The ever-changing landscape of college athletics is continuing to evolve, and St. John’s is doing its best to remain current. That, however, could cost season-ticket holders their preferred seats at Carnesecca Arena and Madison Square Garden.
In an email to them on Tuesday afternoon, St. John’s athletic director Ed Kull announced a new and full reseating system for season-ticket holders based on a “Priority Points System” that takes into account financial contributions to the athletic department and university, charitable giving to the season, consecutive seasons with tickets and donations to Name, Image & Likeness opportunities for student-athletes.
“College athletics is changing every day at a rapid rate and we are doing everything we can to keep up with the changes,” Kull wrote in the email. “With the proposed House vs. NCAA settlement and the anticipating decisions to be made regarding revenue sharing, we need to do everything we can to financially compete in this new era of college athletics.”
The point system totals will be finalized for reseating on May 31. The exact breakdown isn’t officially determined. It will include a reallocation of all season-ticket holders’ seat locations. This will not impact seating for students.
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“Every school in the country is currently doing that,” Kull said over Zoom. “Most of the Big East schools are doing that, so we are just trying to catch up from the standpoint of what other schools are doing in terms of the reseat and the priority points system.”
St. John’s is preparing to break ground in April on a new $50 million basketball-only practice facility and is looking at different ways to renovate Carnesecca Arena.
Kull would like to install additional seatbacks at both ends of the floor and upgrade the bleachers, along with improving concessions and adding hospitality spaces. There are plans to launch a new fundraising program, similar to what Kull did at Fordham with the New Era fund for men’s and women’s basketball, which led to improvements in the programs’ facilities, more charter flights and additional staffing.
The House vs. NCAA settlement and potential revenue-sharing model will create more financial demands, and Kull wants to be ready for that.
“We are adapting and moving day by day,” he said. “We’re trying to adjust and be nimble. … I want to try to get out in front of this the best we can and control what we can and prepare for what we do know.
“I’m trying to be aggressive with a strategic plan and initiatives to get it out there. I want to try to get as many initiatives out there as possible, because that’s what we have to do in order to compete at the highest level of college basketball.”
Coach Rick Pitino doesn’t expect starting point guard Deivon Smith (bruised right shoulder) to play against Xavier on Wednesday. After missing a game with the injury, Smith returned in Saturday’s rout of Seton Hall, but is still feeling discomfort.