FAU's athletic department "will be budgeted more money" during the '17-18 academic year than ever before, according to Matthew DeFranks of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. FAU has budgeted $29.33M for its athletic department, up $2.23M from last year. The proposed $2.23M increase is the "biggest one-year jump" for FAU since the '13-14 budget rose $2.69M from '12-13. The '17-18 FY begins in July. The "biggest increase in revenue comes from student fees," which will supply an additional $764,655 next year, "despite an unchanged contribution rate." FAU is also counting on $1.55M (a $700,000 gain) from "development and capital gifts" and a $414,634 increase in ticket sales. The school is expecting $2.05M in ticket sales across all its sports. FAU AD Pat Chun previously said that football ticket sales are "on pace to potentially break records." Revenue-wise, the "biggest decrease comes from NCAA and Conference USA distribution," which dips to $2.74M, a drop of about $500,000 from last year. The decrease can be "mainly attributed to a shrinking media deal Conference USA has with various television networks" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/10).
