BURNABY, BC – Simon Fraser University Senior Director of Athletics and Recreation Theresa Hanson revealed today that the University has hired an independent consulting firm to explore a potential business model that would support NCAA hockey and sand (beach) volleyball programs at Simon Fraser University.
 
The consulting firm is experienced in assisting NCAA schools in increasing revenues, creating efficiencies and maximizing operations, including sports sponsorship, and moving programs from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I. The report is expected to be complete within six months.
 
Simon Fraser University is Canada's NCAA team. It is the only University in the country that delivers the NCAA athletic experience with a Canadian education. SFU offers full-ride athletic scholarships that enable the University to attract and retain Canada's best young student athletes. SFU is a member of the NCAA Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).
 
"We want to capitalize on our uniqueness and unleash our potential as Canada's NCAA team," explained Hanson. "First, we must understand the business model and organizational structure that will help us achieve this."
 
 "The university wants to make an informed decision on whether to pursue NCAA hockey and sand volleyball as varsity sports," continued Hanson. "The consultant is helping us determine the expenses and revenue opportunities associated with hockey and sand volleyball for our market.  At the same time we are reviewing our current organizational structure and budget model and developing a business plan that will address the gaps and help us move forward in a positive and sustainable way". 
 
"Canada versus the United States has worked at all levels of international hockey and we want to understand what that would look like from a business perspective at the collegiate hockey level," she said.
 
"If these programs work from a business perspective than I believe these two initiatives have the potential to strengthen Simon Fraser's reputation and add prestige to the university, enable us to continue to recruit the best student-athletes and the best faculty, and will immeasurably strengthen campus life," said Hanson.
 
After completion of the NCAA winter championship sports, Simon Fraser University ranks 20th in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings for NCAA Division II. The final rankings in June quantify the national success of all 317 NCAA Division II programs.  Simon Fraser led the Great Northwest Athletic Conference last year with a 26th place finish.
 
SFU currently has a hockey club that competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League and plays home games at Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby, BC,.
 
SFU has an NCAA Division II indoor volleyball program as one of its 17 varsity sports. The team competes in the GNAC.
 
--@SFUClan--