Financial Foundations for a New Season
Ohio State’s men’s basketball program is positioning itself for a financially competitive season, according to athletic director Ross Bjork, who outlined the program’s fiscal health and strategic goals during a recent briefing.
Central to the roster overhaul is the addition of five‑star forward Anthony Thompson, a recruit who arrives in Columbus with a pedigree that places him among the most highly rated freshmen in recent memory, second only to Jared Sullinger in the 2010 recruiting class.
The university will direct $21.3 million toward football, men’s and women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball, a move that Bjork says reflects a broader commitment to balancing revenue streams across athletics while leveraging increased revenue‑sharing agreements.
Revitalizing the Schottenstein Center
The Schottenstein Center, with a capacity of 18,809, has seen attendance dip to an average of 11,252 fans per home game last season, the second‑lowest figure since the arena opened in 1999. Bjork is targeting a range of 12,000 to 16,000 spectators per game, a threshold he believes will revitalize the venue’s atmosphere.
Beyond sheer numbers, the athletic department is focused on creating a more engaging environment that can sustain higher turnout, a goal that aligns with the broader ambition of re‑energizing the campus community around Buckeye basketball.
In each of the 17 home contests scheduled for the upcoming campaign, the program hopes to breach the 12,000‑fan mark in at least five games, a milestone that would signal progress toward the desired attendance band and help cultivate a louder, more supportive crowd.