Florida State athletics is expected to generate $109.1M in revenues for the next school year, "thanks in part to robust ticket sales" for the Sept. 2 football opener against Alabama in Atlanta and money from the ACC, according to Ryan Dailey of the TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT. The revenues reflect a nearly $8M increase over the '16-17 athletics operating budget and will allow FSU to "push ahead with improvements to its athletics facilities." FSU Senior Associate AD & CFO Matt Behnke said that projected ticket revenue for football next fall is up $1.7M from the '16-17 season, due in "large part to the much-anticipated matchup against" Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dailey notes the women’s basketball program also "added $100,000 in ticket revenue." The ACC's distribution for FSU was increased by $3.2M, totaling $30.78M, which is up from about $27.5M in '16-17. Behnke said that FSU also is "finding success experimenting with non-traditional revenue sources, specifically citing the recent Doak After Dark concert" at Doak Campbell Stadium. As part of its '17-18 expenditures, FSU is "gearing up" to spend $16.5M on new video boards for its football, baseball and volleyball programs. FSU President John Thrasher said that a football-only facility is "high on the school’s to-do list." Right now, the Moore Athletics Center in Doak Campbell is being "eyed as its potential location" (TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, 6/7).
