The big swing

Life is good at Butts-Mehre.

Georgia athletics brought in $42.758 million more in revenue than it spent in fiscal year 2018.

The data comes from Georgia’s annual NCAA financial report, which was obtained Monday by the Athens Banner-Herald in an open records request. The report encompasses the period from July 2017 through June 2018.

Georgia reported $176,699,893 in operating revenue and $133,941,585 in operating expenses.

Georgia said that $32.297 million of that $42.758 million difference went to fund capital projects for the west end zone side of Sanford Stadium—that included a new football home locker room—and the indoor practice facility. The Athletic Association also contributed $4.5 million to the university. Another $5.961 million is planned to be used for future athletic facility enhancements, the school said.

Revenue exceeded expenses by $4.124 million more than fiscal year 2017.

Contributions rose by $12,857,487 to $67,772,093. Football accounted for $62,333,600 of those contributions after the program’s run to the national title game in 2017.

“The big swing in this is what the Magill Society contributions have done to our portfolio here,” athletic director Greg McGarity said of donors who have made major gifts for facility improvements.

Look on the bright side.  McGarity’s gonna keep scheduling attractive home and home deals with non-conference opponents to keep the ticket perks up for the Magill Society folks.