Murray State University Athletics
Leading The Pack - Murray State Athletics $100 Million Campaign
While Murray State continues to stay laser focused on competitive excellence during the golden era of Racer Athletics, the department will embark on a bold, comprehensive fundraising campaign, Leading The Pack, to further position itself for the future by investing in student-athlete success and wellness, revenue share and competitive resources and world-class facilities.
With the campaign’s goal set at $100 million, Murray State has raised $37 million towards the initiatives long-term target during the silent phase of the campaign.
WAYS TO INVEST
STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS
COMPETITIVE RESOURCES
- Revenue Share (Excellence Fund)
- New NIL Opportunities
CAPITAL PROJECTS
- Basketball (CFSB Center)
- CFSB Center Renovation (Begins March 9, 2026)
- Lower Bowl Seating
- Loge Boxes
- Courtside Club
- Leon Owens Performance Center
- NIL Brand Studio
- CFSB Center Renovation (Begins March 9, 2026)
- Football (Roy Stewart Stadium)
- Draffen Family Club
- Football Videoboard
- Football Field Turf Replacement
- Track Resurfacing
- In-Field Turf
- Baseball (Johnny Reagan Field)
- Jim & Sue Cash Baseball Clubhouse
- New Outfield Wall (Completed)
- New Scoreboard (Completed)
- New Videoboard (Completed)
- Softball
- Sandra Hartman Press Box
- New Outfield Turf
STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE
- First-Class Education
- Mental Health Support
- Nutrition & Wellness
- Sports Medicine
- Strength & Conditioning
- Team Travel
NAMING RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES
MEN'S/WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (CFSB CENTER)
- Men's Basketball Coach Locker Room - $75,000
- Women's Basketball Coach Locker Room - $75,000
- AD Office - $100,000
- President's Suite - $100,000
- Ticket Office - $100,000
- Women's Basketball Head Coach Office/Conference Room - $100,000
- Gene Ray Center Lobby - $200,000
- Brand/NIL Studio - $250,000
- Club Area Bar - $500,000
- Gate C Student Entrance - $500,000
- Women's Basketball Locker Room - $500,000
- Parking Lots (2,3,4) - $900,000 ($300,000 Per Lot)
- CFSB Weight Room - $1,000,000
- Practice Gym - $1,000,000
- Party Paddock (Gate D/Lobby) - $1,500,000
- Concessions Stands - $2,000,000 ($500,000 Per Stand)
FOOTBALL (ROY STEWART STADIUM)
- On-Field Tunnel - $50,000
- Strength Coach Office - $50,000
- Equipment Room - $75,000
- Football Coach Locker Room - $75,000
- Nutrition Center - $75,000
- President's Box - $75,000
- Head Coach Office - $100,000
- Team Lounge - $100,000
- Team Meeting Room - $100,000
- Level 1 Football Lobby - $200,000
- Administrative/Coach Suite - $250,000
- Entrance (Horse Gate) - $250,000
- Tailgate Area/Parking Lot - $250,000
- Training Room - $250,000
- Football Locker Room - $500,000
- Entrance (Gates 3 & 4) - $700,000
- Entrance (Gates 1,2,5) - $1,000,000
- Videoboard (Back Side) - $1,000,000
- Weight Room - $1,000,000
BASEBALL (JOHNNY REAGAN FIELD)
- Training Room - $100,000
- Visitors Dugout - $100,000
- Batting Cage Complex - $150,000
- Bullpen - $150,000
- Home Dugout - $150,000
- Players Lounge - $150,000
- Clubhouse Lobby - $250,000
- Grand Stands - $250,000
- Home Locker Room - $250,000
- Pitching Lab - $250,000
- Press Box - $250,000
- Team Meeting Room - $250,000
SOFTBALL (RACER FIELD)
- Grand Stands - $50,000
- Players Lounge - $50,000
- Visitors Dugout - $50,000
- Head Coach Office - $75,000
- Home Dugout - $100,000
- Softball Locker Room - $250,000
- Softball Field - $500,000
- Softball Facility - $1,500,000
SOCCER (CUTCHIN FIELD)
- Visitor Dugout - $50,000
- Head Coach Office - $75,000
- Home Dugout - $75,000
- Locker Room - $75,000
- Soccer Facility - $1,500,000
VOLLEYBALL (RACER ARENA)
- Team Room - $50,000
- Head Coach Office - $75,000
- Locker Room - $100,000
- Court - $500,000
MEN'S/WOMEN'S GOLF (MILLER MEMORIAL GOLF COURSE)
- Head Coach Office - $75,000
- Men's Golf Locker Room - $75,000
- Women's Golf Locker Room - $75,000
- Putting Green - $150,000
- Driving Range - $250,000
TENNIS (BENNIE PURCELL TENNIS COURTS)
- Grand Stands - $50,000
- Head Coach Office - $75,000
TRACK & FIELD / CROSS COUNTRY (ROY STEWART STADIUM)
- Jumps Area - $50,000
- Throws Area - $50,000
- Men's Locker Room - $50,000
- Women's Locker Room - $50,000
- Head Coach Office - $75,000
- Team Room - $75,000
RIFLE (PAT SPURGIN RIFLE RANGE)
- Specatator Area - $50,000
- Head Coach Office - $75,000
- Locker Room - $75,000
- Team Room - $100,000
WEAVER CENTER
- Classroom - $50,000
- Computer Lab - $50,000
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO INVEST
Leading The Pack Interest Form
“Athletics continues to serve as the front porch for our institution through the visibility it continues to provide, and we are thrilled to be able to support this campaign that will help lead the department into the future. Leading The Pack will have a transformational effect on Racer Athletics and on the University as a whole, and we are incredibly grateful for Racer Nation’s investment into the vision set by Director of Athletics Nico Yantko and his entire team.”Dr. Ron Patterson, Murray State University President
“We have been laser focused on laying out a comprehensive plan over the past three years, and the Leading The Pack campaign will further strengthen our commitment of positioning Murray State to be a premier athletics department in the Missouri Valley Conference and nationally. As we continue racing towards excellence, it is important that we remain steadfast in investing in student-athlete success and critical infrastructure while we work to fulfill the goals within our Second Saturday Strategy. With the help of this campaign and through the unwavering support of everyone in Racer Nation, the best is yet to come for our department and University.”Nico Yantko, Murray State Director of Athletics
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE LEADING THE PACK CAMPAIGN?
The Leading The Pack campaign is a $100 million, athletics-specific fundraising initiative by Murray State Athletics that will help us significantly enhance our ability to fulfill our departmental objectives of: advancing the brand of Murray State University; building a stronger Murray State community and region; competing for and winning championships; developing our student-athletes through strategic programming that will serve them from recruitment through retirement.
WHAT ARE THE LEADING THE PACK CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES?
The campaign is built on three key pillars that will provide critical competitive advantages to Racer Athletics and its coaches and student-athletes:
- Competitive Resources: Revenue Share, NIL Opportunities
- Capital Projects: Future World-Class Facilities, Revenue-Generating Premium Offerings
- Student-Athlete Experience: First-Class Education, Mental Health Support, Nutrition & Wellness, Team Travel
WHEN DID THE CAMPAIGN START AND WHEN DOES IT END?
The Leading The Pack campaign began its silent phase in October 2023, when we completed the first year of the first-ever, athletics-specific strategic plan, The Race Is On. The campaign was publicly launched in March 2026, and is slated to conclude in 2033.
WHO IS INVOLVED?
In addition to our student-athletes and coaches, it will take all of Racer Nation to help us achieve our goal. We strongly encourage our University alumni, faculty & staff, and fans, to come together and invest in the student-athletes and coaches who will represent Murray State on some of the biggest stages in sport.
WHY SHOULD I GIVE?
Your gift will have a transformational impact on creating a world-class experience for our student-athletes and help further position us for the future by investing in student-athlete success and wellness, revenue share and competitive resources and elite-level facilities.
HOW DO I GIVE?
For details on how you can support the campaign, click any of the above fundraising initiatives. From there, you will be able to access more information on making your investment. Any additional questions can be answered by calling Murray State Athletics at (270) 809-3000.
DOES A CAMPAIGN GIFT NEED TO BE MADE VIA CASH OR CAN I PAY IT OVER MULTIPLE YEARS?
A gift to the Leading The Pack campaign can be paid by cash, card, or through annual pledged installments. Contact the Murray State Athletics development office at (270) 809-3000 for information on how to make your payment.
HOW DOES MY CAMPAIGN GIFT AFFECT MY PRIORITY POINTS AND PRIORITY RANK?
All athletics contributions during the duration of the Leading The Pack campaign will be eligible for earning priority points (three (3) points per $100).
Additionally, gifts made through the Triple Crown Investors Society and the Racers Legacy Society will unlock additional benefits.
WHEN ARE PRIORITY POINTS UPDATED?
Priority Points are updated on the first of each month AND after the established point lock deadlines.
WHAT IS A “PRIORITY POINT LOCK?”
Point Lock is an established deadline in which rank is utilized to establish the order for allocation of tickets and/or other experiences (special event invitation, post-season seating allocations, etc.).
WHAT IS “RANK?”
Rank is the numerical order in which you, as a loyal Racer Club Member, fall within the inclusive list of investors from highest to lowest.
