MAAC Council of Presidents Approves 5-Year Strategic Plan
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. ? The MAAC Council of Presidents concluded its fall 2008 meeting on December 11 in New York City with the approval of a new 5-Year Strategic Plan for the conference.
Highlights of the plan include:
- Implementing an annual meeting of the league’s Faculty Athletic Representatives and formalizing the current annual meeting of the MAAC’s Compliance Directors
- Modifying the current television schedule policy for men’s basketball to include future “wild card” games during the regular season
- Mandating web streaming of the MAAC core sports’ championships
- Continuing with the fall championship Disney Sports experience for the sports of men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country, while the men’s and women’s golf championships will remain at a warm weather site
- Elevating the MAAC Women’s Lacrosse League to a core sport, with no requirement that all MAAC teams belong to the league
- Seeking additional associate members for the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse League, with consideration for cost containment with regards to travel distances
- Increasing the conference buy-in for new members, plus an equity buy-in to the MAAC Asset Corporation
- Continuing to be proactive in the national discussions on future NCAA Division I membership standards.
- The MAAC leadership will continue to work with NCAA President Myles Brand on controlling the increasing costs of Division I athletic programs
- Agreeing unanimously to eliminate Strategy 3.1, this was intended to expand the championship field in the core sports from four to six teams. It was noted that expansion would increase missed class time and operational expenses. It was also agreed that the emphasis should be on rewarding in-season conference competition and limit post-season to the top four teams. The Council of Presidents reiterated its long time opposition to championship field expansion
In other business, the MAAC Council of Presidents announced that:
- The Council continues to oppose the NCAA Basketball Academic Enhancement Group (BAEG) proposals related to summer school attendance and coaching access, because it dilutes the academic reform efforts associated with the Academic Progress Rate (APR). The Council was opposed to mandatory summer school for student-athletes as it is an encroachment on institutional autonomy.
- The Council had received a report from Rich Oriolo of Stafford Sports LLC on its review of the MAAC Basketball Championships and future bid cycles. It was noted that:
o The Council discussed plans to make the 2009 and 2010 championships at the Times Union Center a neutral environment by adding additional team purchase options within the center court sections of the lower bowl, MAAC signage around the top of the center hung scoreboard, signage to the entrance doors and windows, four VIP premier seats behind the team benches for each session, and selling six premium seats to each team at courtside locations.
o The Council approved a recommendation for the development of bid specs for a 3-year commitment for the 2012-2014 basketball championships at one venue. Bid specs will be distributed in late spring/early summer with a due date around the end of summer/September. The MAAC Marketing Committee will discuss bids at their in-person meeting at Disney Sports, and the Council of Presidents will make a decision at its December 2009 meeting.
o The 2009 Citizens Bank MAAC Basketball Championships’ ticket sales are ahead of the 2008 sales, and the Council commended the Times Union Center’s efforts to aggressively promote the championship.