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Florida athletics: Sports budget to be among highest in the nation

By Matthew Clark

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 23: The Florida Gators cheerleaders perform against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 23, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 23: The Florida Gators cheerleaders perform against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 23, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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The Florida athletics department will continue to have one of the largest department budgets in the nation for the 2019-20 season.

Despite a leveling off of ticket sales and conference-based revenue also hitting a wall, the Florida athletics department will still have one of the largest operating budgets in the nation next season.

The University Athletic Association Board approved a $140.9 million budget for the 2019-20 athletic season during a meeting Monday. It constitutes a 3.9% increase in spending, year-over-year.

"“It’s going to continue to support our student-athletes at a high level,” said Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin, in a news release."

The budget does not contain any money from the State of Florida as expenses are covered by revenues and contributions to the department.

The university said one of the challenges facing its budget is stagnant ticket sales and the leveling off of multi-media and television rights from the Southeastern Conference.

"“Ticket sales across college football have plateaued in recent years and the Southeastern Conference revenue streams from multi-media and television rights deals have reached full maturity and leveled off,” the university said."

According to the university, the average annual cost of a university scholarship student-athlete is $68,438 – 44% scholarship, 31% travel, 13% sports medicine and health, 7% academic support and 5% equipment.

The Florida football program will contribute 59% of the annual revenue for the budget while men’s basketball will be 8%. Royalties and sponsorships contribute 25% of the department’s budget.

The budget includes continued funding for a new baseball stadium – of which construction has already started – and booster fundraising will help start construction of a new standalone football facility, which will start being constructed in June 2020. The new football facility will be at the site of McKethan Stadium, which is being torn down.

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The budget for next season was approved just days after the Florida track and field teams competed in the NCAA national championships.

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