After operating in a deficit of about $12.1 million during the 2023 fiscal year, that number grew for the University of Alabama athletic department in 2024.

According to Alabama’s NCAA financial report, obtained via open records request by the Tuscaloosa News, the department operated in a deficit of about $28 million in the 2024 fiscal year.

Per an Alabama spokesperson, the net loss was “largely due to one-time expenses associated with the football coaching transition.” Alabama football spent $30.5 million more from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, than in the previous 12 months.

Alabama reported $234.8 million in revenue for the athletic department as a whole in the 2024 fiscal year and $262.8 million in expenses.

Alabama also operated at a $21.2 million deficit in 2019, the only fiscal year between 2005-22 in which the department spent more than it made.

Of the $234.8 million in revenue, Alabama had more than $75 million in contributions provided and used by the athletic department. The department did not report pledges for contributions or contributions set to used for later years. 

Of the program’s $262.8 million in expenses, about $65.3 million was spent in coaching salaries. 

Alabama football revenue and expenses: How much did Crimson Tide make?

The Crimson Tide football program was responsible for $140.6 million in revenue and $113.8 million in expenses in the 2024 fiscal year.

The leading areas for Alabama football’s revenue were contributions ($53.6 million), ticket sales ($38.3 million) and media rights ($24.9 million).

Alabama football’s $42.2 million surplus was about $3.8 million less than 2023.

Alabama men’s basketball revenue and expenses

Alabama men’s basketball operated in a surplus again in fiscal year 2024. But the number continues to decrease. get smaller and smaller.

After an $8.15 million surplus in fiscal year 2022 and $7.76 million in 2023, the Crimson Tide had about a $6 million surplus in 2024, with $21.3 million in revenue while spending $15.3 million.

Alabama men’s basketball eclipsed $2 million in travel, coming within about $500,000 of the travel budget for the Crimson Tide football team.

Alabama men’s basketball made about $3.3 million in ticket sales, received about $2.8 million in contributions and more than $9 million in media rights.

What did other Alabama sports make in 2024 fiscal year?

In the 2024 fiscal year, the Alabama women’s basketball program operated at about a $4.2 million deficit.

All other Alabama sports lost more than $21 million in the 2024 fiscal year.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.