In 2024, spending on men’s collegiate basketball teams in Franklin County totaled $22,438,114—a 59.5% increase compared to the prior year, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education.
Men’s basketball teams accounted for $22,438,114 of the $30,874,220 spent overall on basketball programs in the county.
The county’s average sports expenditures have grown 197.3% since 2010.
Basketball ranks among the most popular college sports in the U.S., alongside football. Major NCAA teams often attract fan interest and TV audiences rivaling the NBA’s, while events such as March Madness draw millions annually.
College athletics changed significantly after a federal settlement permitted schools to directly share revenue with athletes. The agreement also requires the NCAA to pay $2.8 billion over 10 years to athletes who played from 2016 onward.
In 2022, following extensive legal and legislative advocacy, athletes won the right to earn money from their names, images and likenesses through various state laws and a corresponding NCAA policy adjustment.
The NCAA reported generating nearly $900 million from March Madness and associated Division I men’s basketball tournament media rights during fiscal 2024, solidifying basketball as its largest revenue generator.
| Year | Basketball team’s expenditures | % from grand total sport team expenditures | Total Sport Team Expenditures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $22,438,114 | 8.2% | $273,742,040 |
| 2023 | $14,072,150 | 5.7% | $245,574,933 |
| 2022 | $12,655,214 | 5.8% | $219,823,051 |
| 2021 | $10,140,789 | 6.8% | $149,774,285 |
| 2020 | $11,421,789 | 5.7% | $199,396,346 |
