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Athletic expenses up, lawmakers told Saturday, Nov 10, 2007 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Athletic expenses at the state's 10 four-year universities increased nearly $20 million, or 26 percent, last year with the bulk of that being spent by the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee was told Friday. Stanley Williams with the state Department of Education said the university was able to spend $16.4 million more because of a 37 percent hike in ticket sales revenue, an 83 percent rise in donations from foundations and private gifts, and a 53 percent hike in the sale of sweat shirts and other trademarked items. Most of the money, Williams said, went to facilities, including $7.2 million to debt service. The university also saw its athletic travel expenses rise $1.5 million rise. Lawmakers asked few questions Friday when presented the annual report on athletic spending at the universities. Among the other nine four-year universities, the University of Central Arkansas saw a $1.6 million hike in athletic expenses due to a rise in traveling costs, Williams said, adding that school's travel costs rose because the school has moved from Division II to Division I-AA. ASU, Williams said, spent $21,000 less on athletics than last year. In total revenues for last year, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville led the way at nearly $59 million, with Arkansas State University second at $10 million, according to Williams's report. The four-year school with the lowest athletic expenses was the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith with $1.7 million. "Typically institutions budget conservatively and then expenses go above that," Williams said. A summary of college revenues and expenditures presented to lawmakers showed the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville collected $26.5 million in ticket sales last year, along g with $8.8 million in foundation and private gifts, and nearly $7.4 million in the sale of trademark goods. The report showed revenue from concessions was about $3.2 million at the university. The report also indicated that the amount of money transferred out of the education and general budget into athletics dropped substantially at all schools last year. |
