Montlake Futures Interview - KJR/Softy

Tequilla

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/59-dave-softy-mahler-and-dick-25095845/

1/23 Podcast - Hour 3

I'll follow-up with my thoughts summarizing the interview and my takeaways

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haie

Please don't.

Purple_Pills

I heard it live driving up for a Kraken game last week. It’s worth a listen if you want to know where UW’s NIL stacks up.

Tequilla

Key information that I found in the interview:

Number of people giving money through Montlake Future is quite low … membership is at about 10% of the top SEC levels (Ole Miss was cited)
We're driven primarily by some big donors … particularly true for hoops (I suspect that that's Ballmer)
Numbers framed against seating capacity at Husky Stadium
NIL fund for this year for football is projected at about $15M and includes when schools can start paying players directly about halfway through the year
Top programs in 2024 were north of $20M paid through collectives
Called out that some of the top-end spending was linked to watching rivals have success … in other words the spending isn't rational
Once the programs themselves are able to pay directly it will establish a soft cap … UW appears to be committed to pay to the top end of what is allowed with an allocation of funding to football consistent with the top end of the market
Recognition that we're a market with a lot of options whether it's other sporting interests, what we do with our time/money, and other charitable interests
Recognition that corporate dollars needs to be unlocked better

My Key Takeaways and Observations

There's a massive disconnect between the Collective and the general fan and/or alum in terms of awareness and engagement
Current approach by Montlake Futures (and the Athletic Department) of "we need money" is dated and doesn't reflect the changing environment
There is a lot of competition for money flowing into the football program and athletics in general … a compelling value proposition needs to be established that explains why money flowing to UW is a prudent use of the donator's resources
An understanding that by asking for supporters to fund the payment of players in the program that by default those supporters are now stakeholders of the program that want to see some kind of return on their investment … there's a different level of accountability in the past
With the freedom of player movement and lack of overall player investment in programs in general, the prior value propositions that supporters were asked to buy into through Athletic Departments (funding facilities, academic services, the education/growth journey of the athlete) are ever evolving and are changing … this has to be recognized by all
Speaking of value propositions, if you're struggling to get corporate money to invest then that means that you're not offering a compelling return for them on their investment … corporate dollars aren't throwing money around like its charity
A market that has a foundational element tied to irrational spending for spite, dick measuring, etc. is not a sustainable market … trying to shame or guilt trip your fanbase based on "how badly do you want to win" is at minimum going to be poorly received by some portion of your "customers"
Clear need for public education as to how Collectives fit in come the 25-26 Academic Year when programs can pay directly through Athletic Departments … if you're asking the "customers" to effectively be investors and financial stakeholders in the program then you have to make sure that they understand what is being asked of them

My Recommendations

Need to clearly communicate what the financial targets/needs are for the key programs and ensure that there is education/transparency as to what is required … must move away from "we need money"
Regular communication from the Athletic Department and Collective is required … think something similar to how a public company is tied into quarterly financial results and having earnings calls where they are accountable to their shareholders
Clearly link asks to season ticket holders as part of their annual payment processes
Integrate "donation" opportunities at home games through POS for concessions and merchandise … pilot a program on this ASAP
Better understand the uniqueness of this market and be aware that a value proposition matters to both individuals and corporations … if you're not unlocking it then the starting point is looking in the mirror

haie

My dad said they're spending 15 million this year.

No gay wannabe ChatGPT output needed.

Tequilla

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046259#Comment_2046259

Context matters

They are expecting $15M which includes half a year when the Athletic Department is able to pay (the $20.5M max for the AD at roughly 70% allocated to football

The quick math looks like:

Collective: $7.8M (solve)

AD: $7.2M ($20.5M x 70% x 0.5 years)

Total: $15M

For perspective, the estimates/rumors this year were that Oregon, Ohio St, etc. were spending $20M+ via their collectives

So yeah, UW is behind from a collective standpoint

theknowledge

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046255#Comment_2046255

POS was my idea. I’m lazy and more willing to donate money when I’m drunk. Everyone wins but my meager bank account.

haie

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046277#Comment_2046277

All the collective numbers are bullshit anyways.

Fuck radio interviews.

Shut up about context.

Imagine spending time on this.

graveyardDEADdawg

Wilner had a decent interview today on iheart … mentioned UW paying the $15 million/yr number to the players but if they want to compete tOSU, Michigan, Penn St plus Nike University - Montlake Futures will need to pony up an additional $10 million/yr on top of the $15 million players salary ($25million in total)

He made some good points about keeping the Apples Cup and that their fans that don’t want the game on principle are retarded. I’d rather watch the Apple Cup but dictate 1 game in Pullman equals one in HS and 1 neutral game 50/50 in the link or quest whatever it’s called these days and I’m sure many west side cougar fans would rather not drive 5 hours in each direction.

If Tequila mentioned any of this apologyies because I haven’t read his long post yet. Wilner also mentioned WSU got a home and home with Arizona and he expects the former pac schools including Cal/Stanford to schedule these games do to pac familiarity and west coast fans would mostly prefer rather than Eastern Michigan types. This maybe unpopular but I would like to see the Apple Cup not go poof.

WoolleyDoog

One thing I remember being a frustration with past ADs and people in the NIL staff positions and collectives was being frustrated for not tapping into the corporate opportunities in Seattle enough. Can remember if that was here or in a Twitter group I'm in. I'm curious how that's going.

haie

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046277#Comment_2046277

We're behind Ohio State's version of the 2023 UW football team?

Damn, I hope our 15m roster doesn't run into them this coming season.

DerekJohnson

Wait I thought Pat Chun's best attribute was that he's an amazing fundraiser?

The same thing was said about Sundress Jen

Tequilla

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046278#Comment_2046278

It's a good idea and they indirectly are already doing it with the tips that are going to local area booster clubs (i.e. youth football)

Tequilla

I'm not against keeping the Apple Cup but it's important that we also recognize the following:

Wazzu is a B game at best in the A-B-C scheduling matrix
That game will almost always mean more to the Coug than it does to us going forward … there's not a ton of upside for UW in this game

Tequilla

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046338#Comment_2046338

How many times has Chun been public facing since taking the job? It doesn't seem like it's been often

Tequilla

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046308#Comment_2046308

Based on the interview I'd categorize that as progressing "not well"

The way I see it the value proposition that Montlake Futures (and honestly the AD as well) is making to raise funds is to pull at heart strings and kind of guilt trip people into donating

Why would a business (particularly a publicly traded one) be swayed by that type of value proposition? If there are business opportunities that would offer a positive ROI to a business they would be visible (see Adidas with Penix and Odunze)

RaceBannon

The way I see it the value proposition that Montlake Futures (and honestly the AD as well) is making to raise funds is to pull at heart strings and kind of guilt trip people into donating

The AD is run by retards. Hope this helps. It's only been obvious

We have our very own guilt monger here Husky new york or whatever

People don't invest in shitshows. I wonder how many phone calls were made to keep DeBoer

theknowledge

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046348#Comment_2046348

The “pulling on heartstrings” approach is primarily pointed at fans. Trying to get Joe Blow grocery worker to pony up $25/mo to help fund players salaries. I’d highly doubt that this is the tact used for Fortune 500 companies. That said, whatever method they’re using for those businesses is not entirely successful and there should probably be a pivot in philosophy to leverage the big money that’s close at hand.

creepycoug

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046389#Comment_2046389

@HFNY true?

At any rate, as several of posters said before, it doesn't seem as though UW is as poor as the dawgman crowd would have you believe. Maybe we? just don't know how to spend it well.

creepycoug

https://hardcorehusky.com/discussion/comment/2046402#Comment_2046402

I sure as hell hope Joe Blow grocery worker isn't paying into college football collectives, even $0.01. Those people need subsidies just to live within 50 miles of Seattle and need financial aid for their children to attend college. College football is an indulgence for those with discretionary income and time. If you're living paycheck to paycheck, you should be focused on other shit, like a second or better job, and not try and save the crumbling edifice that is the game of college football.

Ok, I'll TITTT. Rant over.

YellowSnow

"With the freedom of player movement and lack of overall player investment in programs in general, the prior value propositions that supporters were asked to buy into through Athletic Departments (funding facilities, academic services, the education/growth journey of the athlete) are ever evolving and are changing … this has to be recognized by all"

This is a key point and something that needs to get fixed. If we're? investing in players then they need to commit to the institution and not get to move around willy nilly chasing bags and following coaches. Make these kids sign 2 to 4 years deals out of HS.