Arizona State Athletic Revenue Surpasses $100M For First Time

Arizona State's football revenue in FY '17 was $43.3M, virtually identical to the previous yearGETTY IMAGES

Arizona State's athletic revenue surpassed $100M for the first time in FY '17, but "expenses increased enough to cut the department's surplus in half," according to Jeff Metcalfe of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Revenue climbed 7.2% in FY '17, from $94.6M to a "school record" $101.5M. Expenses rose 11%, to $98.8M, and the department is "showing an operating budget surplus." But that shrunk from $5.5M in FY '16 to $2.7M. ASU's revenue increased even though ticket sales dropped 15%, from $11.8M to $10M, in part "due to one less home football game" in '16 than in '15. ASU football revenue in FY '17 was $43.3M, "virtually identical to the previous year." On the expense side, ASU athletics paid $9.4M for "facilities debt service" in FY '17, a 123% increase related to the $307M stadium renovation (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/5).