Per the WSJ:

 

 

I look at this and think, "why is Illinois always so bad?"

Here comes the commentary from the dirty birds at city college in 3 2 1 ........:popcorn:

Did anyone ever give an answer to how U of L makes so much more money than UK? Is it a corporate sponsorship thing? Luxury boxes? Can't believe it is ticket sales and merchandise. I'm sure the ACC likely gets a bigger check as well, but not $50 million more.

Did anyone ever give an answer to how U of L makes so much more money than UK? Is it a corporate sponsorship thing? Luxury boxes? Can't believe it is ticket sales and merchandise. I'm sure the ACC likely gets a bigger check as well, but not $50 million more.

 

I think the new arena is what did it. Those luxury suites drive revenue and UK/Rupp Arena has nothing comparable.

@Getslow personally gets UD into the top 25!

UD above Xavier surprised me a little.

I think the new arena is what did it. Those luxury suites drive revenue and UK/Rupp Arena has nothing comparable.

 

It was the case in the past as well, as UofL had very favorable profit-sharing deals with its conferences before the Big East.

The conference profit sharing, new arena and stronger corporate sponsorship in Louisville versus Lexington would be my three guesses.

UD above Xavier surprised me a little.

 

It's not a big difference and you just never know how these things are accounted for.

 

You wouldn't think that ~3,000 extra seats per game would be enough to do it, but it might be. UD is also the biggest game in the Gem City whereas X is fighting for attention in a much larger market for all sorts of entertainment dollars.

Hey Mick! Where is UC? UNLV is 46th.

If you would've told me that 4 SEC schools were in the Top 20, and one of them wasn't Florida, I don't think I would've believed you.

It's not a big difference and you just never know how these things are accounted for.

 

You wouldn't think that ~3,000 extra seats per game would be enough to do it, but it might be. UD is also the biggest game in the Gem City whereas X is fighting for attention in a much larger market for all sorts of entertainment dollars.

 

I don't know that X is fighting for attention. They drew 10,281 fans over 16 home games this season. Capacity is listed at 10,250. They sold out 11 of their 16 games, including 8 of 9 Big East games. 9 of the 11 sellouts were SRO crowds.

 

Prior to this year, XU's attendance record at Cintas was 10,492. XU broke that records five (5) times this season.

 

Since the Cintas Center opened in 2000, attendance has been 97.9% of capacity.

 

Xavier Athletics - Record-Setting Season for Cintas Center Attendance

I think the new arena is what did it. Those luxury suites drive revenue and UK/Rupp Arena has nothing comparable.

 

Kansas doesn't have suites, new arena or huge conference money...how are they ahead of UK? Maybe KU has a ton more sponsorship than UK, that would be my only guess.

I don't know that X is fighting for attention. They drew 10,281 fans over 16 home games this season. Capacity is listed at 10,250. They sold out 11 of their 16 games, including 8 of 9 Big East games. 9 of the 11 sellouts were SRO crowds.

 

Prior to this year, XU's attendance record at Cintas was 10,492. XU broke that records five (5) times this season.

 

Since the Cintas Center opened in 2000, attendance has been 97.9% of capacity.

 

Xavier Athletics - Record-Setting Season for Cintas Center Attendance

 

It wasn't an insult. They're doing extremely well.

 

But the fact that they have that many alumni living in the Cincinnati area and yet only built the arena for 10k suggested to me that they knew they were already going to be battling against something. What is it if it's not competition for the entertainment dollar?