The Kansas University Athletic Department reaped a windfall from the Kansas-Missouri game played Nov. 24 at Arrowhead Stadium.
According to numbers released by the athletic department late Friday afternoon, ticket sales for the game totaled $3.13 million. That amount – which was split among the Jayhawks, Tigers and Kansas City Chiefs – resulted in KU taking in about $1,264,000. Missouri took in about $1,277,000. The Chiefs earned about $589,000 in addition to money from parking and concessions.
Neither parking nor concessions money was reported to KU.
“We’re very happy with it,” KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said. “We were guaranteed a million dollars and we knew there was a possibility to make more if the crowd was good. We’re happy with it and are confident the number next year will be bigger.”
The Kansas City Chiefs guaranteed MU and KU each would receive at least $1 million.
Marchiony said KU earned less than MU because KU agreed to subsidize the cost of student tickets, while MU did not. The tickets cost $45, but KU sold student season tickets for less.
The game generated $1.13 million more than was needed to cover the two teams’ guarantees. The Chiefs then recouped their expenses from that amount before all three teams began splitting what was left.
KU has said that it takes in about $1 million from a typical marquee home game at Memorial Stadium. The athletic department said the opportunity to be paid for two games against Missouri justified taking the game off campus.
Next year could bring in even more money for the two schools because ticket prices are expected to rise. In addition to more revenue from higher prices, the tickets will not be a part of Kansas’ season ticket package and likely will not be a part of the Missouri package either.
“Everyone will be paying full price, but I don’t think that price has been set yet,” Marchiony said.
The ticket price is set by agreement between the Chiefs, KU and MU.