The Univ. of Florida's Athletic Association "experienced a revenue loss" of $36M "during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic" in FY '21, according to Graham Hall of the GAINESVILLE SUN. The UAA reported revenue of $138.8M in FY '21 -- from June 30, 2020, to June 30, 2021 -- down from the $175M revenue "reported in the previous year." The financial hit "would have been significantly greater" if not for the SEC's "one-time support payment" of $23M to each of its 14 member schools. That was "provided as an advance against future conference revenue." UF Senior Associate AD Steve McClain said that the UAA is "back to operating under normal revenue for this current fiscal year." The UAA reported a $22M "decline in ticket sales as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," as well as a $37M "year-over-year decline in booster contributions," from FY '20. The Florida football program reported a total surplus of $15.99M, which represents a decline of $41.3M in surplus that Florida reported for football in FY '20. The program had a total operational revenue of $45.779M, down from $94.9M a season prior (GAINESVILLE SUN, 2/11). In Orlando, Edgar Thompson notes UF's '20-21 budget "originally projected" more than $82M would be generated by football. The school took "significant cost-cutting measures" during '20-21 to reduce expenses more than $18M (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/11).
