$6.75 Million in donations received for new UTA Basketball Center

FirefightnRick · December 5, 2011

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/04/3570253/university-of-texas-at-arlingtons.html

Wow, they must truly have some movers and shakers over there. Really shocked that a campus such as UTA that has been so well known for it's apathy over the years was able to find nearly $7 Mil in donations for this project.

And it says next to it they are including a parking garage to go with it that is a direct result of a compromise between the university, The City of Arlington and the First Baptist Church of Arlington.

Imagine that?

Rick

untbowler · December 5, 2011

keep preaching, but do not expect many on this board to acknowledge that other lower schools are doing more to garner donations from their alumni.

Green Lantern · December 5, 2011

keep preaching, but do not expect many on this board to acknowledge that other lower schools are doing more to garner donations from their alumni.

You missed the 22.5 million dollar gift UNT received earlier this semester?

Censored by Laurie · December 5, 2011

You missed the 22.5 million dollar gift UNT received earlier this semester?

The $22.5M bill was wrinkled.

FirefightnRick · December 5, 2011

You missed the 22.5 million dollar gift UNT received earlier this semester?

No, I didn't. But i expect that from our university, not UTA. That 22.5 Mil donation was a naming rights deal by non alumni folks at Apogee. UTA's Athletic center on the other hand is being named after an alumn who stepped forward. Another came forward with $750K.

As little support as NT has had I would never consider NT on the same level as UTA. Just considering where they have been all these years a near $7 Mil deal so far is surprising, to me.

Rick

Green Lantern · December 5, 2011

No, I didn't. But i expect that from our university, not UTA. That 22.5 Mil donation was a naming rights deal by non alumni folks at Apogee. UTA's Athletic center on the other hand is being named after an alumn who stepped forward. Another came forward with $750K.

As little support as NT has had I would never consider NT on the same level as UTA. Just considering where they have been all these years a near $7 Mil deal so far is surprising, to me.

Rick

Rick: Just to clarify...I was quoting Bowler's post.

I take issue with his statement that "lower schools are doing more to garner donations from their alumni" in regards to your post about UTA's donation (which is great for them by the way, kudos to UTA) when UNT has experienced the best fundraising year in University history. Just this semester, UNT has announced an 8 million dollar gift, a $22.5 million dollar gift and the $20 million dollar Apogee Stadium naming rights agreement.

I'll throw out the naming rights, and that's still over $30 million dollars in alumni giving between two individuals (over 4 times the UTA gift). Those two gifts may not be Athletics specific, but they sure impact UNT in significant ways.

FirefightnRick · December 5, 2011

Rick: Just to clarify...I was quoting Bowler's post.

I take issue with his statement that "lower schools are doing more to garner donations from their alumni" in regards to your post about UTA's donation (which is great for them by the way, kudos to UTA) when UNT has experienced the best fundraising year in University history. Just this semester, UNT has announced an 8 million dollar gift, a $22.5 million dollar gift and the $20 million dollar Apogee Stadium naming rights agreement.

I'll throw out the naming rights, and that's still over $30 million dollars in alumni giving between two individuals (over 4 times the UTA gift). Those two gifts may not be Athletics specific, but they sure impact UNT in significant ways.

Gotcha. I apologize. Yes, my thoughts were athletics specific. I'm sure with their engineering and nursing programs they do well also. It just shocked me to see them get that for athletics.

I'm looking forward to seeing the mean green get a win there btw.

Rick

KRAM1 · December 5, 2011

Did we forget the Apogee donation to the stadium? believe that was a nice sized "athletic dept." gift, no? Good for UTA, but UNT is way ahead of UTA in giving numbers. FYI...UNT will announce its first ever capital campaign in the not too distant future,...and remember, most capital campaigns have received at least 1/2 of the goal BEFORE the campaign is announced publicly.

If anyone thinks UNT will be passed by the likes of UTA in the gifts area, they have another think coming. I congratulate UTA for this donations and for the fact they are finally upgrading that horrible excuse of a basketball arena...amazing they could field the quality of teams they have playing on that ridiculous stage...so, great news UTA. I see no reason to compare what UNT is doing with UTA....to call UTA a "lessor" school has no real standing. UTA has a great program going and it is growing as is UNT. I think that's good news for both schools and I hope they reinstate football one of these days so UNT can have a local school not afraid to play them "in a Safeway parking lot" if necessary. I always appreciate the fact that UTA schedules UNT in basketball...fun games!

Green Mean · December 5, 2011

I just don't get UTA was labeled as a 'lower' university.

kalebschumann · December 5, 2011

No, I didn't. But i expect that from our university, not UTA. That 22.5 Mil donation was a naming rights deal by non alumni folks at Apogee. UTA's Athletic center on the other hand is being named after an alumn who stepped forward. Another came forward with $750K.

As little support as NT has had I would never consider NT on the same level as UTA. Just considering where they have been all these years a near $7 Mil deal so far is surprising, to me.

Rick

You might want to double check that Rick... Stop complaining about the lack of donations. This man just gave the University the single largest donation in the HISTORY of the University, even more than Apogy.

Thai man sets UNT donation record

Green Mean · December 5, 2011

No, I didn't. But i expect that from our university, not UTA. That 22.5 Mil donation was a naming rights deal by non alumni folks at Apogee. UTA's Athletic center on the other hand is being named after an alumn who stepped forward. Another came forward with $750K.

As little support as NT has had I would never consider NT on the same level as UTA. Just considering where they have been all these years a near $7 Mil deal so far is surprising, to me.

Rick

You'd be surprised how many of the 'big' schools recieve donations and gifts from non alumni folks.

GrandGreen · December 6, 2011

What a debate, naming rights are not exactly the same as a pure donation. Sometimes they are when Mr. big bucks donates a field house for example; he may want to put his name on it, but that is not the same as American Airlines getting naming rights to the Maverick arena or in NT case, Apogee buying the naming rights; that is called advertising.

NT did get its two by far biggest donations this year but neither sent a dime to athletics. NT did get funding for the new stadium with priority seating, Apogee name rights; but overall I was somewhat disappointing that I have not seen any big donations (excluding our generous student voting in the athletic fee) announced for the stadium like apparently UTA has garnered.

TIgreen01 · December 6, 2011

Skipping over all the jackassery going on here....that is one sweet looking gym. Nice job by UTA.

Texas Stranger · December 6, 2011

Really shocked that a campus such as UTA that has been so well known for it's apathy over the years was able to find nearly $7 Mil in donations for this project.

That was just from their opponents.

Green Mean · December 6, 2011

What a debate, naming rights are not exactly the same as a pure donation. Sometimes they are when Mr. big bucks donates a field house for example; he may want to put his name on it, but that is not the same as American Airlines getting naming rights to the Maverick arena or in NT case, Apogee buying the naming rights; that is called advertising.

NT did get its two by far biggest donations this year but neither sent a dime to athletics. NT did get funding for the new stadium with priority seating, Apogee name rights; but overall I was somewhat disappointing that I have not seen any big donations (excluding our generous student voting in the athletic fee) announced for the stadium like apparently UTA has garnered.

It may not be a donation necessarily but either way it is money being filtered to the university by Apogee. As for the donations not going to athletics...Why have a bad taste in your mouth about it? Again like the board wanting people to come to our games we just give them more and more ammunition for them not to come because the board always seem to ridicule them and claim how useless those people are. Donations and endowment has now entered that picture...we always want folks to give back to the university and be connected and donate to the school and its programs etc and yet there are people that knock that as well and say well they didn't donate to athletics. Who really cares? Have you seen our endowment numbers? We need to up that number greatly and any money coming to the school only helps.

People always want a reason to complain for every single thing on the board. I'm not saying we shouldn't question but when things like donations are being questioned and ridiculed that is where I kinda get a little weirded out.

FirefightnRick · December 6, 2011

You might want to double check that Rick... Stop complaining about the lack of donations.

You might want to double check your own facts. He didn't give this time to athletics because he gave last time back in '94. Of course, you were probably here helping us sell tickets to get back to 1-A then and knew that already. What was I thinking? :rolleyes:

Rick

Edited December 6, 2011 by FirefightnRick

GrandGreen · December 6, 2011

It may not be a donation necessarily but either way it is money being filtered to the university by Apogee. As for the donations not going to athletics...Why have a bad taste in your mouth about it? Again like the board wanting people to come to our games we just give them more and more ammunition for them not to come because the board always seem to ridicule them and claim how useless those people are. Donations and endowment has now entered that picture...we always want folks to give back to the university and be connected and donate to the school and its programs etc and yet there are people that knock that as well and say well they didn't donate to athletics. Who really cares? Have you seen our endowment numbers? We need to up that number greatly and any money coming to the school only helps.

People always want a reason to complain for every single thing on the board. I'm not saying we shouldn't question but when things like donations are being questioned and ridiculed that is where I kinda get a little weirded out.

I have one suggestion, please at least attempt to read a post before you quote and respond to it. Why would anyone read that post and think I have a bad taste in my mouth about some mammoth donations to NT? Than you made an even crazier leap to ridiculing and telling people how useless they are?

I will try to simplify my comments for you. The original topic is about UTA getting millions in donations to build their arena. My comment was that I was somewhat disappointing that NT had not gotten similar funding for Apogee. In prior discussions posters made mention of the great record setting donations NT has received this year and the also fantastic Apogee naming rights deal. My comment merely stated that those donations were not the same thing as the reported UTA donations. I am not sure how you interpreted that has anti-anything and morphed it into the swill you posted above.

EagleD · December 11, 2011

UTA has a new AD. I understand from some people at UT who worked with/for him that he's a quality hire. We'll wait and see. The AD we got from Austin was horrible.

Coffee and TV · December 11, 2011

Of course, you were probably here helping us sell tickets to get back to 1-A then and knew that already. What was I thinking?
Rick

Or he was 5 years old.

Oh sorry, nevermind. You were just looking for another opportunity to have a penis-measuring contest when it comes to loyalty to your university. My bad.

Edited December 11, 2011 by Coffee and TV

FirefightnRick · December 11, 2011

Or he was 5 years old.

Oh sorry, nevermind. You were just looking for another opportunity to have a penis-measuring contest when it comes to loyalty to your university. My bad.

Quit thinking about my penis!

Rick

Edited December 11, 2011 by FirefightnRick