The Univ. of Utah athletic department faces an "eight-figure budget deficit" amid the pandemic, but "at least the final damage is not going to be as bad as once feared" before Pac-12 football was reinstated, according to Josh Newman of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Utah AD Mark Harlan "estimated that his fiscal budget shortfall" will ultimately be around $35M, a figure that is "less than his worst-case estimation from August" of between $50-60M. The Pac-12, including its title game and two teams going to bowl games, "collectively played 35 football games" from Nov. 7-Jan. 2. Those contests "equate to millions of dollars in TV revenue." The $35M figure is also "based on the fact that, facing the prospect of no football, Harlan instituted a department-wide furlough, in addition to budget cuts, a hiring freeze and layoffs." With football complete, "basketball rolling on, and spring sports coming into focus, Harlan believes his athletic department is in a strong, if not advantageous position given the circumstances." Since the pandemic began, he has on a number of occasions said that "acquiring a loan from central campus is one option to make up the rest of the fiscal deficit." There is "no timeline to decide which loan road to go down, but Harlan believes he and his senior staff are close to deciding" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/13).
