Service Academy Sports Unaffected by Government Shutdown, Officials Confirm

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has sparked concerns in many areas. Oddly enough, college sports at the U.S. service academies—Air Force, Army, and Navy—haven’t skipped a beat.

The athletic departments at these academies have taken steps to keep sports events running. They’ve got things covered, at least for now.

This article looks at how these institutions are handling the shutdown. There’s also a bit of history behind their approach.

The Resilience of Service Academy Sports During Government Shutdowns

Even with the government shutdown, the athletic departments at Air Force, Army, and Navy are making sure their games go on. Navy and Air Force are scheduled to face off in football this weekend, and fans can expect the game to happen as planned.

Navy has always run its athletic department as a nonprofit, separate from the government. Army switched to this model back in 2017.

This separation has helped shield their sports programs from shutdowns. It’s a system that seems to work, at least so far.

Historical Context: Previous Shutdowns and Their Impact

Back in 2018, Navy and Army’s athletic programs kept going during government shutdowns because of their nonprofit status. The Air Force, though, had to cancel some competitions for a bit in January 2018.

This time, Air Force has shifted its athletic fundraising to a nonprofit too—the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC). They’re clearly trying to avoid past headaches.

Funding and Logistical Support

The Air Force Academy says all home and away games will go on as planned during the shutdown. The AFAAC is stepping in to handle funding, travel, and logistics.

There’s a catch, though. Updates to the GoAirForceFalcons.com website will be slow, and fans won’t get video streams of home games.

The Role of Nonprofit Entities

Running athletic departments as nonprofits has been key to keeping the games going at these academies. Navy’s always done it this way, and Army followed in 2017.

Air Force’s recent move to the AFAAC model shows they’re doubling down on this strategy. It’s not perfect, but it keeps the ball rolling—literally.

Impact on Game-Day Logistics

Most of the big stuff—travel and the games themselves—aren’t affected. Some government civilian workers who handle game-day logistics are feeling the impact, though.

An Army spokesperson mentioned this but said sports events will still run smoothly. The academies seem to have a plan for just about everything.

Community and Fan Engagement

Fans will notice some changes. The Air Force Academy announced website updates will be delayed, and there won’t be any video streaming of home games.

That’s tough for folks who rely on online updates to keep up with their teams. Still, the academies are clearly committed to making sure the games themselves happen, no matter what.

Conclusion: A Testament to Resilience

The Air Force, Army, and Navy athletic departments keep their sports events running even during a government shutdown. That says a lot about their resilience and how well they plan ahead.

They run their athletic departments as nonprofit organizations. This move helps shield their sports programs from the financial chaos that can hit when the government shuts down.

Fans still get to watch the big games at these storied academies. It’s a relief, honestly, for anyone who loves college sports.