From The Stables - Notes From the Desk of Director of Athletics Nico Yantko
12/23/2024 2:59:00 PM | General
Racer Nation,
I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Marnie, Chaney, Gino, and I. We have spent the last few weeks celebrating at the Christmas parade, Main Street Merriment, and many other great activities and events. There truly is no better time in Murray, Kentucky, than the holiday season!
We are nearing the halfway point of the 2024-25 athletic year, and we are thrilled with the amount of progress that we have made since our last update in September and in October when we mailed out our strategic plan, The Race Is On.
We are prepared for all possibilities as we move closer to a new reality within college athletics. As you will see through the updates in this letter, we are excited to further execute our vision for shared success in this new era.
CFSB CENTER PROJECT UPDATE
The Board of Regents formally approved plans to begin the design process for the long-awaited renovation to the CFSB Center during their winter meeting on Friday, Dec. 13. This is extremely exciting news as we continue to work towards this long-overdue update to the home of Racer Basketball.
The massive, eight-figure project, which is being funded through private donor contributions, will enhance the overall game day experience for fans with new premium spaces and overall seating upgrades. Other activations throughout the space will allow the department to focus on its two key priorities of recruiting and revenue.
We will communicate more information over the coming months regarding progress on the venue, premium seating processes, renewals and more.
The CFSB Center will continue to serve as the region's premier entertainment hub and will be able to attract exciting, new concerts, trade shows and events as a result of these new renovations. The facility hosts over 150 events annually in addition to serving as home of Murray State basketball and the University's commencement ceremonies. We are excited to further welcome these opportunities to our community for years to come.
Over the coming months, the department will be sending out communication regarding progress on the venue, premium seating processes, renewals and more. If you are interested in new premium seating, please fill out the interest form by clicking HERE or contact the Murray State Ticket Office at (270) 809-3000. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE about the exciting new vision for the home of Racer Basketball.
LEON OWENS WINNER'S CIRCLE & PERFORMANCE CENTER
We were thrilled to announce the Leon Owens Winner's Circle & Performance Center outside of the CFSB Center to forever etch the legacy of Chairman Owens into Racer Athletics history and memorialize the impact he has made on every single current and future student-athlete.
The unveiling of the Winner's Circle & Performance Center, and the groundbreaking of the plaza within it, marks the first phase of the CFSB Center renovation project and is a testament to his commitment to each of our more than 430 student-athletes.
Chairman Owens has helped lead our department through one of the most prosperous and innovative periods in department history, and we cannot thank him enough for everything he has done for everyone at Murray State.
CFSB GIFT
We were so excited to announce that Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) committed a transformational $2 million gift towards the CFSB Center and other strategic initiatives.
The generous contribution has secured the naming rights for the first-of-its-kind bunker club, one of the most prominent new features of the arena project, and continues one of the department's longest-standing partnerships for years to come.
We are so grateful for Jason Jones and the entire team at CFSB for all that they have done to support Racer Athletics, and cannot wait for the opening of this innovative premium space to enhance fan experience for Racer Nation.
HOUSE SETTLEMENT UPDATE
Along with the progress we are making with our strategic plan, The Race is On, facilities and our transition into the MVC and MVFC, we are hard at work preparing for the major changes that are coming to college athletics, particularly those related to the recent House vs. NCAA court case that we have previously discussed.
The court's pending final decision in the House case will allow athletic departments to disburse portions of their revenue to student-athletes.
As we anticipate the ruling in April, this will be a fundamental change to the way we operate, and our challenge is to find a balance between providing competitive NIL licensing compensation to student-athletes while still funding and growing the core operations of our department, as we continue to transition into the MVC and MVFC, respectively.
This change will require us to be innovative in resource acquisition and allocation. We plan to be surgical in finding new revenue opportunities and maximizing our current revenue streams. A top priority in our arena renovation is to create new resources through premium seating and entertainment offerings. We would not be in this position without the many investors who have stepped up to fund this project privately, so that we can sustain these new reoccurring revenue streams and allocate them strategically.
Change always brings opportunity and we are excited to embrace the future!
Here is a quick run-down of "Need To Know" info:
AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE AND PREPARE FOR THE APRIL 7, 2025, COURT RULING FROM JUDGE WILKINS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE AS FREQUENTLY AS WE CAN TO PREPARE FOR THE NEW REALITY OF OUR EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE.
April 7, 2025 – Court Ruling/NCAA House Settlement Primary Changes
DENNIS JACKSON LEADERSHIP PROGRAM/STUDENT-ATHLETE ENGAGEMENT UPDATES
After our record-breaking year in 2023-24 when we set a new departmental community service record, our student-athletes have been hard at work throughout Murray/Calloway County and the surrounding areas to give back and break our record once again.
In 2024-25, we have:
In addition to the community service and academic aspects of the Dennis Jackson Leadership Program, our student-athletes have participated in additional programming related to financial literacy, career readiness, and mental health.
ARCH MADNESS/HOOPS IN THE HEARTLAND
It is time to start making plans to support our men's and women's basketball programs at State Farm Arch Madness in St. Louis and the Credit Union 1 MVC Women's Basketball Tournament in Evansville.
From now through the deadline on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, Racer fans get a discounted price of $175 per ticket to attend Arch Madness. Tickets can be purchased through the Murray State Ticket Office at the CFSB Center, by calling (270) 809-3000 or by clicking HERE. The Marriott St. Louis Grand is the official hotel of the Racers for Arch Madness and will be the hub of activity for the Murray State team, staff, spirit groups and fans. You can reserve a room in the block by clicking HERE.
Tickets for the Credit Union 1 MVC Women's Basketball Tournament in Evansville are now available as well and can be purchased HERE.
* * *
We are making an incredible amount of progress TOGETHER, and we are excited to continue and work alongside you, our loyal investors, supporters, and fans, to elevate the status and profile of Murray State Athletics in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and nationally.
It is a privilege to serve as your Director of Athletics, and I look forward to sharing more incredible news with you all in our next letter.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and as always…the BEST is yet to come!
Go Racers
Nico Yantko
I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Marnie, Chaney, Gino, and I. We have spent the last few weeks celebrating at the Christmas parade, Main Street Merriment, and many other great activities and events. There truly is no better time in Murray, Kentucky, than the holiday season!
We are nearing the halfway point of the 2024-25 athletic year, and we are thrilled with the amount of progress that we have made since our last update in September and in October when we mailed out our strategic plan, The Race Is On.
We are prepared for all possibilities as we move closer to a new reality within college athletics. As you will see through the updates in this letter, we are excited to further execute our vision for shared success in this new era.
CFSB CENTER PROJECT UPDATE
The Board of Regents formally approved plans to begin the design process for the long-awaited renovation to the CFSB Center during their winter meeting on Friday, Dec. 13. This is extremely exciting news as we continue to work towards this long-overdue update to the home of Racer Basketball.
The massive, eight-figure project, which is being funded through private donor contributions, will enhance the overall game day experience for fans with new premium spaces and overall seating upgrades. Other activations throughout the space will allow the department to focus on its two key priorities of recruiting and revenue.
We will communicate more information over the coming months regarding progress on the venue, premium seating processes, renewals and more.
The CFSB Center will continue to serve as the region's premier entertainment hub and will be able to attract exciting, new concerts, trade shows and events as a result of these new renovations. The facility hosts over 150 events annually in addition to serving as home of Murray State basketball and the University's commencement ceremonies. We are excited to further welcome these opportunities to our community for years to come.
Over the coming months, the department will be sending out communication regarding progress on the venue, premium seating processes, renewals and more. If you are interested in new premium seating, please fill out the interest form by clicking HERE or contact the Murray State Ticket Office at (270) 809-3000. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE about the exciting new vision for the home of Racer Basketball.
LEON OWENS WINNER'S CIRCLE & PERFORMANCE CENTER
We were thrilled to announce the Leon Owens Winner's Circle & Performance Center outside of the CFSB Center to forever etch the legacy of Chairman Owens into Racer Athletics history and memorialize the impact he has made on every single current and future student-athlete.
The unveiling of the Winner's Circle & Performance Center, and the groundbreaking of the plaza within it, marks the first phase of the CFSB Center renovation project and is a testament to his commitment to each of our more than 430 student-athletes.
🫶 Looking back on a TRANSFORMATIONAL day for Murray State Athletics! Thankful for Leon Owens and his continual impact! #GoRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/rur517SBwf
— Murray State Racers Athletics (@MSURacers) December 16, 2024
Chairman Owens has helped lead our department through one of the most prosperous and innovative periods in department history, and we cannot thank him enough for everything he has done for everyone at Murray State.
CFSB GIFT
We were so excited to announce that Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) committed a transformational $2 million gift towards the CFSB Center and other strategic initiatives.
The generous contribution has secured the naming rights for the first-of-its-kind bunker club, one of the most prominent new features of the arena project, and continues one of the department's longest-standing partnerships for years to come.
A 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 investment from @CFSBank 👏
— Murray State Racers Athletics (@MSURacers) December 11, 2024
So thankful for CFSB's continued support of our shared vision for excellence!
🔗: https://t.co/FG7AmYDL5S
GoRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/ic8i6P2j5i
We are so grateful for Jason Jones and the entire team at CFSB for all that they have done to support Racer Athletics, and cannot wait for the opening of this innovative premium space to enhance fan experience for Racer Nation.
HOUSE SETTLEMENT UPDATE
Along with the progress we are making with our strategic plan, The Race is On, facilities and our transition into the MVC and MVFC, we are hard at work preparing for the major changes that are coming to college athletics, particularly those related to the recent House vs. NCAA court case that we have previously discussed.
The court's pending final decision in the House case will allow athletic departments to disburse portions of their revenue to student-athletes.
As we anticipate the ruling in April, this will be a fundamental change to the way we operate, and our challenge is to find a balance between providing competitive NIL licensing compensation to student-athletes while still funding and growing the core operations of our department, as we continue to transition into the MVC and MVFC, respectively.
This change will require us to be innovative in resource acquisition and allocation. We plan to be surgical in finding new revenue opportunities and maximizing our current revenue streams. A top priority in our arena renovation is to create new resources through premium seating and entertainment offerings. We would not be in this position without the many investors who have stepped up to fund this project privately, so that we can sustain these new reoccurring revenue streams and allocate them strategically.
Change always brings opportunity and we are excited to embrace the future!
Here is a quick run-down of "Need To Know" info:
- The House vs. NCAA Settlement represents a landmark $2.8 billion agreement that fundamentally changes college athletics – allowing direct payment to student-athletes and establishing a revenue-sharing model.
- Under this settlement, schools will be able to pay athletes up to $22 million annually (representing 22% of the average Power 5 school's revenues) with payments starting Fall 2025.
- The settlement also eliminates scholarship caps in favor of roster limits, and provides back pay to student-athletes who competed between 2016 and 2021 (this impacts the NCAA revenue distribution to each member institution).
- However, this massive shift in college athletics also creates new complexities around payment distribution, Title IX compliance, and athlete rights.
- On December 9, 2024 the NCAA released an informative Q&A to member institutions.
AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE AND PREPARE FOR THE APRIL 7, 2025, COURT RULING FROM JUDGE WILKINS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE AS FREQUENTLY AS WE CAN TO PREPARE FOR THE NEW REALITY OF OUR EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE.
April 7, 2025 – Court Ruling/NCAA House Settlement Primary Changes
- Direct Payment to athletics (Revenue Share)
- Scholarship/Roster Caps
- NCAA Revenue Distribution (Back Pay to P5 athletes from 2016-2021)
DENNIS JACKSON LEADERSHIP PROGRAM/STUDENT-ATHLETE ENGAGEMENT UPDATES
After our record-breaking year in 2023-24 when we set a new departmental community service record, our student-athletes have been hard at work throughout Murray/Calloway County and the surrounding areas to give back and break our record once again.
In 2024-25, we have:
- Completed 774 community service hours
- Served 28 organizations
- Raised over $10,000 for charitable organizations
- NCAA GSR Record Score – 94%
- Seven Programs with 100%
In addition to the community service and academic aspects of the Dennis Jackson Leadership Program, our student-athletes have participated in additional programming related to financial literacy, career readiness, and mental health.
ARCH MADNESS/HOOPS IN THE HEARTLAND
It is time to start making plans to support our men's and women's basketball programs at State Farm Arch Madness in St. Louis and the Credit Union 1 MVC Women's Basketball Tournament in Evansville.
From now through the deadline on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, Racer fans get a discounted price of $175 per ticket to attend Arch Madness. Tickets can be purchased through the Murray State Ticket Office at the CFSB Center, by calling (270) 809-3000 or by clicking HERE. The Marriott St. Louis Grand is the official hotel of the Racers for Arch Madness and will be the hub of activity for the Murray State team, staff, spirit groups and fans. You can reserve a room in the block by clicking HERE.
Tickets for the Credit Union 1 MVC Women's Basketball Tournament in Evansville are now available as well and can be purchased HERE.
* * *
We are making an incredible amount of progress TOGETHER, and we are excited to continue and work alongside you, our loyal investors, supporters, and fans, to elevate the status and profile of Murray State Athletics in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and nationally.
It is a privilege to serve as your Director of Athletics, and I look forward to sharing more incredible news with you all in our next letter.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and as always…the BEST is yet to come!
Go Racers
Nico Yantko
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