Kansas State AD Gene Taylor is “facing one of the biggest challenges he has come across” since taking over eight years ago, and it “revolves around money,” according to Kellis Robinett of the K.C. STAR. Over the course of the next few months, Taylor “must find a way to add more than” $20M to the K-State athletics budget ahead of the 2025-26 academic year, when colleges are expected to begin sharing revenue with student-athletes. Kansas State’s athletic budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year was $93.251M. Next year, it “will need to be closer to” $114M “if the Wildcats hope to match their peers when it comes to sharing revenue.” Taylor “has a game plan,” and his “main focus” is on raising funds from donors. Robinett noted now that K-State is “no longer eyeing any major facility projects,” the hope is that “boosters will funnel their donations into revenue sharing.” Taylor said that K-State is “exploring the possibility of selling the naming rights to Bramlage Coliseum, adding on-field advertisements at Bill Snyder Family Stadium and selling beer at more than just a few designated areas during football games.” Taylor also said that K-State will “‘definitely’ try to have business logos appear on its football field next season.” The “only question” is whether the Wildcats can find a partner that “makes sense for the university and is willing to pay the right price” (K.C. STAR, 2/13).
Kansas State exploring beer sales, naming rights in new era of fundraising
