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I just think its all in the way its marketed/presented/sold to the consumer as to whether funds need to be directed to specific sportsI actually really like that idea... here's my thing being totally transparent, if they get donations for those it probably will be earmarked for tennis and golf. And I'm not sure that's their primary target. We've talked a long time on here about how we lose really good Nebraska high school golfers to places like Kansas due to facilities, and I'm not sure they want to lose some revenue dollars to those sports. To that point, maybe the people donating would be fine if it went towards football or basketball, but would it be a bad look for golf or tennis?
If 1890 is in the business of selling experiences to fans (while also soliciting donations that aren’t attached to an experience) those are two different items IMO.
1890 facilitating the sale of private lockers at Dillon and coordination on use of the golf and tennis facilities, offering private lessons/instruction with the staff, where they are collecting money in exchange for those services probably has more leeway on how they want to use those funds, albeit some percentage probably has to (and should) be allocated to those respective sports. But if you can raise ~$200k in “memberships” to Dillon and Golf Facilities a year and make a commitment to the tennis and golf staffs that you can help them get a few extra players (can’t imagine NIL for those sports being overly exorbitant) while using the rest towards football, that feels like a win, no?
At a minimum for golf and tennis alike, being able to sell a round of golf with someone on the current team or to hit balls with someone on the M/W tennis teams for a few hundred bucks feels like an easy win for 1890 to facilitate as well.
Other thoughts…
“Husker for a Weekend” experience sleeping in Selleck Dorms, eating at the training table, lifting in the weight room, doing some drills on the field, etc could be a cool once a year thing
Peeds obviously own Dormie Network which often auctions off member for a year deals at charity events - can they do the same through 1890 to raise some funds that way?
The alumni association hosts game watches nationwide.. is there a way to incorporate 1890 into those game watches/events in some way?
For hoops, early access to watch pre-game shootaround, being able to shoot hoops on the court after the game, attend a basketball practice, etc. Hell I’d even auction off being able to travel with the team to a road game on the team charter, stay in the hotel, etc.
Part of the issue is you run into overlap with benefits from the Husker Athletic Fund which also needs to raise money and probably doesn’t want 1890 infringing on the benefits they are offering, which is where I think selling things like Dillon Tennis facility lockers, use of the golf facilities, etc doesn’t directly compete with HAF, doesn’t require a massive staffing lift because the infrastructure is already there, etc