GamecockCentral.com - Athletic department revenues rapidly rise

March 12, 2013

Scott Hood
GamecockCentral.com Staff Writer

Membership in the SEC continues to handsomely pay off for South Carolina.

According to audited financial statements dated Feb. 18, 2013, posted on the university's website, the USC athletic department generated $87.61 million in revenues during the 2011-12 academic year.

The figure represents a 130 percent increase in revenues over the past decade. In 2001-2002, USC produced $38.17 million in athletic department revenues.

The largest increases in the past 10 years have come in two major categories: Tickets and SEC distribution. Revenues from game admissions have almost doubled during that stretch, growing from $10.72 million to $20.05 million in 2011-12.

Eighty-five percent of USC's ticket revenues come from football. In 2011, the football program generated $16.96 million in admissions, while men's basketball brought in $1.19 million from tickets.

The financial documents disclose a new reality in Division I athletics. Ticket revenues accounted for 28.1 percent of total USC athletic department income in 2001-02, but fell to 22.9 percent in 2011-12.

With the SEC Network expected to begin operations in a couple of years, the multi-million payouts to each school from that endeavor should only further erode the importance of ticket revenue to the overall operations of all 14 SEC schools.

In addition to tickets, the SEC's ever-increasing media contracts have produced an annual lucrative revenue stream for all conference schools. A decade ago, USC received $8.21 million from the conference.

Last year, USC's distribution from the SEC office was $22.35 million, a 172 percent increase attributable mostly to the new multi-billion deals consummated with ESPN and CBS four years ago.

Some analysts project that annual distributions to each conference school will climb above the $30 million mark when the SEC Network begins broadcasting in a year or so.

Donations have also escalated dramatically in the past decade. In 2001-02, the school received $10.4 million in contributions and gifts. Ten years later, that number jumped to $29.33 million.

Revenues surpassed $80 million for the first time ever in 2011-12, and could eclipse $90 million in 2012-13, Ray Tanner's first year as athletic director after succeeding Eric Hyman in July.

2011-12 USC ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT REVENUES
Contributions (Gamecock Club, etc.) - $25.17 million
NCAA/SEC distribution - $22.35 million
Tickets - $20.05 million
Gifts - $4.17 million
Other revenues - $4.05 million
Programs, concessions, merchandise, parking - $3.663 million
Royalties from licensing, advertising and sponsorships - $3.58 million
Student fees - $2.34 million
Local TV, radio and Internet rights - $1.28 million
Endowment and investment income - $695,287
Guarantees - $303,500
Sports camps - $13,341
TOTAL: $87.61 million

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REVENUES (2001-2012)
2011-12: $87.61 million
2010-11: $84.01 million
2009-10: $79.88 million
2008-09: $76.12 million
2007-08: $66.55 million
2006-07: $60.54 million
2005-06: $52.06 million
2004-05: $46.23 million
2003-04: $47.21 million
2002-03: $43.67 million
2001-02: $38.17 million