Mizzou sets 'clear fiscal goals' for new AD Veatch

The Univ. of Missouri “has set clear fiscal goals” for incoming Missouri AD Laird Veatch: “boost revenue while limiting expenses,” according to Eli Hoff of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Forecasting a “continued rise in the money” associated with power-conference college sports, UM administration also “seems prepared to become more invested -- both literally and in terms of oversight -- in how Mizzou athletics handles its money.” Institutional support from the university to the athletics department “will remain in play” and the UM System Board of Curators’ intercollegiate athletics committee “will keep its focus on Mizzou sports’ finances.” UM System President Mun Choi “fell short of prescribing a specific benchmark for athletics department finances.” UM athletics was “more reliant on help from the university than its Southeastern Conference peers.” Only Auburn “took in more direct institutional support in fiscal year 2023,” receiving $25M. Missouri was “one of eight public SEC schools to receive direct institutional support.” Hoff noted UM reported a “slim budget surplus of one dollar in fiscal 2023, once again spending and generating record amounts.” That seemed to be a “motivating factor” for the Board of Curators’ decision to establish the Mizzou Intercollegiate Athletics Special Committee, which has the “power to oversee the athletics department’s financial workings.” Some of Veatch’s earliest priorities “will be tied to money,” including raising the funds for the $250M renovation of Memorial Stadium, which will “rely heavily on donations” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/2).