Ask the AD Transcript - August 2, 2019 - Kansas State University Athletics

ASK THE AD - GENE TAYLOR

August 1, 2019

K-State Director of Athletics Gene Taylor discusses a number of topics and fields a few submitted questions in the latest edition of Ask the AD, hosted by K-State's Brian Smoller.

BS: Full slate of topics to cover today before we officially kickoff the 2019-20 season here in just a few days with football practice getting going. How was your summer, by the way?

GT: Summer's been great. It's a little slower in the summer in the athletic department. I was able to get out a little bit, play some golf, got in a little pool time. I took the week of the Fourth of July and went up to see friends in Minnesota and North Dakota and am going to take another week off here in a couple of days. It's been a great summer and I'm getting excited about that first game - I look at the countdown clock every day when I come into my office, I know exactly how many days we have left. It's been a great summer.

BS: With Bill Snyder Family Stadium selling out games consistently, are there plans to expand the seating? Seems like there's two things from this question that we want to get into from the outset … let's start first with the idea of Bill Snyder Family Stadium selling out, what are the benefits out there for those jumping on with season tickets.

GT: Season ticket holders get a lot of benefits. Obviously the priority seating, the opportunity to keep the same seats - they get first choice to be able to pick those tickets and seats and stay in those seats for a long time. We gave some early incentives. If you ordered back in December when Coach Klieman was hired, you got a mini football. We look at concessions discounts for season ticket holders. We do a lot of things to keep our season ticket (base) because it is strong, it's over 30,000. I read an article this morning about declining attendance across the country. We need to do everything we can, with both season tickets and single-game tickets - we want people to come to Bill Snyder Family Stadium. It's a great experience and we're always looking to improve that experience. We do have a lot of benefits - concessions discounts for season ticket holders, money off the processing fees, early ticket holders had a chance to get into a drawing for prizes like tickets to Mississippi State, Big 12 Basketball Tournament tickets. We do a lot to incentivize, so hopefully people continue to buy season tickets, and single game tickets.

BS: We'll talk about some of the new experiences in the stadium for football fans coming up here … the second half of this question is kind of about the master facilities plan in a roundabout way, what updates can you give us on that?

GT: On the first question, expanding the stadium capacity, we don't see that in our plans. It's just not in our plans to expand it. We're going to look at the South End Zone as part of our facility masterplan, which would include some more premium seating in terms of suites, club seating and loge seating. Obviously we'd go into Bramlage Coliseum and fix the Legend's Room and expand that, and then east and west entrances on Bramlage Coliseum. We're really going to look at focusing on the South End Zone in terms of football. We have the soccer facility that's going to be open for that first game later in August, the baseball project is going on now. We're working through what's next in terms of which projects we're going to come out - hopefully later this fall or early this fall, we're going to be able to announce what the projects are that we're going to be focusing on, along with the football project.

BS: All of those projects have been privately funded through the Ahearn Fund - tip of the cap here to the folks that have donated, the folks that work at the Ahearn Fund and the great job that they've been doing.

GT: It was a great year last year, in terms of the Ahearn Fund. It was our second year over $40 million in total fundraising, which includes the annual giving and our Ahearn Fund membership of over $18 million. We had some facility gifts towards the masterplan that got us to $44 million, which is a lot of money. We appreciate everyone who supports us at such a wonderful level - whether it's a $100 gift or a major gift, we need everybody. Those kind of gifts are helping us decide what our next moves are in the facility masterplan and we hope to announce something more significant here in the next few weeks.

BS: Just the second time ever over $40 million raised by K-State fans through the Ahearn Fund. Pretty impressive stuff. Again, thank you to those that have already contributed and continue to give for season tickets. It is supporting the student-athletes and scholarships and that is what you are doing with the Ahearn Fund. It is not tied into buildings necessarily but there are private gifts that are double-dipping into the Ahearn Fund and providing that support.

BS: We talked about the master facility plan. There was a question we got from Twitter from Andy R. Burns who asked: "What happens to Ahearn Fieldhouse a the completion of the facility masterplan?" because one of the projects is moving track and field and volleyball over here to the sports complex.

GT: That is a great question. That is a university facility. If we make it an opportunity to build both the volleyball venue and move track and field over, that will be a facility and those decisions will be up to the university and how best to utilize that particular facility. It is a great facility. It has a wonderful tradition and history. Obviously, it is being used by a lot of folks on campus. I'm sure it will be repurposed in some capacity, but those decisions will be left up to the folks with the university and not athletics.

BS: I think most people were surprised to find out that that is not an athletics owned facility and that it is owned by the campus.

GT: We have a great relationship with campus in terms of using it. It has had a great life and from volleyball's perspective, we need to be able to build a new venue for them and hopefully as part of the master plan we can in the next few years.

BS: We are still looking to rock the barn this year, as season tickets and single-game tickets are available now for volleyball as they get ready for what they think will be a very big bounce back season this season. Alright, back to football. As we look towards the football season cranking up. "What is something different football fans will see this year?" that comes from @KeySU1 on Twitter. So what will be something different?

GT: Actually, I brought a list because there were so many good things. Spacious new structure for the east side K-State Super Store which will be great for the fans coming in on the east side. Ride share pick-up and drop-off for both the east and west location parking lots which will be a nice fan amenity. Expanded beverage menu in the beer garden in the Goss Family tailgate area including margaritas. Additional pedestal scanners, so folks can get in faster and easier. So we won't have large groups waiting at the gates. Willie's Fun Zone for kids inside the stadium. New in-game production, including music and videos and all those kind of things which you will have to wait and come to that first game to see what those include. A lot of things our Fan Experience folks have worked on. Again, going back to my earlier comment. We need to make an enjoyable experience as much as we can whether you are a season-ticket holder or a single-game ticket holder. Once you come if it is the first time you come, you come back. If you have been here many times, you continue to come back.

BS: There is a great amount of people that are spending a lot of time trying to figure out how best to make the environment and the experience of coming to a football game something we want replicate and people to keep coming back.

GT: We really want that sold out stadium for that first game for Coach Klieman's era to start.

BS: No doubt. You mentioned the Goss Family terrace and the additional margaritas along with the beer that's already been serving up there. There are some other schools in the league that are throwing out beer and alcohol sales throughout the stadium for this year. That is a question that keeps coming up for us as well.

GT: We continue to talk about it. We aren't going to do anything this year for sure. One of the biggest questions, as we talk internally is, those that have gone to beer sales in the stadium also stopped the exit and re-entry. Oklahoma State had exit and re-entry and they stopped. Kansas had exit and re-entry, they stopped. So that would be the big thing for us and our fans. Do you want alcohol sales in the stands or do you want to be able to keep the exit and re-entry? You are not going to be able to have both and that is something we have to talk about. We will probably reach out to our fans and ask that question at some point. So, still a lot of discussion; no decision being made particularly in regards to football at this point and time.

BS: Having one or the other, pass outs or alcohol in the stadium. It is a very big dilemma and we would love to hear from our fans on what they thing about that.

GT: It is a big thing for our fanbase. Obviously, our parking is as good as it is anywhere in the country and the easy access to your cars. Some places don't have that. We certainly do and that is going to be a big decision as we move forward with this discussion.

BS: One guy I know that has asked that question quite a bit is @scottwildcat, our good friend. He's got another question. First of all he says, "Hi Gene. I hear you might be making an appearance on the most popular K-State fan podcast. Laugh if that is true."

GT (laughing): I just laughed, so I don't know if that is true or not.

BS: You may have just committed yourself. His question is "With the new Big 12 and ESPN+ (Big 12 Now on ESPN+), outside of live events, any additional programming along with K-StateHD.TV?"

GT: There is going to be a lot of programming. Over 150 events, both live including our first football game. Coach's show, pregame shows, postgame shows. Interviews with coaches. Probably a lot of camp stuff that we will be doing. To give our fans an opportunity to see that. So there is going to be a lot of information on ESPN+. It is going to be a great venue for our fans. We're still going to be able to have access. I think it is $4.99 a month. I think a lot of our fans already have it. We will probably be coming out soon, for those that don't, maybe help them through the process of how to download it and maybe even watch it at home as opposed to your app. It is going to be easy access for our fanbase and there is going to be a lot of K-State athletic related events on ESPN+. It is going to be a great opportunity.

BS: It is a great partnership for just the third-tier stuff of all the schools that are going to be doing it. I just read a report this morning, 90 million people watched something on an ESPN platform in the month of June. That is a lot of eyeballs. It is an exciting partnership.

GT: And great for our fanbase because they are going to be able to get it no matter where they are. If it is an iPhone or phone or a laptop or whatever. If they are at home and can't make it to the game, which we want you to still come to the game, they will be able to have access in a lot of areas as opposed to be having to be at home and watching it on TV.

BS: Absolutely. And congratulations to those of the K-StateHD.TV staff walking away with three Emmy Award nominations and an Emmy win.

GT: We have a talented group of folks in this department in those areas and congratulations to everybody for those efforts and very impressive efforts.

BS: Including Tyler Lockett, who was kind enough to partner with us. All-Pro receiver and now an Emmy winner. We appreciate the time. Thanks for joining us.

GT: Thanks. I look forward to many more of these throughout the course of the year and I can't wait for football to start.

BS: As we mentioned, love to hear back from you on the feedback on the beer and alcohol stuff and pass-outs but beyond that also on the questions that are on Twitter keep them coming. Gene will answer what he can in the meantime. Thanks for watching. We'll catch you next time on Ask the A.D.

Kansas State University Athletics

Ask the AD Transcript - August 2, 2019

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