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Basketball as a Money-Maker

boulder77

boulder77

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Club Member
As I was reading about the comments that Joel Klatt made - basically saying that the money being spent on the BB/VB Practice Facility would be better spent on football since football finances everything else - got me to wondering if it is possible for the basketball program to actually make money.

Many of you who follow CU basketball regularly most assuredly have more insight than I do on the subject, so I would like to get your thoughts. Let's say Tad is successful in building up the program, and in future years we average 8,000 or 9,000 fans per game, and regularly get into the NCAA tournament. Would that be enough for the basketball program to make money in a given year, or is it just not possible in our situation? I realize that it will probably never be at a point that it would be able to finance anything else (except maybe help out with Women's basketball), but it would be great if Men's BB were self-sufficient, and the dollars previously being siphoned from football could go to other sports. Thoughts? Thanks.
 
Men's basketball can make money. Nothing like football, but a few million a year.

Women's basketball and women's volleyball can break even (or close to it).

Klatt's thinking is what has gotten us into this mess. A downturn in football bankrupts the entire AD because everyone is completely reliant on it. This helps change that dynamic for the better.
 
Buffnik said:
Men's basketball can make money. Nothing like football, but a few million a year.

Women's basketball and women's volleyball can break even (or close to it).
Click to expand...

It'd be nice to see CU at least hit the break even point for all 3 programs combined.

Klatt's thinking is what has gotten us into this mess. A downturn in football bankrupts the entire AD because everyone is completely reliant on it. This helps change that dynamic for the better.
Click to expand...

:nod:
 
Buffnik said:
Klatt's thinking is what has gotten us into this mess. A downturn in football bankrupts the entire AD because everyone is completely reliant on it. This helps change that dynamic for the better.
Click to expand...
I completely agree. Get basketball to the point that it at least pays for itself, or makes a small profit, and put that football money to use elsewhere. I think JK is totally wrong in his thinking on this.

66BUFF said:
I am pretty sure the mens team makes a couple of dollars over break even now
Click to expand...
I read an article some time back that said something along the lines that while basketball "officially" shows a profit, they kind of use creative accounting to get to that point. I'd like nothing better than to see big crowds every night at the CECC - I know it won't be immediate, but down the road a couple of years it should be doable.
 
Basketball does make money, although not as much as Football, but it still makes a considerable amount, even more when they are winning. Below is the expense report from a few years ago when there was no one in the stands, Put more people in the stands, reduce HC salary, you get instant profit.

http://www2.indystar.com/NCAA_financial_reports/expense_stat/show?school_id=20

And there are many other schools that rely on basketball profits. IE. Maryland. Their Football program isnt tiny like Duke (Maryland Football is what you can thank for Under Armor), but Basketball rules there.

http://www2.indystar.com/NCAA_financial_reports/expense_stat/show?school_id=134
 
do they count beer revenue in the club room in the break even for basketball, because I help them out quite a bit every game.
 
tante said:
do they count beer revenue in the club room in the break even for basketball, because I help them out quite a bit every game.
Click to expand...

tante - You and me both. We've got to set up an AllBuffs table this year.
 
Rugged said:
How do you get into this club room?
Click to expand...

With season tickets - which I have successfully talked the group I get football tickets with into buying about 6 b-ball tickets this season. So you'll see union & some others in the club room this year! :drink2:
 
How much are season tickets? Sorry I don't feel like researching right now.
 
Next time I see you, you owe me a burrito for doing your homework for you....

MBB season ticket prices:
General admission seats $60
Reserved bleacher seats $85
Corner seats $120
Mid courtside side $255
 
General Admission: $60
Reserved Bleachers: $85
Corners: $120
Mid-Courtside: $255

Edit: BeBe is quick. Rep.
 
First 10 Rows in the Mid Court are $375, I asked the lady how much courtside seats were and her response was "Um, thats where the players sit", Ugh
 
Basketball is a place where they have potential to significantly change the financial outlook of the department. The school is going to have basketball teams, both men and women, they are going to pay coaches and support staff, pay scholarships, travel, and other expenses. To maintain the programs they are going to pay for recruiting travel, etc.

The part that can vary significantly is the revenue generated. Even talking a very conservative revenue average of $15 for a mens seat and $10 for a women's seat, and increase of 1000 tickets per game would result in a revenue gain of over a quarter milliion dollars for the men and 170 thousand for the women. Either of these would cover a significant chunk of the cost of some of the minor sports programs currently being funded from football. Get a consistent contender in mens BB and I would argue that the ticket increase would be multiples of the thousand shown. When Ceal's teams were winning in women's BB I remember attendance at a couple of thousand above what it is now.

Neither of these figure include increase revenue from concessions, logo wear, etc. nor do they include the increased giving that accompanies a winning program showing up in the sportspages and on TV.

Boulder is not likely to ever be another Lawrence KS selling out a 17,000 seat arena at high ticket prices but the program does have room to significantly grow revenues. The women's program is not going to be playing before full houses either but it has already proven that a winner can sell a lot more tickets than they are now.

The real issue is if the AD is willing to insure the support to allow the programs to generate the funds they are capable of reducing the load that football carries in funding the overall AD.
 
Mens bball can definitely make money, but I'm not so confident about any of our other programs. Football dominates the college sports landscape, but bball can be a huge money maker for big programs. You need to put money into mens bball in order to alleviate the stress on the football program making money for everyone else. Klatt is dead wrong in his statement...

Yes, football money carries the bulk of the load in financing the AD. To completely ignore mens bball though just makes it more of a weight on football's back, as opposed to the money-maker it could be. Buffnik makes a great point about relying solely on football too.

I'm not a fan of Klatt...he can be psst at Hawk fine, but to be so vocal about your institution...I heard from others while I was in school, that when GB got fired, Klatt was one of most visibly upset ones. Colorado programs are greater than any one player or coach. If he's still upset at the university for firing his coach...he needs to get over it. If he is indeed over the firing and just hates Hawk that much...he needs to get over himself...can't stand how sports journalism has become a bunch of former athletes spewing their opinions while the smart and educated people that truly study and appreciate journalism as a profession struggle.

How's that for an off-topic rant?
 
BeBe said:
Next time I see you, you owe me a burrito for doing your homework for you....

MBB season ticket prices:
General admission seats $60
Reserved bleacher seats $85
Corner seats $120
Mid courtside side $255
Click to expand...

Buffnik said:
General Admission: $60
Reserved Bleachers: $85
Corners: $120
Mid-Courtside: $255

Edit: BeBe is quick. Rep.
Click to expand...

BeBe, burrito is yours. Thanks to both you and 'Nik. Are the G.A. tickets sufficient to get me into the club room? I want to get season tickets to support the program, but I'm not sure how many games I will be able to get to so I don't want to spend too much. I'm still not quite employed yet... :smile2:
 
Rugged,

I've never had them check my tickets or ask to see my Buff Club membership card. I actually have no idea what the requirements are to get into the Club room beyond acting like you know where you are going and belong there. :lol:
 
Buffnik said:
Rugged,

I've never had them check my tickets or ask to see my Buff Club membership card. I actually have no idea what the requirements are to get into the Club room beyond acting like you know where you are going and belong there. :lol:
Click to expand...

Haha alright. Well how about we meet up at the first game and I'll go in with you?
 
Buffnik said:
Rugged,

I've never had them check my tickets or ask to see my Buff Club membership card. I actually have no idea what the requirements are to get into the Club room beyond acting like you know where you are going and belong there. :lol:
Click to expand...

Rugged said:
Haha alright. Well how about we meet up at the first game and I'll go in with you?
Click to expand...

Don't do it Nik, he'll keep you both from getting in.
 
I do think there will be a lot more people at the games this year. I tried to add additional seats, for friends to join us, but I wasnt willing to give up quality of seats (I am in Row 1 in the corner now). But I was willing to go a few rows higher for mid court, but the best the lady could do for me was a dozen rows up behind me (in the corner) for 4 seats, not in a row. But to do 6 seats it would have been basically like getting GA seats. I would be interested to hear what the season ticket numbers are like this year, cause from the sounds of it, there hasnt been too many people giving up seats (I wasnt even able to upgrade my 2 seats for better mid court seats). And it sounded like they had a good list of newcomers in the queue for getting season tickets.
 
GoBuffs!! said:
I do think there will be a lot more people at the games this year. I tried to add additional seats, for friends to join us, but I wasnt willing to give up quality of seats (I am in Row 1 in the corner now). But I was willing to go a few rows higher for mid court, but the best the lady could do for me was a dozen rows up behind me (in the corner) for 4 seats, not in a row. But to do 6 seats it would have been basically like getting GA seats. I would be interested to hear what the season ticket numbers are like this year, cause from the sounds of it, there hasnt been too many people giving up seats (I wasnt even able to upgrade my 2 seats for better mid court seats). And it sounded like they had a good list of newcomers in the queue for getting season tickets.
Click to expand...


****..maybe I should spend the money and get a set seat. They could be harder to come by in the near future.
 
Just got my seats confirmed. Was able to stay in Section 8 and move to the aisle on the Sec 9 side. Had to move back several rows, but definitely worth it. I can't wait for the season to start.

btw, I've got 2 seats and my wife doesn't make every game. I'll let you guys know when I've got one available this season. No charge. Just buy me a beer at the game.
 
Is the club level even going to be open this year? They tore out the entrance area when they started building the practice facility addition.
 
sackman said:
Is the club level even going to be open this year? They tore out the entrance area when they started building the practice facility addition.
Click to expand...

good question, unless the wall is trashed, I would assume that the elevator and both sets of stairs would still work.
 
Ok so I think you guys convinced me to buy season tickets but I'll probably only be able to attend a handful of games. Is there a way to donate the left overs or how would that work?
 
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