UTC athletic director David BlackburnUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletic director David Blackburn is optimistic about his department’s ability to increase ticket sales, increase giving and raise the operating budget by as much as 10 percent in the next few years.
“The greatest growth potential we have is in our own ability to raise money for athletics,” said Blackburn, who was hired in April.
The projected operating budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, which doesn’t include gifts, is $12,013,245, according to data provided by UTC senior associate athletic director Matt Pope.
“I think in three to five years from now, you could see that,” Blackburn said. “I believe that in my heart, because I think there is a whole level of growth in the $200-500 donor that we’ve not tapped into yet. That, coupled with season-ticket sales, coupled with a couple of larger major gifts, I think we could get 10 percent growth in the next three years.
“That’s going to be a hard number to hit, but I don’t think it’s unrealistic.”