As it works toward launching a baseball program in the coming years, Boise State University is lining up some key plans.
Boise State revealed earlier this year that it was planning to establish a baseball program, effectively bringing back a sport it has not offered since 1980. The university’s current goal is to field a team starting in 2020, and it is estimated that the program will start with a budget of around $1 million. In addition, Boise State has begun its search for a head coach and could fill the position by the end of this year.
There is also a plan in place for how Boise State will pay for some of the costs related to baseball. It is expected that some of the expenses will be covered through the reduction of a $1.5 million administrative fee, which is paid by the athletic department to the university. More from The Idaho Statesman:
The athletic department pays the fee at BSU President Bob Kustra’s discretion, according to a document provided to the State Board of Education in June. The Idaho Statesman obtained that document from Boise State. Other auxiliary units of the university that generate revenue, such as Taco Bell Arena and parking services, also pay administrative fees.
The $1.5 million fee won’t be waived in its entirety, Boise State officials say. It will be used to cover costs associated with baseball and improving the women’s sports programs up to that amount. The fee reduction will last “for the next several years,” according to the document.
“It’s money that’s flexible,” said Greg Hahn, Boise State’s associate vice president for communications and marketing.
Though nothing official has been announced, it has been reported by The Statesman that Boise State could utilize a proposed new ballpark for the Boise Hawks (Short Season A; Northwest League) as its home for baseball as well as women’s soccer. The facility has also been discussed as a potential venue for professional soccer, with USL mentioned in the past.
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