Auburn athletics reports decreased profits, increased support payments from institution

Based on a copy of Auburn’s 2022–23 revenues and expenses report that AL.com obtained through a public records request, the athletics department broke its previous record revenue set in the 2021–22 fiscal year by more than $20 million, but did so with a significantly lower profit and higher institutional support payments.

Auburn increased their total revenue from the previous year’s record $174,568,422 to $195,301,922 in 2023.

The overall profit declined from the $22.9 million mark in the 2021-22 fiscal year to only $3.2 million last year. That comes after Auburn also operated at a record-high cost of $192 million in operating expenses.

Last year, Auburn saw a significant increase in severance payments, cutting into its previous record profit. That is largely because Auburn fired previous head coach Bryan Harsin one month into the 2022-23 fiscal year so payments owed to him were not factored into the previous year’s report.

Auburn owed $19.8 million in severance payments in 2022-23 compared to $8.2 million in the previous cycle.

Auburn reported it received $25 million in institutional support payments, a big increase from the $9.7 million in 2022.

Ticket sales actually decreased during the 2022-23 fiscal year despite record season ticket purchases for Jordan-Hare Stadium football games this year.

The fact that the fiscal year does not extend until the end of the 2023 football season explains a portion of the

disparity. From October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, is when the fiscal

year is held. Therefore, only the conclusion of the 2022 season and the

start of the 2023 campaign are included in the ticket sales.

In 2023, Auburn recorded ticket sales of $32.3 million, a decrease from $34.1

million. Football’s share of the total fell to practically zero, from $30 million to $28.7 million.