Mizzou athletic director gives summer update

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou athletic director Jim Sterk gave a summer update on the state of the athletic department on Thursday afternoon.

He spoke about how the NCAA's new ruling on NIL has impacted the athletic department as well as COVID protocols for the upcoming fall sports season.

You can hear the full news conference in the video player below.

Sterk said Mizzou football ticket sales are up 150% from 2019. He still expects to have a full capacity crowd at Faurot Field this fall.

Sterk said about 50% of MU student-athletes are vaccinated at this point. The SEC hopes to get all of its schools at 85%. As of now - six MU teams have a vaccination rate over 60%.

"We're full steam ahead, but it's really going to be a point of emphasis with the SEC," Sterk said. "People still have a choice, but there are consequences to your choices."

Sterk also said he supports the NCAA's new name, image and likeness policy. He expects Gov. Parson to sign Missouri's bill on NIL in the next week or two.

MU hopes to break ground on the new indoor football facility in October with a completion date set for Nov. of 2022. Sterk said MU has raised about $34 million for the project thus far.