The Michigan athletic department "remains a healthy, viable business," as it produced a $13.04M surplus in FY '13-14, according to data cited by Mark Snyder of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. UM produced $157.9M in revenues and spent $144.86M leading to the surplus, which "was an increase" over the $11.3M figure in '12-13. The athletic department also gave $2.3M "to the general university." The football program produced $91M in revenue, which was $46.1M from ticket sales, $26M from "contributions" and $15M from Big Ten conference distributions, which "included broadcast rights" for the '13 season. The revenue increased by $10M "over the previous year." After $26.75M in expenses, the UM football program turned a $64.6M surplus, "an increase" of nearly $8M over '12-13. Meanwhile, the men's basketball program "also was self-sustaining, finishing with a surplus" of $6.18M ($13.6M in revenue, $7.46M in expenses). That surplus was down from $8.3M in '12-13. Finally, overall distributions from the Big Ten and NCAA "continued to rise," up to $27.45M for FY '13-14. UM also "received a boost in its revenues" from the NHL's $3M facility rental for the '14 Maple Leafs-Red Wings NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/17). In Michigan, Nick Baumgardner noted the audit "does provide a bit of a caution ... when it comes to what the numbers could look like for next year's final line," as ticket sale numbers for UM football this past season "suffered a sizable drop" (MLIVE.com, 3/16).
MAIZE RUNNER: In Detroit, Angelique Chengelis writes under the header, "Michigan Swept Up In Harbaughmania." New UM football coach Jim Harbaugh appeared on the sidelines during an NFL playoff game "wearing a black quilted adidas jacket with a black block M." Official UM retailer the M Den had 48 of the jackets made, and they "sold out in a few hours." M Den co-Owner Scott Hirth said, "(That) is probably the best representation of the impact the new coach has had and how quick we all have to move on the merchandise front right now. Anything our new coach is seen wearing in public, people call us immediately to see if we have it. Overall, our new coach has generated quite a buzz and great feelings amongst Michigan fans, and that certainly has an impact on sales." Chengelis notes the M Den is "selling Harbaugh-like khakis with a Block M above the right rear pocket." Also among the items is a T-shirt that "reads: Maize Blue Khaki." A few days after Harbaugh became coach, he also "developed the university's biggest Twitter presence." He has "more than 200,000 followers" and trails only Ohio State's Urban Meyer for the "most among college football coaches." UM officials "do not yet know the effect Harbaugh might have in terms of ticket sales since renewals don't start until April" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/17).
