Murray State University Athletics
From The Stables - Letter From the Desk of Director of Athletics Nico Yantko
9/21/2026 2:03:00 PM | General
Racer Nation,
There has never been a more exciting time to be a Murray State Racer.
We want to thank everyone who made Family Weekend a success, from the students and fans who had the stadium rocking that led to a big football win and the postgame Drone Show that lit up the skies of Murray thanks to our premier partner CFSB. It was also incredibly special to honor and thank our servicemen and servicewomen, along with our first responders, as part of our Salute To Service celebration.
We are looking forward to continuing to share these incredible experiences with you throughout the year.
Last week, the University's Board of Regents approved the institution's plan to create new University-affiliated auxiliary enterprises, and we are proud to announce Racer Sports & Entertainment, LLC.
This is a transformational opportunity for our department and will have a profound impact on the future of Racer Athletics.
RACER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT, LLC
The creation of Racer Sports & Entertainment will allow us to accelerate commercial growth, drive innovation, and support the long-term success of Murray State Athletics by supporting our student-athletes and teams to compete for and win championships and enhancing the overall fan experience.
Additionally, it will be the lead driver of the previously announced Racer Entertainment Village, a vibrant live-work-play-cheer destination designed to serve the campus, community, and visitors year-round that will fuel regional economic growth.
Racer Sports & Entertainment is a key component in elevating Murray State on the national level, both within intercollegiate athletics and higher education. Our institution has an innovative and strategic mindset, and the launch of this auxiliary enterprise will benefit our key athletics stakeholders and the community as a whole.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Racer Sports & Entertainment.
RACER ENTERTAINMENT VILLAGE
As you are aware, we are currently working on the feasibility study for this venture with Campbell Coyle, the fully-integrated, nationally-recognized development firm selected to oversee this process. The feasibility study will continue throughout the fall, and will give us a detailed roadmap for future opportunities on our athletics footprint.
The firm has already begun meeting with campus and community stakeholders, and there has been fruitful dialogue that Campbell Coyle has used to begin shaping the vision of the 32-plus acre footprint of Racer Entertainment Village.
You can learn more about the project, including a conceptual map of the 32-acre footprint, by CLICKING HERE.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
Across our athletics footprint, the progress of our ongoing capital projects continues at an incredible pace. Most notably, the transformation of the CFSB Center is moving closer to completion as we prepare to welcome Racer Nation back inside for basketball season.
Every detail of this project has been designed with our student-athletes and fans in mind, and we are thrilled for you to experience a completely reimagined home for Racer Basketball.
We also recently celebrated a ceremonial ribbon cutting at Owens Family Field, the new home of Racer Softball. This is just another example of the transformational impact that the Owens Family continues to have on the success of women's sports.
And there is more coming.
As mentioned in my last communique, the new videoboard at Rudolph Family Field at Roy Stewart Stadium has broken ground, further enhancing the experience for our student-athletes, fans and community, and we continue working towards new updates on the Jim & Sue Cash Family Clubhouse, the Draffen Family Founders Club and the Sandra Hartmann Press Box.
There is still significant work ahead, but the visible and impactful progress being made across our facilities is another reminder that we are building something special at Murray State — not simply for today, but for generations of Racers to come.
COUNTDOWN TO RACER BASKETBALL
Racer Basketball is less than 50 days away, and with both our men's and women's programs now having completed schedules, the excitement continues to build for what should be a memorable 2026-27 season.
We are excited about the leadership of our coaching staffs, the talent within our rosters and the opportunity that both programs will have to compete for championships while representing Murray State at the highest level.
As we look ahead towards the completion of the CFSB Center, now is the time to make sure you purchase your tickets for the 2026-27 Murray State men's basketball season. Tickets to women's basketball games are free once again thanks to CFSB!
A limited number of loge boxes and courtside seats remain for the 2026-27 season, while ledge seating is completely sold out. For more information on how to purchase a loge box, CLICK HERE, or call the Murray State Ticket Office at (270) 809-3000.
The future of Racer Athletics continues to take shape, and we are just getting started.
The best is yet to come!
Go Racers!
Nico Yantko
Vice President & Director of Athletics
There has never been a more exciting time to be a Murray State Racer.
We want to thank everyone who made Family Weekend a success, from the students and fans who had the stadium rocking that led to a big football win and the postgame Drone Show that lit up the skies of Murray thanks to our premier partner CFSB. It was also incredibly special to honor and thank our servicemen and servicewomen, along with our first responders, as part of our Salute To Service celebration.
We are looking forward to continuing to share these incredible experiences with you throughout the year.
Last week, the University's Board of Regents approved the institution's plan to create new University-affiliated auxiliary enterprises, and we are proud to announce Racer Sports & Entertainment, LLC.
This is a transformational opportunity for our department and will have a profound impact on the future of Racer Athletics.
RACER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT, LLC
The creation of Racer Sports & Entertainment will allow us to accelerate commercial growth, drive innovation, and support the long-term success of Murray State Athletics by supporting our student-athletes and teams to compete for and win championships and enhancing the overall fan experience.
Additionally, it will be the lead driver of the previously announced Racer Entertainment Village, a vibrant live-work-play-cheer destination designed to serve the campus, community, and visitors year-round that will fuel regional economic growth.
🏇📈 A defining moment for Murray State Athletics.
— Murray State Racers Athletics (@MSURacers) September 18, 2026
Introducing 𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙍𝙏𝙎 & 𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙏𝘼𝙄𝙉𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏, 𝙇𝙇𝘾 — built to drive innovation and position the Racers for sustainable success.
📰: https://t.co/jRFuY5ObLG
🔗: https://t.co/E4GZq8Gc35#GoRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/ETdHs1NY54
Racer Sports & Entertainment is a key component in elevating Murray State on the national level, both within intercollegiate athletics and higher education. Our institution has an innovative and strategic mindset, and the launch of this auxiliary enterprise will benefit our key athletics stakeholders and the community as a whole.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Racer Sports & Entertainment.
RACER ENTERTAINMENT VILLAGE
As you are aware, we are currently working on the feasibility study for this venture with Campbell Coyle, the fully-integrated, nationally-recognized development firm selected to oversee this process. The feasibility study will continue throughout the fall, and will give us a detailed roadmap for future opportunities on our athletics footprint.
The firm has already begun meeting with campus and community stakeholders, and there has been fruitful dialogue that Campbell Coyle has used to begin shaping the vision of the 32-plus acre footprint of Racer Entertainment Village.
🏠 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘.⁰💼 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞.⁰🏀 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬.⁰🎉 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗥.
— Murray State Racers Athletics (@MSURacers) July 22, 2026
Murray State Athletics will begin the feasibility study process of 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗚𝗘, a cutting-edge, mixed-use entertainment district!
🔗: https://t.co/elydZv3yWr#GoRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/68Ho8IfM74
You can learn more about the project, including a conceptual map of the 32-acre footprint, by CLICKING HERE.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
Across our athletics footprint, the progress of our ongoing capital projects continues at an incredible pace. Most notably, the transformation of the CFSB Center is moving closer to completion as we prepare to welcome Racer Nation back inside for basketball season.
Every detail of this project has been designed with our student-athletes and fans in mind, and we are thrilled for you to experience a completely reimagined home for Racer Basketball.
We also recently celebrated a ceremonial ribbon cutting at Owens Family Field, the new home of Racer Softball. This is just another example of the transformational impact that the Owens Family continues to have on the success of women's sports.
🥎 Investing in the future of @RacersSoftball!
— Murray State Racers Athletics (@MSURacers) September 11, 2026
Today we unveiled the newly named home of Racer Softball, 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱!
🔗: https://t.co/T9VOKgkfPy#GoRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/3wu1kd6Ttn
And there is more coming.
As mentioned in my last communique, the new videoboard at Rudolph Family Field at Roy Stewart Stadium has broken ground, further enhancing the experience for our student-athletes, fans and community, and we continue working towards new updates on the Jim & Sue Cash Family Clubhouse, the Draffen Family Founders Club and the Sandra Hartmann Press Box.
There is still significant work ahead, but the visible and impactful progress being made across our facilities is another reminder that we are building something special at Murray State — not simply for today, but for generations of Racers to come.
COUNTDOWN TO RACER BASKETBALL
Racer Basketball is less than 50 days away, and with both our men's and women's programs now having completed schedules, the excitement continues to build for what should be a memorable 2026-27 season.
𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 🚨🚨
— Murray State Men's Basketball (@RacersHoops) September 17, 2026
Our Missouri Valley Conference schedule has been announced!
🔗: https://t.co/Cop6oFo5MJ#GoRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/94CO1UbmBZ
The 2026-27 @MVCsports Schedule is HERE‼️#GoRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/wKTqjoytEH
— Murray State Women's Basketball (@RacersWBB) September 18, 2026
We are excited about the leadership of our coaching staffs, the talent within our rosters and the opportunity that both programs will have to compete for championships while representing Murray State at the highest level.
As we look ahead towards the completion of the CFSB Center, now is the time to make sure you purchase your tickets for the 2026-27 Murray State men's basketball season. Tickets to women's basketball games are free once again thanks to CFSB!
A limited number of loge boxes and courtside seats remain for the 2026-27 season, while ledge seating is completely sold out. For more information on how to purchase a loge box, CLICK HERE, or call the Murray State Ticket Office at (270) 809-3000.
The future of Racer Athletics continues to take shape, and we are just getting started.
The best is yet to come!
Go Racers!
Nico Yantko
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Tuesday, September 15
Sunday, September 13
Friday, September 11
Tuesday, September 08
