To register, click here. Space is limited, so register now.
On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics will kick off the first in a series of four public forums to be held this fall examining the NCAA Division I model and the need for reform. The forums, Transforming the NCAA D-I Model: A 4-Part Series, begin with a session on the often misunderstood finances of Division I. This 60-minute virtual forum will explain the flow of money, both revenues and expenditures, using graphs and data from the Knight Commission’s College Athletics Financial Information (CAFI) Database. The Commission’s unique database highlights the vast financial differences, trends and challenges among schools and conferences that suggest a new D-I model is needed.
The initial Sept. 16 session will cover:
- Where the money comes from and where it goes in Division I.
- The explosive growth of Division I revenue and expenses since 2005.
- Comparing the different financial models among Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institutions — with a look at Power 5 schools compared to Group of 5 schools.
- The impact of COVID-19 on college sports.
The last 15 minutes will allow for Q&A with Knight Commission leadership and presenters. This forum will be followed by three others this fall: A New Analysis of the D-I Revenue Distribution Formula Inequities (Sept. 30); What D-I Leaders Think: New Survey Findings about Reform (Oct. 13); and Recommendations for Change (Nov. 19). All sessions will be held from 1-2 p.m. ET. The Knight Commission launched a major re-examination of college sports last December, announcing then it would explore new models to restructure Division I sports.
WHAT:
Virtual meeting, Follow the Money: Breaking Down D-I Finances, featuring Knight Commission co-chair Carol Cartwright, President Emeritus, Kent State University and Bowling Green State University; and Commission member Jonathan Mariner, former executive vice president and CFO of Major League Baseball.
WHEN:
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, 1-2 p.m. ET.
WHERE/HOW:
Online. To register, click here. Space is limited, so register now.
ONLINE:
Follow @KnightAthletics on Twitter and Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics on LinkedIn.
OTHER KNIGHT COMMISSION NEWS:
- Read our MarketWatch Opinion piece on: The Coming COVID-19 Transformation of College Sports.
- Background information, recommendations and resources on future changes to allow college athletes to earn money from the use of their name, image and likeness can be found here.
About the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics
The Knight Commission was formed by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in October 1989. The Commission’s purpose is to develop, promote and lead transformational change that prioritizes the education, health, safety and success of college athletes. Over time, the NCAA has adopted a number of the Commission’s recommendations that strengthen the educational mission of college sports, including the rule that requires teams to be on track to graduate at least 50 percent of their players to be eligible for postseason competition. The Commission’s College Athletics Financial Information (CAFI) database provides financial transparency for where the money comes from and where the money goes in college sports.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit http://www.kf.org/.