Missouri State visibly changing ahead of joining Conference USA
SPRINGFIELD–The Missouri State Athletic Department has been hard at work getting major upgrades and changes underway and finished in preparation to join Conference USA on July 1.
Between new field turf, lights, and fiber optics at Plaster Stadium to new court designs and logos at Great Southern Bank Arena and the Hammons Student Center BIG changes are visible across the campus of Missouri State. And those are just a few MAJOR things you can see, for now.
There's still plenty of heavy lifting for the Bears brass to do before July 1, but most outsiders will notice there's a different look and feel around Springfield because of the changes.
The athletic budget for MSU last year was $34.3 million, but will bump up closer to $40 million. That increase will put it on the same operating level as soon-to-be conference rivals Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, and Florida International.
The travel budget will also see an uptick in cost. Last year, the school budgeted nearly $3 million, but this coming athletic year, that figure will rise to almost $6 million.
The football team will, like usual, provide most of the funding for the other 16 school sports. By joinging Conference USA, the university will be featured in 5 nationally televised games this fall, adding a major source of revenue for the school thanks to selling that inventory and earning media money from being a member of C-USA.
Bears Athletic Director, Patrick Ransdell spoke about the transcendant time earlier this week.
'Sales should see a bump up because now we're having national broadcast inventory,' said Ransdell. 'Going from just ESPN plus broadcast to 5 nationally televised games is a pretty big deal. To be on ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network those are opportunities that don't come along very often and we need to be able to take advantage when we can.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
GDT: Zack 'Two Solo Homers' Littell
Yahoo Soccer is powered by OneFootball, the ultimate destination for news, live matches, scores, highlights, and more.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PWHL Seattle lands U.S. hockey legend Hilary Knight as first signing
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 05: Hilary Knight #21 of the Boston Fleet skates against Montreal Victoire during a PWHL Takeover Tour game at Climate Pledge Arena on January 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Brief U.S. standout Hilary Knight reached a one-year deal with PWHL Seattle after being left unprotected by the Boston Fleet. Knight was the co-leader in points in the PWHL last season with 29 points on 15 goals and 14 assists. Knight has appeared in four Olympics and 15 IIHF Women's World Championships for the United States, winning one Olympic gold medal and three silvers, and 10 gold medals and five silvers at the World Championships. The first player to sign a contract to play for PWHL Seattle just happens to be one of the most accomplished players in U.S. hockey history. PWHL Seattle reached an agreement with forward Hilary Knight on a one-year deal on Wednesday night, who has left unprotected by the Boston Fleet in the league's expansion process. Advertisement "Signing Hilary Knight was an absolute no-brainer - she's the heartbeat of any team she joins," said PWHL Seattle General Manager Meghan Turner said in a statement. "Her proven leadership and drive, the way she elevates everyone around her, those are qualities you can't teach. Hilary's not just a game-changer on the ice, she's the kind of person who defines a culture, and we're incredibly proud to have her as the first-ever player to join PWHL Seattle." Knight has appeared in four Olympics and 15 IIHF Women's World Championships for the United States, winning one Olympic gold medal and three silvers, and 10 gold medals and five silvers at the World Championships. Turner was the assistant general manager of the Fleet the last two seasons before being named the general manager of PWHL Seattle last month. With Knight being left unprotected in favor of forward Alina Müller, defender Megan Keller, and goaltender Aerin Frankel. Seattle and Vancouver are permitted to sign up to five players this week not under contract for next season prior to the expansion draft on June 9. The two teams can then select as many players as needed from the non-protected list from the six teams in the league to reach a 12-player maximum. Advertisement The signing of Knight is a major benchmark for the new franchise in Seattle. Knight, 35, was the co-winner of the 2024-25 PWHL Points Leader Award with the Fleet last season, scoring 29 points on 15 goals and 14 assists in 30 games, which tied her with Sarah Fillier of the New York Sirens. She's also a finalist for the PWHL Forward of the Year and Billie Jean King MVP awards. "I'm incredibly proud to be part of bringing professional women's hockey to the Pacific Northwest," Knight said. "Seattle holds a special place in my heart, and I'm beyond excited to join PWHL Seattle in such a storied sports city. I'm grateful to Meghan Turner for believing in me and bringing me on board as part of this new chapter. To my teammates, the staff, and the fans of Boston –– thank you. The Fleet wasn't just a team, it was home. These past two seasons were some of the most meaningful of my career, and I'll carry those memories with me forever." Knight has played in Seattle multiple times already as a member of the Fleet and U.S. Women's Team. Advertisement The Fleet played the Montréal Victoire at Climate Pledge Arena in January as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour, with Boston winning 3-2 in a shootout. Knight also played for the U.S. against Canada in the 2022-23 Rivalry Series at Climate Pledge Arena, scoring two goals with an assist in a 4-2 win. Knight is the IIHF Women's World Championships all-time leader in goals, assists, and points, and she holds the record for most Olympic Games played by a U.S. women's hockey player. The Source Information in this story came from The Associated Press. MORE HOCKEY NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE Seattle Kraken re-sign defenseman Josh Mahura to two-year extension Advertisement Seattle Kraken name Lane Lambert as new head coach Seattle Kraken re-sign forward John Hayden to two-year deal PWHL names Meghan Turner general manager of PWHL Seattle PWHL sets expansion draft for June 9, rules for Seattle, Vancouver To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NBA Fans Fear Retirement After LeBron James' 7-Word Message
NBA Fans Fear Retirement After LeBron James' 7-Word Message originally appeared on Athlon Sports. LeBron James has enjoyed a career for the ages—four NBA championships, four MVPs, 21 All-Star selections, and the title of the league's all-time leading scorer. At 40, he continued to defy Father Time with averages of 24.4 points (51.3% FG), 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists this season, earning All-NBA Second Team honors and a sixth-place finish in MVP voting. Advertisement The 2024-25 campaign set historic milestones for James: playing alongside his son Bronny James, breaking the triple-double record for a 40-year-old, and surpassing 50,000 career points. Despite these highs, the Los Angeles Lakers were ousted in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, fueling fresh speculation about his future. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23)Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images On Saturday, he ignited the rumor mill again with a social media clip from a press conference. In the video, James was asked if the retirement rumors were true, with the video ending in a dramatic cut-to-black. His caption read: 'I've been asking myself the same question… 🤔👑 #ad' Advertisement Due to James indicating this is an advertisement, it seems very unlikely this is how he is teasing retirement, but fans have still been reacting in the comments. 'I can speak for every NBA fan when LeBron retires the league won't be the same 💔,' one fan wrote. 'Quit playing bro 💔,' another fan added. 'Laker fans in shambles 👀,' a third fan said 'Don't joke like that king you got a couple seasons left in you,' another fan remarked. 'Dont scare me like that,' another fan posted. "My GOAT about to announce his retirement tour," said another. Despite the cryptic social media tease, it appears increasingly likely that James will return next season. His legacy is secure, but the curtain may soon fall on one of the greatest careers in NBA history. Advertisement Related: Fans In Disbelief After LeBron James' Absence From NBA Announcement Related: Andrew Wiggins to Lakers Trade Report Surfaces After Rui Hachimura News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
