The Florida State Basketball Training Center is set to receive $5 million in state funding, with athletics earmarking the money for repairs and renovations to the 24-year-old facility.
One of only a few athletics-related items included in the nearly $115 billion state budget agreed to by House and Senate leaders in special session on May 24, the Seminoles’ training venue is home to both the men’s and women’s basketball programs.
Legislators are expected to approve the budget May 29 before sending it to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who can approve or veto individual items. The new fiscal year starts July 1.
The $5 million set aside for FSU basketball ranks among the highest-allotted budget items across both the House and Senate, mirroring totals set for “operational enhancement” for many of the state’s universities.
State money should help FSU’s bottom line
The money will help as FSU athletics is projecting expenses to exceed a record $250 million in fiscal year 2027, driven by NIL commitments, revenue sharing, stadium renovations and an expanded football staff.
Meanwhile, reports have revealed that FSU is carrying $437 million in debt, making it one of the most leveraged public athletic departments in the country.
However, Michael Alford – FSU’s VP and athletics director – stressed to the Tallahassee Democrat in a previous interview that the department’s debt is deliberate leverage on fixed assets, describing it as infrastructural debt, not “survival debt.”
FSU’s basketball teams moved into the $10 million facility in April 2002. Attached to the Tucker Civic Center, it features two full-size courts, 40,000 square feet of practice space, along with locker rooms and office areas.
The basketball programs are currently led by former Seminoles.
In his first season, men’s basketball coach Luke Loucks defied expectations of a lengthy rebuild, finishing 18-15.
Women’s coach Brooke Wyckoff, a former WNBA player, is 90-60 over five seasons. The program’s streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances under Wyckoff was snapped this past season.
An FSU athletics official told the Democrat May 26 that the state funds would used for venue repairs and renovations.
Other sports-related budgeted items reached by the House and Senate include:
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU basketball set to receive $5M in state funds for training facility
Reporting by Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
