Rising fuel prices could wreck havoc on athletic budgets

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When the fall college sports season begins in a few month, thousands of athletes, trainers, and coaches will be on the road each week. 

As with most Americans, the spike in gas prices and inflation will likely take their toll on college athletic budgets.  Increased prices of everything from football helmets, bus rentals, hotel rooms, foods, and game officials are sending athletic directors in to a state of high anxiety.
The increased cost are eating up the additional revenue college may have received from conference payouts, media rights or increased sponsorship. 

The new budget reality is forcing athletic departments, many of whom are still reeling from pandemic losses, to search for additional solutions that will save their programs money and prevent further disruption down the road.  

"When inflation's taking us up 10, 12, 14 percent, then we kind of have to get creative," said Nick Morrow, athletic director at the University of North Florida. "We have to make sure that we're not wasting money and make sure we're getting the basic things that we need to run a first-class program.”

Will fans travel?
Many athletic programs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), which FAMU is a member of, rely heavily on gate receipts.  As departments put together their budgets this year, many may have to rethink their budgets as many of the fans they depend on see their own personal budgets are squeezed.     
 
Last year, FAMU athletics benefited greatly from increased attendance from opposing SWAC conference fans, who typically travel in greater numbers than MEAC fans.  FAMU football gate receipts last year exceeded expectations by $329,419, bringing in $829,419 against the $500,000 budgeted.  
 
This year with gas prices above $5 a gallon will out of town Rattler fans and opposing team fans travel to Tallahassee this year or will they opt to stay home and watch games on TV?
 
Will bands travel?
With the cost of gas, and the increased cost of renting buses, food and hotel rooms will SWAC bands travel as much?

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