The final numbers are in; Showdown for Relief nets $2.01 million

By Matt Tait Oct 27, 2017

Nick Krug

Kansas head coach Bill Self, Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin, left, Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk and Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger hold a ceremonial check for $1.75 million raised for hurricane relief from the Showdown for Relief exhibition, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas officials on Friday released the final dollar value of the amount of money raised during last weekend’s Showdown for Relief Border War exhibition between Kansas and Missouri.

Previously reported as high as $1.75 to $1.85 million, KU revealed on Friday that the event generated $2.011 million for victims of recent natural disasters in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

According to the university, that amount includes a combination of ticket sales ($1.15 million), the Pay-per-View online stream ($768,000) and text-to-give contributions ($68,000). Donations from other entities totaled approximately $25,000, bringing the total donation to some $2.011 million.

The funds will be directed to “One America Appeal for Hurricane Relief,” a joint appeal launched by all five living former U.S. Presidents. The following organizations will benefit from the game: the Houston Harvey Relief Fund, the Rebuild Texas Fund, the Florida Disaster Fund, Unidos Por Puerto Rico and the Fund for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“From the onset, I knew the charitable cause and the game would create excitement, but I never thought it would eclipse $2 million,” KU coach Bill Self said. “To the thousands of basketball fans who supported the cause, thank you. You helped make a difference in the lives of those in need.”

Added Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin: “Two competitive teams and their fan bases met in the Sprint Center and did something very special for a lot of people in need of help. Thank you to the many people who helped make last Sunday’s game not only an exciting event for our two schools, but most importantly, an incredibly successful fundraiser to benefit those affected by the hurricanes.”

• BORDER WAR QUIZ: Test your knowledge of Border Wars past and enter to win a $25 Visa gift card.

• KU-MIZZOU TRIVIA: How much do you know about the history of KU’s biggest rivalry? Take this quiz to find out and enter to win a $25 Visa gift card.

— See what people were saying about the game during KUsports.com’s live coverage.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.