Skip to main content
Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Tennessee athletic department revenue and expenses reach new highs

The back Neyland Stadium video board on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, as seen January 18. The video board still hosts a picture of former Tennessee coach Butch Jones, who was fired in November. Officials hope to replace the photo in February.
The back Neyland Stadium video board on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, as seen January 18. The video board still hosts a picture of former Tennessee coach Butch Jones, who was fired in November. Officials hope to replace the photo in February.

By David Cobb 2 min read

KNOXVILLE – Athletic department revenue and expenses for the University of Tennessee both grew to all-time highs during the most recent fiscal year, documents show.

An annual report submitted to the NCAA by the Tennessee athletic department shows that revenue rose to $145.7 million while expenses grew to $134.9 million for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2017.

The annual report, obtained by the Times Free Press through a public records request, shows that football remains the university’s most profitable sport by a wide margin.

Profits from football during the 2016-17 fiscal year reached $49.6 million, the document shows. Men’s basketball profited $5.9 million. Women’s basketball operated at a $2.4 million deficit and other sports combined to operate at a $24 million deficit.

The athletic department’s overall profit of $10.8 million was down from a $12.4 million profit posted during the 2015-16 fiscal year, according to a USA Today database.