Texas A&M AD shares candid opinion about naming rights to Kyle Field
As programs across the SEC continue to ramp up expectations for newer and better facilities, revenue must follow suit. So athletics directors like Ross Bjork are looking for creative ways to generate new dollars.
However, the Texas A&M AD knows what tradition is like at College Station and has no plans to add advertising in front of “Kyle Field.”
“There are some things I learned quickly that are sacred,” Bjork said as he’s four months on the job as Texas A&M’s athletic director, the Houston Chronicle reported. “Kyle Field is one of them.”
That doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to add revenue from signage around campus.
“I do think that there are some sponsor-activation things that you could do that are tasteful while still protecting the tradition,” he said Tuesday. “The key is ‘tradition with innovation.’ How do you blend those two?”
A&M has made large transactions in recent years between Kevin Sumlin’s $10 million buyout, and Jimbo Fisher’s $75 million deal over 10 years. There was also a basketball move between Billy Kennedy and Buzz Williams.
That’s why achieving “financial stability” in the department is his most important task at hand.
“Even though we have great resources here, every penny matters,” he said. “Every dollar matters. Every 100 dollars matter. Those sorts of transitional costs are pricey. The good thing is (A&M) had a plan. Our (department) CFO Jeff Toole had a plan, and our 12th Man Foundation had a plan. We have a plan, but the next couple of years are tight, so every penny matters. Now it’s all about how we can grow our revenues.”