U. of Wisconsin Losses Could Hit $100M Sans Football

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The best-case scenario in a conference-only Big Ten athletics competition landscape has the University of Wisconsin bracing to lose $60 million to $70 million in revenue. If the UW's financially lucrative football season is canceled entirely due to the coronavirus pandemic, the revenue impact could be greater than $100 million, according to athletic department officials.

As reported by the Wisconsin State Journala scenario being modeled by the athletic department in which the Badgers football team plays the conference-only schedule now on the table and all other UW sports continue projects a revenue decline of $60 million to $70 million in an operating budget that calls for spending about $139 million. The revenue decline could exceed $100 million without football's contribution, according to the UW.

It hasn't been determined how many games will be played in the conference-only format currently being planned for this season, or whether fans will be able to attend Wisconsin's home games at Camp Randall Stadium. Under normal circumstances, football's ticket sales, seat donations, sponsorships, parking, concessions and TV-driven conference distributions equate to substantial revenue for Wisconsin and all major football programs.

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