New Mexico State athletics posts $326K profit in ticket sales, increases fundraising in FY19

Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News

LAS CRUCES - There are few areas that New Mexico State athletics can move the needle from a budget standpoint. 

But in Fiscal Year 2019, Mario Moccia's department excelled in fundraising and ticket revenue. 

"I think almost every sport was up," NM State athletics director Mario Moccia said. "When you win 30 basketball games, that is going to generate a lot of excitement in ticket sales. When you are coming off the first bowl game in football in 57 years, that was going to generate some early season sales. We had a tremendous year from football season tickets."

Ticket sales

New Mexico State had a $326,000 surplus in ticket sales last year, which is the most in Moccia's five years. 

Athletics budgeted for $1.2 million in ticket sales last year and sold $1.53 million.

"I think we sharpened up our marketing focus a little bit and geared it toward people buying tickets," Moccia said. "The (Arizona Bowl) replica ring was big and we had some things that we offered as premium items and all of those things helped."

Fans cheer on Saturday, August 25, 2018, during the NMSU/Wyoming game at the Aggie Memorial Stadium.

NM State football surpassed its season and single game ticket number within the first two home games of the season against Wyoming and New Mexico. After budgeting for $416,250 for season and single game tickets last season, the Aggies made $527,369. 

The season opener against Wyoming on ESPN2 made $80,906 in single game ticket sales and the rivalry game against New Mexico made $139,530. 

Coming off the Arizona Bowl victory in 2017, season ticket sales surpassed the budget by $25,650. 

More:Mario Moccia signs to remain New Mexico State AD

Men's basketball made $864,890 last year in season and single game ticket sales, which was a $142,040 surplus. Season ticket sales surpassed the budget by $30,158.

Moccia said in order to continue to increase ticket sales, the school partnered with IMG Ticket Solutions, who work out of Las Cruces 

"We don't ask them to do anything except for sit there and make phone calls," Moccia said. "I emptied my Rolodex. That's all they do so I'm going to hope that ticket sales will increase because of that."

Moccia also admitted he can't count on bowl game appearances or winning 30 basketball games each year. 

"We budget conservatively for that reason," Moccia said. "We budget based not on hopes, but on reality. Our season ticket number for football exploded from what it  had been historically."

As a result of a 3-9 football season last year and a brutal road schedule in its second year of independent football this year, NM State has reduced the season ticket budget from $210,000 last year to $110,000 this year. NM State hopes to reach $154,000 in single game ticket sales for home games against San Diego State, Fresno State, Liberty, Incarnate Word and a November game against rival UTEP. By comparison, the Aggies budgeted for $194,000 last year, falling short of its number just once, in a home game against Liberty. 

Moccia's department hopes to make $50,000 in single game ticket sales in the Sept. 14 home opener against San Diego State. It's the largest budgeted game with UTEP second at $34,000 on Nov. 23. NM State budgeted $110,000 for the UNM game last year, but the Aggies had to move the UTEP game later in the season to make the schedule work.

"Last year we had Wyoming on national television and then New Mexico, but now we have Washington State and Alabama out of the game," Moccia said. "But San Diego State and Fresno State are two Mountain West opponents that fans are familiar with. I would hope that we can get off to a pretty decent start."

FY19 NM State ticket sales revenues

Men's basketball - $864,890

Football - $527,369

Volleyball - $34,980

Baseball - $33,525

Women's basketball - $25,339

Softball - $13,200

Women's soccer - $3,232

Fundraising

NM State also increased its fundraising efforts in 2019, most notably in Aggie Athletic Club membership, which topped $1 million for the first time in Moccia's tenure. 

NM State also set attendance records for its most established fundraising events throughout the year. Events such as the Lujan Dinner football fundraiser that normally raises $40,000 brought in $54,208. The Aggies in Paradise kickoff event brought in $76,686.. 

Moccia's focus after signing a five-year extension this summer is to continue to work to create new revenue streams.

"I really think the way budgets are trending, we have to focus on things that will move the needle," Moccia said. "What can I do that will sell tickets and get people to join the Aggie Athletic Club."

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.