Excerpt from the Wright State Guardian
Wright State University (WSU) had to postpone fall sports, along with every other team in the Horizon League. But this did not have a financial impact on the athletic program.
The Division I men’s basketball tournament is the NCAA’s biggest source of revenue. In the 2018-2019 fiscal year the NCAA made $867.5 million from March Madness television and marketing rights alone.
That doesn’t take into account the amount of money that the cities where the games are being played for the tournament make.
“Before the COVID-19 public health crisis, no one anticipated the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship being canceled, but the Association was prepared for such an unlikely possibility,” according to the NCAA’s website.
The NCAA has a contingency plan in place that includes a robust insurance plan, reduction in Division I revenue distributions and operation budget cuts
“As far as postponing fall sports, we aren’t losing any money because of this,” said Assistant Athletic Director of Communications Nick Phillips.
WSU did not have to reduce the amount of scholarships, and this did not have any type of impact on recruiting either.
