Which of the following is NOT identified as a major revenue source for a typical college athletic department?

• A. Ticket sales
• B. Media rights and distributions
• C. Sponsorships
• D. Facility rentals

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is to recognize which income streams typically drive college athletic department finances. The biggest money comes from ticket sales for home events, the large, shared media rights distributions from conferences and national networks, and sponsorships that bring in cash through partnerships and branding. Donations and licensing/merchandising also contribute, but the three most prominent pillars are ticket revenue, media rights, and sponsorship deals.

Facility rentals can add some income by using the stadium or arena for non-athletic events or external groups, but they’re generally a much smaller, less predictable source. Scheduling constraints, maintenance costs, staffing, and wear and tear limit how much revenue can be reliably pulled in, so this aspect doesn’t compare to the major revenue drivers.