Univ. Of Alabama Athletics Department Records $21.2M Surplus In FY '13

The Univ. of Alabama athletics department recorded a $21.2M surplus for FY '13, an increase of $8.9M from '12, marking the school's "second-largest surplus" in eight years, according to Jon Solomon of the BIRMINGHAM NEWS. Alabama's annual debt service for athletic facilities reached nearly $16M, up 19% "from a year earlier and its largest amount in at least eight years." The athletic department transferred $5.9M to the university in '13 for "initiatives outside of athletics," while the university provided athletics with $5.8M "in direct institutional support." Alabama reported $143.8M in "total athletics revenue." The school's revenue has increased 84% since '06, the "year before Nick Saban became football coach." The '13 revenue total was "aided by record-highs" in ticket sales ($38.9M), donor contributions ($34.2M) and NCAA/SEC payouts ($23.9M). The Alabama football team accounted for 93% of the athletic department's ticket revenue and 55% "of its contribution dollars." Expenses for the school's athletic department in '13 totaled $122.5M, marking the "third straight year" it spent more than $100M. The "largest expense continues to be compensation for coaches, support staff and administrators," which reached $42.2M (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 3/25).