http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/01/Sports/UF_likes_idea_of_play.shtml
Now I know it is basketball and not football and the logistics are hard to compare, but you can't tell me that the NCAA is not making gobs and gobs of money off of the NCAA basketball tourney. And after travel expenses, etc., the team that won it all is counting on merchandise sales of championship gear to generate a profit. I wonder what the bottom line of the NCAA is from the tourney. Anyone know?
It is no small wonder college presidents won't give in to that kind of a system.
(NOT) IN THE MONEY:
As it prepares for next season, Florida is awaiting final numbers from the NCAA Tournament. School officials won't know for another 3-6 months how much money it generated from sales of trademarked national championship merchandise, but the Gators were $100,000 in the hole when the game ended - a $75,000 loss from expenses at the Final Four and another $25,000 from the Elite Eight in Minneapolis.
"Everybody always thinks schools make so much money, but that's not the case," McGarity said. " ... I think you'll see across the board it's pretty tough to come out in the black, especially the further you advance."
If history is any indication, the Gators could recoup those losses. Both Florida and FSU made more than $1-million in apparel sales after their national championship football seasons.
Now I know it is basketball and not football and the logistics are hard to compare, but you can't tell me that the NCAA is not making gobs and gobs of money off of the NCAA basketball tourney. And after travel expenses, etc., the team that won it all is counting on merchandise sales of championship gear to generate a profit. I wonder what the bottom line of the NCAA is from the tourney. Anyone know?
It is no small wonder college presidents won't give in to that kind of a system.