Louisville basketball made more money last year than 3 NBA Teams

[damedash09]

Meanwhile, the Louisville Cardinals have made the NCAA Tournament just once in the past three seasons—a second-round exit in 2017—and have been mired in the fallout from a prostitution scandal and FBI investigation. But they rank No. 1 on our list, and no college basketball team makes more money. Louisville turned $23 million in profit last year, making it more profitable than the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets.

Didnt know they were making money like this

And the athletes can't get a check...

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Its all profit when you don't have to pay players lol

[BAMAFREAK]

Its all profit when you don't have to pay players lol

Don’t think Louisville applies here.

[bisme37]

[HotTubMike]

Its all profit when you don't have to pay players lol

lol if you think major college athletic programs aren't paying players.

[RCM88x]

Gotta love that sweet sweet Papa John's money

[Kabookalu]

I'm more shocked that the Cavaliers, Hornets, and Thunder aren't making more than $23 million in profits.

[dhsilv2]

There's a lot of accounting BS that happens with that UL number. I'd not put any trust in it being a true economic reality.

[Sark]

I'm more shocked that the Cavaliers, Hornets, and Thunder aren't making more than $23 million in profits.

It's most likely just Hollywood accounting. They just use tricks in any particular year to show profit or loss.

[life_saver]

I thought you were referring to revenue...I mean OKC's salary is pretty high...iirc, both OKC, Cavs were in luxury tax last year too...probably why they didn't make much profit

[jbk1234]

I'm more shocked that the Cavaliers, Hornets, and Thunder aren't making more than $23 million in profits.

The Cavs and Hornets are barely below the tax line. The Thunder are way over it. There's a reason the tax line is where it is.

[Ferulci]

But...but...but..college players should be happy, they get free education.

[HotelVitale]

Even if this is true, that money by law has to go back into the school's athletic program, so it's not like they're 'making' it exactly. And Louisville's overall athletic dept loses money, so it's more like this whole thing just helps the school pay less to maintain its various college sports teams.

Not defending the system by the way--I think players should get paid--just trying to give it the complex reality it has.

[red_power]

Earning more money than NBA and still not paying a single penny to all em young poor players.

Is that how 21st century slavery looks like?

[Wigginstime]

This is deceptive as it implies college is more popular than the NBA

The Cavs pay roll with luxury tax last year was $166M. When you factor in all other costs such as coaching, personnel, arena costs, etc their total reported costs were $315M vs. a revenue of $302M for a loss of $13M.

For a college program like Louisville their only expenses are the coaching staff, equipment, and travel fees. The facilities are expenses incurred by the college and the rest of the personnel from medical to janitorial are all fees incurred by the university, not the basketball program.

Louisville ends up showing something along the lines of
Revenue: $43M
Expenses: $18M
Profit: $25M

vs.

Cavs
Revenue: $302M
Expenses: $315M
Profit: -$13M


The only real takeaway is the university makes millions while the players make nothing which everyone has already known for 20+ years.

[The_Hater]

Louisville had a great year, they cut their player payroll significantly once Rick Pitino got picked up by the FBI.

[HotTubMike]

Earning more money than NBA and still not paying a single penny to all em young poor players.

Is that how 21st century slavery looks like?

1. Some college players are paid a lot of money to play. DeAndre Ayton or his family was paid $100,000.00 for instance.
2. No. It's not slavery at all. Nobody is making anyone play college basketball. If you don't like the deal, don't play.

[MaxRider]

Meanwhile, the Louisville Cardinals have made the NCAA Tournament just once in the past three seasons—a second-round exit in 2017—and have been mired in the fallout from a prostitution scandal and FBI investigation. But they rank No. 1 on our list, and no college basketball team makes more money. Louisville turned $23 million in profit last year, making it more profitable than the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets.

Didnt know they were making money like this

And the athletes can't get a check...

not every NCAA sports make money
where do you think those get their money from?

[clyde21]

HEY! IF THEY DONT LIKE FREE AND FORCED LABOR HERE THEY CAN GO TO CHINA

[NBAFan93]

Meanwhile, the Louisville Cardinals have made the NCAA Tournament just once in the past three seasons—a second-round exit in 2017—and have been mired in the fallout from a prostitution scandal and FBI investigation. But they rank No. 1 on our list, and no college basketball team makes more money. Louisville turned $23 million in profit last year, making it more profitable than the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets.

Didnt know they were making money like this

And the athletes can't get a check...

not every NCAA sports make money
where do you think those get their money from?

Exactly. People seem to forget that universities like U of Louisville are non-profit institutions and that money is going toward a lot of good things for their students and the community - like funding other non-revenue sports, building facilities, various programs, etc.

People act like there are fat cat billionaires at the top of these colleges/the NCAA collecting all the cash and riding around on their yachts while the school and its students get nothing - the NCAA is like a giant booster organization - I think people would have a lot less problems with this stuff if they’d think of it that way.