Knight Commission

[CL82]

My best guess is that Connecticut politicians want UConn basketball in Hartford for a number of reasons, and the XL is the only game in town so they're held over a barrel. The owners of the Wolfpack would likely move the franchise if they had to pay such exorbitant fees; they have no loyalty to Hartford.

Yeah, but that’s what it is, a guess, right? We assume that either a majority of Connecticut politicians, or at least a significant plurality of Connecticut politicians, want UConn basketball in Hartford. That’s an assumption based upon the fact that UConn has played in Hartford since the Hartford Coliseum was built. But that’s actually a pretty thin basis for coming to that conclusion. I’m not sure it holds water, other than “we’ve always done it that way.” But let’s assume for a moment that there is at least some core group that feels that way. I wonder if they are fully aware of the economic cost in doing so. In the end, having UConn pay an above market rate to lease the XL Center is just state of Connecticut money going back to the state of Connecticut. Isn’t it more efficient, and creates more accountability, if the University of Connecticut pays a fair market lease rate in the state of Connecticut picks up the excess loss for the XL Center?

 

[CL82]

It's my understanding the NCAA pays out 0 dollars for the women's tournament.

I believe the budget for the women’s tournament in either 2020 or 2021 was $14.5 million. But that was based upon the fact that a lot of the games were held at the higher seeds a home court so that the NCAA did not have to pay airfare or lodging for them.

If I recall correctly ESPN pays something like $24-$36 million to CBS for the rights to carry the women’s tournament. Assuming all of that is correct that means that potentially the woman’s basketball tournament makes between $10 and $22 million. A significant amount of money, but to your point, pennies on the dollar compared to what the men’s team makes.

If the woman’s tournament changes its spending such that it matches the amenities afforded the men’s teams their expenses will be higher eroding that profit by an unknown figure.

Oh, @upstater? I wouldn’t bank on that $100 million figure until it actually materializes. That’s an estimate, not a fact.

 

[superjohn]

I believe the budget for the women’s tournament in either 2020 or 2021 was $14.5 million. But that was based upon the fact that a lot of the games were held at the higher seeds a home court so that the NCAA did not have to pay airfare or lodging for them.

If I recall correctly ESPN pays something like $24-$36 million to CBS for the rights to carry the women’s tournament. Assuming all of that is correct that means that potentially the woman’s basketball tournament makes between $10 and $22 million. A significant amount of money, but to your point, pennies on the dollar compared to what the men’s team makes.

If the woman’s tournament changes its spending such that it matches the amenities afforded the men’s teams their expenses will be higher eroding that profit by an unknown figure.

Oh, @upstater? I wouldn’t bank on that $100 million figure until it actually materializes. That’s an estimate, not a fact.

Upstater asked why the NCAA pays out $100 million which they don't which led to my confusion. They pay out $0.

Yep, the ESPN contract is $36 mil., all those #'s are in an article I linked earlier in the thread.

 

[Rico444]

Yeah, but that’s what it is, a guess, right? We assume that either a majority of Connecticut politicians, or at least a significant plurality of Connecticut politicians, want UConn basketball in Hartford. That’s an assumption based upon the fact that UConn has played in Hartford since the Hartford Coliseum was built. But that’s actually a pretty thin basis for coming to that conclusion. I’m not sure it holds water, other than “we’ve always done it that way.” But let’s assume for a moment that there is at least some core group that feels that way. I wonder if they are fully aware of the economic cost in doing so. In the end, having UConn pay an above market rate to lease the XL Center is just state of Connecticut money going back to the state of Connecticut. Isn’t it more efficient, and creates more accountability, if the University of Connecticut pays a fair market lease rate in the state of Connecticut picks up the excess loss for the XL Center?

Yeah its a guess, but the real answer isn't ever going to come out, so guessing is all we have. For an athletic department that has the deficit ours does, I would expect them to cut costs wherever possible, especially if the XL is a venue that the team seems to hate using.

 

[Madmannsucks]

Even if there's only a little profit it is weird the NCAA awards no money to the teams that play on the women's tourney. What could possibly be the reason for that?

So there is no TV revenue? I doubt that.

 

[dennismenace]

I'm ok with the NCAA doing some income redistribution. It's not exactly a for-profit organization. Nor is it a competent organization.... so sure, why not

income redistribution = socialism

 

[husky8273]

don't executives and employees at firms with higher revenue and profits generally receive more compensation than those at firms that are less successful?

 

[MexicoHusky]

income redistribution = socialism

agreed. I think many of us are saying that's ok in the case of the NCAA.

 

[upstater]

I believe the budget for the women’s tournament in either 2020 or 2021 was $14.5 million. But that was based upon the fact that a lot of the games were held at the higher seeds a home court so that the NCAA did not have to pay airfare or lodging for them.

If I recall correctly ESPN pays something like $24-$36 million to CBS for the rights to carry the women’s tournament. Assuming all of that is correct that means that potentially the woman’s basketball tournament makes between $10 and $22 million. A significant amount of money, but to your point, pennies on the dollar compared to what the men’s team makes.

If the woman’s tournament changes its spending such that it matches the amenities afforded the men’s teams their expenses will be higher eroding that profit by an unknown figure.

Oh, @upstater? I wouldn’t bank on that $100 million figure until it actually materializes. That’s an estimate, not a fact.

You left out ticket sales.

The average ticket for the sellout at the F4 was $600.

And ESPN paid the NCAA $34m in 2011 for the NCAA and every year since, and the popularity of the sport has only gotten bigger.

Do a ticket sales calculation and we're talking about a $100m event.

 

[upstater]

income redistribution = socialism

Newsflash: the whole economy is income redistribution!

 

[upstater]

So there is no TV revenue? I doubt that.

Huh? It's $34m a year

 

[CL82]

You left out ticket sales.

The average ticket for the sellout at the F4 was $600.

And ESPN paid the NCAA $34m in 2011 for the NCAA and every year since, and the popularity of the sport has only gotten bigger.

Do a ticket sales calculation and we're talking about a $100m event.

Wait, you’re saying the average ticket price for the final four for women’s NCAA basketball was $600? Oh, I need to see a link for that…

 

[superjohn]

You left out ticket sales.

The average ticket for the sellout at the F4 was $600.

And ESPN paid the NCAA $34m in 2011 for the NCAA and every year since, and the popularity of the sport has only gotten bigger.

Do a ticket sales calculation and we're talking about a $100m event.

Your ticket price #'s for the final 4 in Minneapolis are all wrong.

 

[upstater]

Your ticket price #'s for the final 4 in Minneapolis are all wrong.

Buy NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Tickets, Prices, & Game Schedule | TicketSmarter

Get NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Game Tickets At TicketSmarter Today! Discover The Best Seats And Ticket Prices With Our Interactive Seating Chart.

www.ticketsmarter.com

For the regional games, you can purchase women’s basketball tickets for as cheap as $23. Most tickets average $135 per session. To secure Women’s Final Four tickets, expect to pay an average of $600. The cheapest tickets can be purchased for $114.

I was going by this site but whatever they are, they make $10m to $12m on them, and that's not even counting the S16, F8, or the early rounds, which I understand are sparsely attended. Still, they're making a lot on tickets. I bet $20m overall, added to the $34m, and that $34 is set to increase a lot.

 

[upstater]

Wait, you’re saying the average ticket price for the final four for women’s NCAA basketball was $600? Oh, I need to see a link for that…

Buy NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Tickets, Prices, & Game Schedule | TicketSmarter

Get NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Game Tickets At TicketSmarter Today! Discover The Best Seats And Ticket Prices With Our Interactive Seating Chart.

www.ticketsmarter.com

 

[CL82]

Buy NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Tickets, Prices, & Game Schedule | TicketSmarter

Get NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Game Tickets At TicketSmarter Today! Discover The Best Seats And Ticket Prices With Our Interactive Seating Chart.

www.ticketsmarter.com

Lol, I don’t think this says what you think it says.

 

[superjohn]

Buy NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Tickets, Prices, & Game Schedule | TicketSmarter

Get NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Game Tickets At TicketSmarter Today! Discover The Best Seats And Ticket Prices With Our Interactive Seating Chart.

www.ticketsmarter.com

I was going by this site but whatever they are, they make $10m to $12m on them, and that's not even counting the S16, F8, or the early rounds, which I understand are sparsely attended. Still, they're making a lot on tickets. I bet $20m overall, added to the $34m, and that $34 is set to increase a lot.

There were plenty of tickets available the day before the final 4 for well under $100. The average ticket resale price for the final four was $204.

 

[upstater]

There were plenty of tickets available the day before the final 4 for well under $100. The average ticket resale price for the final four was $204.

That's totally irrelevant to what the NCAA makes. The NCAA takes the face value of the ticket. Whatever value it has in the resale market is a different story and the NCAA doesn't make any of that. I mean, fans resell tickets after their team loses.

Next year's tickets are rising to a base price of $690 for 3rd level, $1725 for 1st level.

 

[upstater]

View attachment 76476
Lol, I don’t think this says what you think it says.

It said average tickets.

Do you know what average means?

Next year's base tickets are $690. That's the cheapest.

What is wrong with you 2?

 

[superjohn]

That's totally irrelevant to what the NCAA makes. The NCAA takes the face value of the ticket. Whatever value it has in the resale market is a different story and the NCAA doesn't make any of that. I mean, fans resell tickets after their team loses.

Next year's tickets are rising to a base price of $690 for 3rd level, $1725 for 1st level.

It said average tickets.

Do you know what average means?

Next year's base tickets are $690. That's the cheapest.

What is wrong with you 2?

I don't know why you Gaslight. The average ticket for the final 4 was $200 and you could get tickets for 50 bucks the day before the game. You claim the average ticket was $600.

 

[CL82]

It said average tickets.

Do you know what average means?

Next year's base tickets are $690. That's the cheapest.

What is wrong with you 2?

LOL what’s wrong with us, I don’t know, the ability to read, I guess?

The link you provided for next year’s tickets seem to list a starting price of $289 and all three of the links show prices of less than $695, so ….

 

[BlueMAB]

income redistribution = socialism

What do you call it when Depaul, with their 1 tournament win in the last 30+ years, gets a greater share of income from the tournament than Gonzaga does, with their 40+ tournament wins in the last 20+ years?

The system in place already redistributes income by giving it to the conferences based on performance over a few years, rather than simply paying the teams that make the tournament directly.

You're defending a socialist system, by arguing that an expansion of that system is unacceptable because it's socialism.

 

[David 76]

I think some people are confusing the revenue of a college's athletic department with the NCAA's money.
Most all colleges Athletic Departments lose money. Including UConn and its men's basketball. These budgets pay for non-profit revenue sports. Not the ncaa.
You could ask why students and parents have to pay for the basketball and football programs at UConn if fairness is your real concern.

On the almost $1billion that the NCAA makes off the tournament they will pay $0 in taxes unlike a business. You could ask if that is fair.

You could ask why the women's national soccer team has brought in more money than the men and been paid less. They will now split the pot with with the men. Same as NCAA basketball except the women produce more revenue in that situation. I haven't heard anyone jumping up to say the women's team is getting screwed.
You may think women's sports have no value. I disagree. But our opinions dont matter. There is a law protects their rights.

 

[Get a Job]

What do you call it when Depaul, with their 1 tournament win in the last 30+ years, gets a greater share of income from the tournament than Gonzaga does, with their 40+ tournament wins in the last 20+ years?

The system in place already redistributes income by giving it to the conferences based on performance over a few years, rather than simply paying the teams that make the tournament directly.

You're defending a socialist system, by arguing that an expansion of that system is unacceptable because it's socialism.

You're likely wasting your keystrokes. The post to which you're replying is an indication of the poster's inability or disinterest in considering such issues in a nuanced way.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I believe the budget for the women’s tournament in either 2020 or 2021 was $14.5 million. But that was based upon the fact that a lot of the games were held at the higher seeds a home court so that the NCAA did not have to pay airfare or lodging for them.

If I recall correctly ESPN pays something like $24-$36 million to CBS for the rights to carry the women’s tournament. Assuming all of that is correct that means that potentially the woman’s basketball tournament makes between $10 and $22 million. A significant amount of money, but to your point, pennies on the dollar compared to what the men’s team makes.

If the woman’s tournament changes its spending such that it matches the amenities afforded the men’s teams their expenses will be higher eroding that profit by an unknown figure.

Oh, @upstater? I wouldn’t bank on that $100 million figure until it actually materializes. That’s an estimate, not a fact.

Women's contact for NCAA tourney is underpriced. That's one of the major things we will see in the women's game going forward.

I think the women's tournament was always a "because we have to" for NCAA. ESPN, on the other hand, really wants that tournament.