Progress Update, February 2022
The St. Thomas 2025 Strategic Plan debuted in February 2021. We continually track and report on our progress; here are key developments from the past year, as of February 2024:
National media coverage of athletics this year has included ESPN Family Networks, Big Ten Network, FS1, Bally Sports, FOX 9+, PAC12 Network, Yahoo sports, Sports Illustrated, Washington Post, NY Times, Twin Cities Business Magazine, Seattle Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Charlotte Observer, and USA Today.
A few highlights:
- Our regionally broadcast women's hockey game vs. UMD on Bally Sports was distributed to more than 2 million homes.
- We increased digital content by 8x over FY22, leading to an increase of more than 10,000 followers on Twitter and almost an additional 10,000 in Instagram.
- Saw an average of 23% increase in overall attendance in ticketed sports for FY23.
- Average men's basketball student attendance increased over 60% and men's hockey increased over 50% from our first to second year.
- Managed a group of 15 students to produce 120+ live stream broadcasts and 70+ scoreboard shows.
- Developed a strategic plan to upgrade broadcast equipment and technology to improve the fan experience.
- Hosted the University of Minnesota in men's and women's hockey with an attendance of over 11,000.
- Football competed at Harvard, drawing more than 1,000 Tommie fans to Boston.
- Men's basketball played on national TV vs. UC-Berkeley (Cal) and Marquette.
- Women's basketball hosted both Iowa State and Wisconsin in Schoenecker Arena.
- Launched first-ever linear/broadcast television partnership with Fox 9.
- Men's hockey, men's basketball and women's basketball have all spent time in first place of their respective conferences in FY24.