The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's success this past football season under first-year coach Russ Huesman has resulted in Stadium Corp. revenues exceeding the projections of new Finley Stadium executive director Merrill Eckstein.
Maintenance expenses on the 20,668-seat facility built in 1997, however, are more than double what Eckstein had budgeted.
"We've had some nasty surprises with the recent weather," Eckstein said Tuesday. "We've had a series of water-line breaks, and they're being repaired as soon as they occur. The simple story is that there are more challenges there than I thought going in as I prepared the budget."
Eckstein told Stadium Corp. board members that he now projects a $14,602 loss for the fiscal year ending June 30. He provided a budget this past summer that projected a $700 surplus, but there have been $46,309 in building maintenance expenses, and only $21,000 was budgeted.
Despite the decrease in the bottom line, Stadium Corp. members overwhelmingly expressed satisfaction about the past several months.
UTC drew 52,517 fans in five home games this past season (10,503 per game) after drawing 34,489 in six home games (5,748 per game) during the 2008 season. The Mocs went 1-11 in '08, but the additions of Huesman and quarterback B.J. Coleman spearheaded a 6-5 turnaround.
The surprise season helped net the Stadium Corp. $60,713 in concessions when $40,500 had been projected.
"The thing that is just overwhelmingly obvious throughout the community is Russ Huesman and B.J. Coleman made an enormous difference," chairman Bryan Patten said. "Now we have credibility and some positive momentum, and that helps parking revenue and concessions and the waiting list for skyboxes. There are just a lot of good things that can turn this stadium into an asset instead of a white elephant that should not have been built, so I'm very encouraged."
Gordon Davenport Jr. also believes there is clear momentum moving forward. Rick Hart echoed the optimism, stating this past season was his favorite of his four as UTC's athletic director.
"I don't just mean what happened on the field," Hart said. "There were a lot of opportunities to fail. I realize we have run into some things that we didn't anticipate, but to my knowledge there was no major occurrence that affected fan experience, and I think that is remarkable. I am very grateful, and I know my staff is grateful and the coaching staff is grateful."
Patten said the Stadium Campaign Corp. began this fiscal year with $165,000 in reserves and is now around $110,000, which is mostly the result of a $45,000 payment to keep the video board originally purchased by Chattanooga Lookouts owner and previous Finley operator Frank Burke. Another payment of $45,000 is due May 31.
The Friends of Findley fund currently has $98,000, Patten added. A motion was passed Tuesday to allocate $50,000 from that account for roof repairs and other maintenance.
Sounds of silence
Eckstein and Greater Chattanooga Sports & Events Committee president Scott Smith were praised for their roles at the Football Championship Subdivision title game, which took place Dec. 18 at Finley. More than 10,000 tickets were sold locally for the first time, and the improvement of Finley's sound system was noticed by NCAA officials.
"We did not hear one major complaint," Smith said. "With the NCAA, when they don't say anything, that means it's good."
Odds and ends
Hart hopes to have an agreement by early summer with Appalachian State to open this season at Finley on Thursday, Sept. 2, which would allow Mocs officials to put that date on all promotional materials. ... Finley has a skybox waiting list of five, but one will open when Eckstein's operation is moved to the press box area. ... The UTC women's soccer team will play all seven home games at Finley this fall, and the Baylor-McCallie football game will be held there Oct. 1.
Staff file photo by Angela Lewis
The surprise season compiled by quarterback B.J. Coleman and the UTC Mocs has resulted in increased revenues for the Stadium Corp., but the recent rash of cold weather has resulted in an increase of expenses, too.