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A Look Back at Conference Realignment 2004-2005

Last Updated on March 11, 2023

Conference realignment is nothing new. In 2004 and 2005, 16 schools moved from one FBS conference to another. Earlier this week, I wrote a piece for ESPN detailing how those schools have fared financially (and even academically) since their respective moves. Those who know me know I love Excel spreadsheets, and I had quite a few that we didn’t include in the ESPN.com piece. Below you’ll find a chart for each public school who moved in 2004 and 2005 detailing the growth each school saw in major revenue categories from the year before they moved conferences to the year after. Check out my ESPN.com piece for details on expense growth and overall financial picture for each school.

Virginia Tech

2003-20042010-2011Growth
Ticket Sales$12,684,737$18,979,12950%
Student Fees$5,782,195$7,237,09125%
Guarantees$784,257$2,551,600225%
Contributions$8,561,075$15,849,98185%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$55,000$185,000236%
Direct Institutional Support$408,962$353,531-14%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$4,960,919$12,467,870151%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$1,907,452$3,954,669107%
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$503,186$1,384,437175%

Cincinnati

2004-20052010-2011 Growth
Ticket Sales$3,889,980$8,485,966118%
Student Fees$0$0
Guarantees$1,232,500$871,905-29%
Contributions$4,636,229$5,848,89726%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$0$0
Direct Institutional Support$5,642,852$14,708,672161%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$3,492,095$7,731,939121%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$0$0
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$1,000,000$1,841,83684%

Louisville

2004-20052010-2011 Growth
Ticket Sales$12,767,307$26,467,598107%
Student Fees$1,633,024$1,861,50214%
Guarantees$1,030,000$1,001,150-3%
Contributions$11,507,810$28,224,908145%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$0$0
Direct Institutional Support$1,500,000$2,152,96744%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$2,430,632$8,629,513255%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$1,643,061$1,180,000-28%
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$2,875,850$3,527,01823%

South Florida

2004-20052010-2011Growth
Ticket Sales$2,975,011$5,828,04896%
Student Fees$9,183,299$15,231,70866%
Guarantees$1,058,491$1,704,00061%
Contributions$2,675,193$2,735,0032%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$0$95,550
Direct Institutional Support$1,093,589$1,329,90922%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$1,426,973$8,873,398522%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$400,000$507,57727%
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$1,042,549$4,885,785369%

Central Florida

2004-20052010-2011Growth
Ticket Sales$1,317,224$5,167,757292%
Student Fees$11,932,441$18,818,80658%
Guarantees$788,430$663,750-16%
Contributions$3,357,302$6,370,57090%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$0$0
Direct Institutional Support$1,474,967$2,424,09964%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$749,684$3,826,564410%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$65,000$0-100%
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$615,374$3,684,133499%

Marshall

2004-20052010-2011Growth
Ticket Sales$1,961,713$3,946,607101%
Student Fees$3,667,214$4,287,72417%
Guarantees$966,967$1,231,65327%
Contributions$3,256,311$3,855,74618%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$0$0
Direct Institutional Support$2,430,614$5,439,689124%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$1,087,603$2,911,073168%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$652,990$1,231,12189%
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$206,704$176,079-15%

UTEP

2004-20052010-2011Growth
Ticket Sales$3,639,657$3,308,099-9%
Student Fees$2,952,176$4,219,92943%
Guarantees$430,000$983,700129%
Contributions$3,029,606$3,071,8551%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$0$109,307
Direct Institutional Support$4,994,481$6,424,78829%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$1,130,878$3,124,801176%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$7,828$337,7444215%
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$1,272,179$1,415,75911%

Idaho

2004-20052010-2011Growth
Ticket Sales$211,352$1,077,790410%
Student Fees$1,851,406$2,317,14725%
Guarantees$894,552$1,063,98019%
Contributions$2,022,954$2,148,8356%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$179,000$381,000113%
Direct Institutional Support$2,153,302$2,778,31129%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$523,352$2,004,217283%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$128,042$50,000-61%
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$717,898$730,4622%

Utah State

2004-20052010-2011Growth
Ticket Sales$1,032,946$1,965,80690%
Student Fees$1,602,768$3,798,541137%
Guarantees$1,430,500$831,640-42%
Contributions$985,783$1,869,81190%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$0$140,000
Direct Institutional Support$2,270,523$9,109,963301%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$436,950$2,507,973474%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$74,000$0-100%
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$710,719$564,983-21%

New Mexico State

2004-20052010-2011Growth
Ticket Sales$1,029,077$1,771,33472%
Student Fees$1,776,389$2,952,32066%
Guarantees$861,000$754,000-12%
Contributions$1,409,625$883,239-37%
Comp and Benefits by Third Party$0$0
Direct Institutional Support$3,347,148$9,078,575171%
NCAA/Conference Distributions$361,505$2,118,375486%
Broadcast, TV, Radio, Internet$0$0
Royalties/Licensing/Ad/Sponsor$711,384$2,414,076239%

Keep in mind there are many reasons for fluctuations in revenue, including new stadiums, expansion of stadiums, and sometimes even changes in reporting methods. It’s important to talk to each school before drawing any conclusions about why a specific revenue category has increased or decreased.

Author

  • Kristi Dosh

    Kristi A. Dosh is the founder of BusinessofCollegeSports.com and has served as a sports business analyst and contributor for outlets such as Forbes, ESPN, SportsBusiness Journal, Bleacher Report, SB Nation and more. She is also the author of a book on the business of college football, Saturday Millionaires. Kristi is a sought-after consultant and speaker on topics related to the business of college sports and a former practicing attorney. Click to learn more

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Robert

    June 21, 2012 at 9:01 am

    Are these figures in nominal or real values?

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