Auburn’s finances reportedly show record revenue, highest profit in 12 years
By Keith Farner
Published:
In a difficult time for college sports programs across the country, Auburn reported a record revenue and the highest profit since the 2007-08 fiscal year.
Auburn’s athletics department accrued $153,703,749 in revenue and a surplus of nearly $17.9 for the fiscal year, according to a copy of the university’s annual NCAA financial report obtained Friday by AL.com through a public records request.
Auburn reported those record numbers in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic due to the university’s fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 and ending Sept. 30, according to a report from Tom Green of AL.com. Auburn benefited from the 2019 football season and 2019-20 basketball season operating at full attendance before COVID-19 impacted the sports world in March, canceling spring sports, as well as the NCAA Tournament and College World Series.
A surplus of $17,887,318 is the department’s highest since the 2007-08 fiscal year, when it profited $19,470,624. It also marks a year-over-year profit increase of $4.69 million.
In August, Athletics Director Allen Greene reported that the decision to limit capacity to 20 percent attendance, paired with the 10-game SEC schedule that resulted in two fewer home games last fall, would result in a budgetary shortfall of “tens of millions of dollars,” according to Greene.
“As you may know, revenue from football finances all 21 Auburn teams,” Greene said in a letter to fans.
The true impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Auburn’s financials is expected to be reflected in the athletic department’s 2020-21 NCAA financial report.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
