By Jordan Schelling
The Badger Herald
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
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Maragos Q&A 3/3
By Jordan Schelling
The Badger Herald
Monday, March 1, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
When $17 million just isn't enough
What would you do with $18.3 million?
That sum is the amount of money expected from football ticket sales by the University of Wisconsin Athletic Board in its 2010-11 budget approved last Friday. It also accounts for more than 22 percent of the $83.088 million budget request approved by the board.
Along with the budget, the board approved a $3 per ticket increase for general public and student season football tickets, increasing the prices to $42 and $22 per game, respectively.
Working with the board’s figure of $18.3 million, the ticket increase would bring in $1.3 million for the season. If that were the case, a 7.14 percent price increase would generate a similar percentage of the expected football ticket revenue for the department.
But is an additional $21 out of every season ticket holder’s pocket necessary for just a 7.1 percent increase when state unemployment rates reached 8.7 percent in December 2009?
The answer, in short, is yes.
A $3 per ticket hike represents a 7.14 percent increase, which is greater than the average ticket price increase (5.3 percent) in 2010 for the Milwaukee Brewers but less than the increase (up to 15 percent) announced by the Green Bay Packers last month.
Likewise, the University of Wisconsin remains sixth in the Big Ten in terms of ticket prices and the $42 price tag is less than the conference average of $44 per ticket.
Ticket prices for the university’s other two revenue-generating sports — men’s basketball and men’s hockey — remain unchanged, as they have since 2006 and 2005, respectively.
The board’s decisions were expected and the ticket increase for football was the first by the UW in any major sport since increasing football ticket prices in 2007.
Based on rising costs for team travel, scholarships, and equipment (among other things) it’s clear a $3 increase was necessary for the financial sustainability of the Athletic Department. Since the last ticket price hike in 2007, tuition alone at the university has gone up $1,125.36 (15.6 percent) from $7,188.40 to $8,313.76.
Considering tuition makes up a significant portion of the full and partial scholarships awarded to approximately 350 athletes annually, the rising costs of tuition have certainly had a significant impact on the Athletic Department. According to the department’s 2008-09 annual report, UW scholarship costs are expected to reach $10 million per year by 2011.
Of its $83 million budget, only 30 percent is “guaranteed” money according to what John Jentz, the associate athletic director for business operations told the finance, facilities and operations committee last week.
The other 70 percent comes from fans, including (but not limited to) ticket revenues.
Though the UW has 23 Division I sports, the Athletic Department relies on football to generate more than two-thirds of its ticket revenue. Through that revenue, and a five percent budget cut for 22 of 23 sports next year, the Athletic Department expects a surplus of just over $100,000.
Since the sizes of Camp Randall Stadium and the Kohl Center cannot easily be increased, the only logical way to increase revenue is through raising ticket prices.
Furthermore, based on the average time between raising ticket prices, the board easily could have increased prices by $3 in men’s basketball as well, generating another $900,000 in revenue based on the team’s average attendance over 18 home games last season.
Doing so would give the Athletic Department a generous surplus of more than $1 million, as opposed to a slim positive margin of a little more than $100,000. Such a surplus could even negate the need to make five percent budget cuts for the second of three consecutive years.
But by choosing to forego raising basketball (and hockey) ticket prices for another year, as well as cutting the budget by five percent for all but one sport, the board showed concern for the current economic climate while also addressing its own financial needs.
There was simply no other way for the department to remain financially self-sufficient and support 23 Division I sports without making more significant budget cuts.
For that, the UW Athletic Board should be commended for the $3 ticket increase.
That sum is the amount of money expected from football ticket sales by the University of Wisconsin Athletic Board in its 2010-11 budget approved last Friday. It also accounts for more than 22 percent of the $83.088 million budget request approved by the board.
Along with the budget, the board approved a $3 per ticket increase for general public and student season football tickets, increasing the prices to $42 and $22 per game, respectively.
Working with the board’s figure of $18.3 million, the ticket increase would bring in $1.3 million for the season. If that were the case, a 7.14 percent price increase would generate a similar percentage of the expected football ticket revenue for the department.
But is an additional $21 out of every season ticket holder’s pocket necessary for just a 7.1 percent increase when state unemployment rates reached 8.7 percent in December 2009?
The answer, in short, is yes.
A $3 per ticket hike represents a 7.14 percent increase, which is greater than the average ticket price increase (5.3 percent) in 2010 for the Milwaukee Brewers but less than the increase (up to 15 percent) announced by the Green Bay Packers last month.
Likewise, the University of Wisconsin remains sixth in the Big Ten in terms of ticket prices and the $42 price tag is less than the conference average of $44 per ticket.
Ticket prices for the university’s other two revenue-generating sports — men’s basketball and men’s hockey — remain unchanged, as they have since 2006 and 2005, respectively.
The board’s decisions were expected and the ticket increase for football was the first by the UW in any major sport since increasing football ticket prices in 2007.
Based on rising costs for team travel, scholarships, and equipment (among other things) it’s clear a $3 increase was necessary for the financial sustainability of the Athletic Department. Since the last ticket price hike in 2007, tuition alone at the university has gone up $1,125.36 (15.6 percent) from $7,188.40 to $8,313.76.
Considering tuition makes up a significant portion of the full and partial scholarships awarded to approximately 350 athletes annually, the rising costs of tuition have certainly had a significant impact on the Athletic Department. According to the department’s 2008-09 annual report, UW scholarship costs are expected to reach $10 million per year by 2011.
Of its $83 million budget, only 30 percent is “guaranteed” money according to what John Jentz, the associate athletic director for business operations told the finance, facilities and operations committee last week.
The other 70 percent comes from fans, including (but not limited to) ticket revenues.
Though the UW has 23 Division I sports, the Athletic Department relies on football to generate more than two-thirds of its ticket revenue. Through that revenue, and a five percent budget cut for 22 of 23 sports next year, the Athletic Department expects a surplus of just over $100,000.
Since the sizes of Camp Randall Stadium and the Kohl Center cannot easily be increased, the only logical way to increase revenue is through raising ticket prices.
Furthermore, based on the average time between raising ticket prices, the board easily could have increased prices by $3 in men’s basketball as well, generating another $900,000 in revenue based on the team’s average attendance over 18 home games last season.
Doing so would give the Athletic Department a generous surplus of more than $1 million, as opposed to a slim positive margin of a little more than $100,000. Such a surplus could even negate the need to make five percent budget cuts for the second of three consecutive years.
But by choosing to forego raising basketball (and hockey) ticket prices for another year, as well as cutting the budget by five percent for all but one sport, the board showed concern for the current economic climate while also addressing its own financial needs.
There was simply no other way for the department to remain financially self-sufficient and support 23 Division I sports without making more significant budget cuts.
For that, the UW Athletic Board should be commended for the $3 ticket increase.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wisconsin-St. Cloud live blog
With our website down for server and other upgrades, please join The Badger Herald for live blog coverage via this blog.
Last night's game between Wisconsin and St. Cloud State got ugly near the end of the second period, so tonight's series finale is all the more important for UW. A big mistake by goaltender Scott Gudmandson — who said afterward he would not do anything differently — led to the Huskies second goal.
That goal, one of the easiest you'll see, seemed to completely turn the momentum of the game in favor of SCSU.
Sports Editors Jordan Schelling and Max Henson will provide play-by-play and color commentary of all of tonight's action as the No. 3 Badgers host the No. 4 Huskies at the Kohl Center.
Click Here to join our live blog
Last night's game between Wisconsin and St. Cloud State got ugly near the end of the second period, so tonight's series finale is all the more important for UW. A big mistake by goaltender Scott Gudmandson — who said afterward he would not do anything differently — led to the Huskies second goal.
That goal, one of the easiest you'll see, seemed to completely turn the momentum of the game in favor of SCSU.
Sports Editors Jordan Schelling and Max Henson will provide play-by-play and color commentary of all of tonight's action as the No. 3 Badgers host the No. 4 Huskies at the Kohl Center.
Click Here to join our live blog
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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Monday, February 15, 2010
MBB recap, sidebar 2/15
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By Jordan Schelling
The Badger Herald
Badgers win rebounding, turnover battle
By Jordan Schelling
The Badger Herald
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Economy more important than rising federal debt
Weapons of mass destruction.
We’re all aware there were none in Iraq, despite the widespread reports to the contrary leading up to the Iraq War in 2003. Unless of course, you consider the damage such reports had on former President George W. Bush’s reputation. Seven years later and Republicans are using WMDs of their own.
You see, when the White House and President Obama released a new budget Feb. 1, it included a significant amount of increased spending to create new jobs. As a result, the deficit is projected to be $1.3 trillion in fiscal 2011 alone. Yet, given the current state of the economy, it would be hard to argue against such budget provisions. But that’s exactly what Republican leaders are doing, and it’s not exactly like their tactics are new either.
Just as they did seven years ago with WMDs, they’ve created a false concern — this time being the rising federal debt — to exploit and instill fear about in Americans that typically don’t trust politicians, yet have put plenty of stock in the need to reduce the deficit.
The truth is, the deficit is not and should not be a primary concern. Projections show the interest payments on federal debt will rise to 3.5 percent of G.D.P. by 2020, a number that sounds high, but changes when put into context. Compared to the interest costs under the first President Bush — 20 years ago — the payments are roughly the same.
Like most areas of politics, the debate over the national debt depends on the way you frame the questions and facts. Sure, America’s “sea of red ink” is something that should not get much larger or be allowed to grow for too long, but it’s not the biggest concern.
Obama and his administration should be commended for increasing spending in the face of the rising federal debt to provide something that truly is important: more jobs. Unemployment among households making $12,499 or less was an incredible 30.8 percent during the last quarter of 2009, or significantly higher than the overall jobless rate during the height of the Depression.
These people need a lot of help, and hopefully, the increased governmental spending will give it to them.
Then again, maybe we should ask them if the federal debt is an issue?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Column 2/1
A Schelling For Your Thoughts
The Badger Herald
Sunday, January 31, 2010
What are the costs of 'job creation'?
In a speech of nearly 4,800 words, Gov. Jim Doyle used the word “jobs” 27 times Tuesday night in his final State of the State. While Doyle’s obvious focus on jobs and the economy is a commendable, if predictable effort, it is important to take an objective look at the current state of the economy in the state of Wisconsin.
One of the biggest problems in doing so, however, is the contradictory nature of the Governor’s speech and that of 2010 Republican candidate Scott Walker. Whereas Doyle suggests tax credits have made Wisconsin an appealing place for companies to move their operations, Walker suggested in his speech “by almost any measure, Wisconsin is no longer considered a good place to do business.”
So, the question then remains whether Doyle or Walker is right. According to Walker, the state of Wisconsin has lost 160,000 jobs in the past two years. Doyle, on the other hand, points to companies like Mercury Marine, which opted to remain in Wisconsin despite the economic hardships it was facing, keeping thousands of jobs in the state. Yet Doyle’s use of the term “thousands” is far less specific and therefore much less convincing than Walker’s figure of 160,000 jobs.
Considering Doyle took the “victory lap” approach to his final State of the State speech and Walker currently is seeking the office of governor, it’s quite possible that they’re both right.
Doyle simply left out those things that shine a negative light on his time in office. Walker took those same things and used them to his advantage, making Doyle’s accomplishments as governor look far less impressive.
However you look at it, though, the state of the economy — which was the title of Walker’s speech — remains poor at best. Instead of improving the situation, the political rhetoric between Doyle and Walker has done nothing more than confuse the citizens of Wisconsin.
Where the two agree, though, is that Wisconsin needs to create more jobs. How they expect to do so, however, differs quite greatly. Whereas Doyle wants to use the Clean Energy Jobs Act, the CORE Jobs Act and global warming legislation to add thousands of jobs, Walker believes reducing tax rates in Wisconsin is the only true way to fix the state of the economy.
According to a study by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute — which also was cited in Walker’s speech — more than 43,000 jobs could be lost as a result of the “expensive policies and regulations” favored by the Governor. Walker also added that another study says the price of gasoline could rise by 61 cents per gallon as well, on top of the current state average of $2.636 per gallon.
If Walker and the studies he cites are correct, Doyle’s policies are simply irresponsible and could prove to make the Wisconsin economy even worse than it is currently. According to the same study by the WPRI, global warming legislation would reduce annual wages by $1.6 billion, and disposable income would decrease by $1,012 per capita.
Wisconsin has already lost 160,000 “high-wage” manufacturing jobs since 2000 and such global warming legislation as Doyle has proposed would continue such a trend. The paper manufacturing sector in particular would suffer greatly from Doyle’s proposed legislation. An additional 3,496 jobs would be lost in the paper industry and investment would drop by $1.8 million by 2020 if the 12 Task Force policies were implemented, according to a letter signed by 23 business groups expressing concern with the legislation.
Doyle’s speech advocated job creation. Taking jobs from one sector and moving them to another is not, however, truly job creation. In fact, the reality of Doyle’s favored job creation legislation proposals almost certainly includes significant job loss.
If Doyle truly wants to create more jobs, he should focus on Wisconsin’s current industries rather than adding news jobs in new industries that replace those pre-existing jobs.
Friday, January 29, 2010
MBB gamer/sidebar 1/29
By Jordan Schelling
The Badger Herald
No late game heroics for UW this time around
By Jordan Schelling
The Badger Herald
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Column 1/25
A Schelling For Your Thoughts
The Badger Herald
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
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