BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors is making a statement: The athletics department will be a major priority for the school during the next four years.

The board voted 13-to-1 Tuesday to approve a proposal to increase the athleics budget by around $47 million for this year and around $60 million for each of the next three years.

The budget would top out at over $229 million.

“Virginia Tech is at a historic juncture in the history of Hokie Athletics,” Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said during the meeting. “The tumblers at the institution, conference, and national levels are all aligned. Today’s action unlocks the door to future success.”

The board says the increase is necessary because of the rise of NIL (name, image and likeness deals) at the national lev

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