May 4, 2010
LOBO LEAP TO EXCELLENCE
The University of New Mexico Athletics Department is currently in a quiet phase of a comprehensive capital campaign entitled, LOBO LEAP TO EXCELLENCE. The campaign goals include:
• $18 million toward the renovation of University Arena ("The Pit")
• $12 million in deferred/planned giving
• $10 million toward overall endowment for scholarship and programmatic support
• $5 million toward Excellence Fund to recruit, retain and reward great coaches
• $30 million toward annual scholarship and in-kind support
• $75 million total goal
LOBO LEAP TO EXCELLENCE
We started counting for the campaign during the 2006-07 fiscal year to coincide with the UNM main campus campaign—CHANGING WORLDS. The campaign will run through the 2013-14 fiscal year. The goal is based on our needs as a department to enhance the student-athlete experience as well as improve the most recognizable building in the state of New Mexico. We secured a total of $42 million in revenue bonds toward a $60 million renovation of The Pit. $18 million was given from the state of New Mexico and the rest will be covered by the revenue bonds with debt service paid for by suite and club seat revenue as well as private contributions.
The focus of the renovation includes:
• 60,000 square feet of new space
• Doubling the concessions points of sale
• Doubling the total number of ladies restrooms
• Greatly expanding the concourse to enhance pedestrian traffic flow
• Extensive glasswork as well as increased ceiling height will allow patrons to take advantage of views including the Sandia Mountains and Downtown Albuquerque
• New state-of-the-art locker room facilities for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams
• Addition of new weight room and training room dedicated to men’s and women’s basketball
• Addition of Lettermen’s Lounge to provide access to Alumni Lettermen from all UNM Sports
• Increased technology to enhance the fan experience through video boards, ribbon boards and digital signage throughout the arena
• Extensive signage and graphics package to highlight the history of Lobo Athletics • Addition of 365 club seats and 40 suites
• New commissary to support improved concessions and catering
• The Lobo store will be expanded to 2,500 square feet more than doubling its current size
• The ticket office will be expanded and relocated
• The building will feature a distinct architectural look that will be the envy of basketball arenas nationally
A lead gift was pledged by one of our best men’s basketball players, Danny Granger. The current Indiana Pacer pledged $500,000 to the project and his name will grace our men’s locker room for his generosity. Student-athletes giving back have always been a challenge for our institution, in addition to many others across the country. We are very fortunate that a student-athlete of his caliber, both on the court and in the community, has chosen to give back. His story and success has been a great gift for us to share with other supporters. During that same month, we also received a pledge from Chicago Bear and former Lobo great, Brian Urlacher for $500,000 to benefit our football program.
There are many naming opportunities from a new weight room to the club to the overall naming rights on the facility. For 18 months, we have been working with a volunteer Capital Campaign Cabinet we call SPECIAL FORCES. The SPECIAL FORCES has been working diligently on peer to peer cultivation and solicitation along with making their personal pledges to the campaign.
This is the first capital campaign in UNM athletics history and is taking place during tough economic times. We continue to focus on a high level of cultivation. When times our tough, as a fundraiser, it is important to be impatient with the process and patient with the results. Spending time with donors when they are not necessarily ready to give will provide for great gifts in the future. I think that philosophy with the right balance or urgency for funding is working and will result in a great campaign.
About Larry Ryan: Larry Ryan has been the associate athletics director for development at UNM since September 2005. Prior to his current role at New Mexico, he served as senior associate athletics director at the University of Evansville for three years. He was the director of annual giving for the Lobo Club at UNM from 2000-2002 and also spent two years at his alma mater, Cal State, San Bernardino, as director of development.
