UF men's basketball was only one of two sports that showed a profit in FY '19GETTY IMAGES
Univ. of Florida student-athletes, coaches and fans have been "hit hard by the cancellation" of all spring sports, but one hit that has "not occurred, and likely won't, is a financial one," according to Robbie Andreu of the GAINESVILLE SUN. Other than "refunding season ticket holders in those sports, UF will not lose much in the way of revenue due to the cancellation of the spring sports, which traditionally do not generate much revenue, if any." Of UF's 21 overall sports, only two "showed a profit" in FY '19 -- football and men’s basketball. The school's 19 other programs "finished the year $33,528,175 in the red." With "no more travel and other expenses for the rest of the spring and summer, it's possible UF could see that red figure come down" in '20. UF, along with the SEC, "could feel some financial impact from the NCAA’s cancellation of its postseason championships, in particular the men's SEC Basketball Tournament" and NCAA Tournament. UF AD Scott Stricklin said, "Those are obviously significant revenue streams for all the schools. But we're not in a position to understand what that means yet" (GAINESVILLE SUN, 3/19). Meanwhile, in Birmingham, Tom Green notes his outlet "attempted to calculate the potential revenue" Auburn's athletic department will "lose out on without any sports for the foreseeable future" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 3/19).
