primary responsibility,” athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement. “They have and will continue to come first. We have put together a responsible and conservative budget for this fiscal year, which assumes full support for our student-athletes. In the midst of this devastating pandemic, we remain committed to providing a safe and excellent academic and athletic experience for all of our student-athletes.
“Like our colleagues in the Big Ten, and across the country, intercollegiate athletics at Ohio State will have to significantly adjust as the pandemic will have a long term impact. We will implement a long term deficit recovery plan but will continue to focus on serving our student-athletes at the highest level.”
Going forward, Ohio State will continue to have a $180 million athletics budget. The breakdown includes $25 million in athlete scholarships, $3.6 million for academic support, $3 million for meals and nutrition, and $1.8 million for sports medicine and sports psychology services.
All we can say here at Buckeyes Wire is that our thoughts are with all of those effected and we hope this unprecedented and extraordinary time rounds the corner to some sense of normalcy soon.
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