Athletic Business

1 week ago | athleticbusiness.com | Paul Steinbach

Welcome to Fundraising Friday, AB Today's weeky digest of recent developments in development. Tim Smith, a 1990 University of Virginia graduate, and his wife Jennifer have pledged $5.5 million to UVA, including $4 million for athletics. According to the university's announcement Monday, this largest portion of the Smiths' gift will support scholarships in baseball and five women’s sports, as well as a current-use gift for operating support for baseball.

1 week ago | athleticbusiness.com | Paul Steinbach

An Ocean County, N.J., father says he was barred from attending his son’s high school graduation ceremony this week following a lengthy dispute that began with a disagreement over the student’s role on the football team. As reported by NJ.com, Point Pleasant Borough’s school superintendent defended the district’s decision, saying the father was banned due to “multiple instances of inappropriate conduct” toward multiple staff members.

1 week ago | athleticbusiness.com | Paul Steinbach

The Los Angeles Dodgers say they denied entry to the Dodger Stadium parking lots for federal immigration agents that pulled up in a line of unmarked white vans and SUVs on Thursday morning. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, a procession of vehicles appeared to attempt to enter Dodger Stadium through the ballpark’s main Sunset Gate off Vin Scully Avenue around 8 a.m. However, they were prevented from passing through a security checkpoint leading to the parking lot.

1 week ago | athleticbusiness.com | Paul Steinbach

Florida’s public universities can use up to $22.5 million a year from campus auxilliary programs to compensate student-athletes under an emergency rule approved by a state board Wednesday. As reported by The Associated Press, the rule change is effective immediately and comes ahead of a landmark legal settlement allowing schools to pay their players through licensing deals.

1 week ago | athleticbusiness.com | Paul Steinbach

Some universities carve out a corner of their rec center or student union to accommodate gaming activity on campus. Others construct dedicated esports competition arenas, complete with retractable seating. Designers of Comets LANding, which opened in January at the University of Texas at Dallas, sought a hybrid unlike any esports facility they had seen.