Professor: Offer a solution to licenses
If the Lantern’s editorial staff thinks seat licenses at the Schottenstein Center are a bad idea, what do they propose as an alternative? State and OSU monies ($40 million) cover less than half the $84 million budget of the arena. The selling of $26 million in seat licenses coupled with gifts pays the remainder. So Lantern staff, what should we do? Should we get rid of those evil seat licenses and settle for a $58 million arena? Maybe we should make up the $26 million by transferring dollars from other university activities. Why not just raise tuition to make up the difference?The new arena will offer approximately 6200 additional basketball seats in a markedly improved atmosphere. I’ve met the kind of person who would buy these seat licenses. Yes, these people are financially successful. And, they have a great love for this university and its sports teams. I’d wager the 4500 seats sold through seat licenses will be filled with scarlet-and-gray-clad fans who, because of their seat license purchases, have made a state-of-the-art facility available to more student fans than the current forty-year-old arena does. But, again, if you don’t want the $26 million they provide, where are you going to get it?
David E. Wallinassociate professoraccounting & MIS
