The Purdue football team is 3-2 and third in the Big Ten West, and the "renewed interest" in the team is "helping the athletic department from a financial standpoint," according to Mike Carmin of the Lafayette JOURNAL & COURIER. An increase in ticket sales through the first three home games will "provide much needed revenue to the athletic department." The school "announced an average of 49,253" for games against Ohio, Minnesota and Michigan -- which was the program’s "first sellout in nine years." In the past, Purdue "hasn’t met its budget regarding football ticket sales, creating a shortfall and hampering the overall financial health of the athletic department." In its '17-18 athletic department budget, Purdue forecast just over $11M in "ticket sales and guarantees, which includes all of its sports." It is part of $93.1M in revenue the athletic department is "expected to receive," including $53.6M from Big Ten and NCAA distributions. Purdue also is "seeing an increase" of around $17M from the conference compared to the '16-17 budget "because of the Big Ten’s new television deal." Purdue projects a net operating income of $11.7M by the end of FY '17-18, but that is "before the debt service is paid." Increased football ticket sales can "help the department provide additional revenue across the board" (
Lafayette JOURNAL & COURIER, 10/12).
