The UK Athletics Association Board of Directors learned at a Thursday meeting that the revenue from licensing fees of athletic merchandise skyrocketed in the last two years.
The money generated by licensing fees increased by 43 percent this school year, the board was told. That revenue increased from $2.6 million in 2009-10 to $4.2 million. Of that total, the athletic department gave $2.1 million to the school.
Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart noted that UK had moved its athletic merchandise to “more of an exclusive end” of the retail market. That helped increase the revenue produced, he said.
So did the success of UK teams, which included the men’s basketball team reaching the 2011 Final Four, the football team advancing to a fifth straight bowl and the current enthusiasm generated by the women’s softball team advancing to a Super Regional.
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
