Arizona State AD Graham Rossini talks revenue sharing, DFA renovations, Hurley’s future
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Arizona State AD Graham Rossini talks revenue sharing, DFA renovations, Hurley’s future
Athletic director Graham Rossini spoke to reporters at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Rossini said the university has sold the highest number of season tickets in years. He said there are plans to build a new track and field stadium, as well as a tennis facility. He also said that there is a place for all 26 sports on campus, including Olympic sports. The school will be spending about $18 million on the rev share for the 2025-26 school year, he said. He did not give a percentage breakdown of the revenue sharing, though football and basketball are expected to receive the majority of the money, though the rest will be split between the other two sports. For more on this story, see The Arizona Republic’s online newsmagazine, “The Arizona Republic,” on Thursday, June 26. For the latest on the “Arizona Republic” news, visit the website.
Here are some highlights of what was said.
Football surging after Big 12 title
Following one of the most successful football teams in school history, momentum has carried over from ASU’s Big 12 title-winning season and run to the College Football Playoff in terms of ticket sales.
Rossini said the university has sold the highest number of season tickets in years.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
“7,000 new season tickets for football as of today,” Rossini said. “We expect to exceed 7,500 new season tickets by the start of the season. That puts us at the most total season tickets for football in well over a decade. Coach (Kenny) Dillingham has said this: ‘There’s not a better place to be in the fall than Mountain America Stadium.’ And we’re feeling that energy from our fan base wherever we go.”
The likelihood of a full Mountain America Stadium for each home game is a real possibility.
Revenue sharing numbers
As part of the House settlement, brought on by former ASU swimmer Grant House, revenue sharing is now a part of college sports, meaning schools can directly pay athletes.
The cap for revenue sharing is $20.5 million per school for the 2025-26 school year. Rossini revealed how much the Sun Devils will be allocating to pay their athletes.
“We’ll be spending about $18 million on the rev share,” he said.
Rossini revealed on May 6 that the school had added 225 scholarships, which is where the rest of the money for revenue sharing will be allocated. In total, Rossini said that around 84% percent of ASU’s athletes are on scholarships. Rossini even mentioned there is a path forward one day for “all” athletes at the school to be on some form of aid.
While Rossini gave a number for ASU’s revenue sharing, a percentage breakdown of the revenue sharing was not provided. Football and basketball are expected to receive the majority, though.
Olympic sports commitment
Rossini doubled down on ASU’s commitment to Olympic sports, saying that there is a place for all 26 sports on campus.
He said there have been no discussions, as of now, to cut any Olympic sports on campus.
In an exclusive one-on-one interview with The Arizona Republic, Rossini also said there are plans to build a new track and field stadium, as well as a tennis facility.
More venue news: What to know as Arizona State introduces plans for a new track and field stadium
Desert Financial Arena update
Staying on the infrastructure front, Rossini addressed the status of the renovation of Desert Financial Arena.
Rossini said that over $10 million has already been invested into DFA over the past 18 months, mainly changes that are unseen to the human eye (mechanical, electrical, life safety systems).
The plan, Rossini said, is to start the renovations next summer.
“We want to get a complete plan finalized and we’ll announce that hopefully here in very short order,” he said.
As for the displacing of teams due to the planned multiyear renovations, Rossini said the goal is to maximize the days in the summer to avoid affecting athletes.
Mullett Arena is an option if the renovations go into the fall, according to Rossini.
“We’re trying to avoid that,” he said.
Rossini also said there have been no conversations about playing off-campus.
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@gannett.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@LSscribe.