Alabama basketball has reported record season ticket sales for two years in a row as the program has risen under coach Nate Oats. But how much of a windfall did the Crimson Tide's first Final Four appearance create going into the current season?
After the milestone Final Four run in 2023-24 that saw UA sell the most season tickets in program history, the Crimson Tide sold out its season ticket allotment for the 2024-25 season for the first time ever. But what does that mean, and how did it translate into revenue?
The Tuscaloosa News found tangible evidence of the impact of last season's historic run by diving into revenue generated by season ticket sales through open-records requests.
In 2024-25 season ticket sales alone, UA's revenue increased by more than 25% based on data obtained by The Tuscaloosa News. Alabama generated nearly $1.5 million in increased income based off season ticket sales year over year.
Alabama basketball sold 9,351 total season tickets this season. Between season ticket packages and the mandatory donations to the school's Tide Pride priority seating program that came along with them, UA raked in more than $7.1 million.
UA told the Tuscaloosa News that the Alabama men's basketball program generated $4,409,249 in season ticket revenue with $2,763,887 in related Tide Pride donations for 2024-25 for a total of $7,173,136.
That compares to $3,071,415 in season ticket revenue and $2,643,835 in related Tide Pride donations for 2023-24 for a total of $5,715,250.
That spells out a tangible $1,457,886 increase in revenue off season ticket sales in the wake of the first Final Four run for the Alabama men's basketball team.
Season ticket sale revenue doesn't include single-game sales or other packages. For the 2023-24 season, Alabama reported total ticket revenue of $3.3 million according to information gathered by USA Today Network in partnership with the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database. That data is not available for the current season.
Of more than 9,300 season tickets sold for the 2024-25 season, eight Tide Pride sections named Front Court Club, Baseline Club, Back Court Club, Shooter Club, Rebounder Club, Passer Club, Fast Break Club and Faculty accounted for 7,067.
That left 2,284 seats in the Public Tier 1 and Public Tier 2 for ticketholders not required to make Tide Pride donations, with prices ranging from $350 to $500.
Facing the bench, the Front Court club saw ticket revenue of $22,500 for 45 front-row seats with another $184,500 generated in Tide Pride dues required to purchase the premium seats. Thirty-seven seats in the second row totaled $18,500 plus at least $114,700 in Tide Pride donations.
BENJAMINS AND BASKETBALL: Mark Sears uses NIL money to surprise Alabama basketball with gifts before North Dakota
OFF THE BOARD: Did Alabama basketball make $5M offer to No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa? AD Greg Byrne reacts
Thirty front-row seats generated $15,000 in ticket sales with $123,000 in Tide Pride tithes. Rows 2-4 consisted of 126 seats, bringing in $63,000 in ticket revenue with at least $264,600 in Tide Pride donations.
Back Court Club ticketholders spent $102,000 in ticket sales for 204 seats and provided at least $326,000 in Tide Pride donations.
Sections D and Q consisted of 255 seats each to make up $255,000 in ticket sales and provided Tide Pride with at least $306,000 in donations.
Reserved rows in seven sections included 1,722 seats, generating a total of $861,000 in ticket sales with at least $602,000 donated to Tide Pride.
With 2,102 seats across 11 sections in Coleman Coliseum, the Passer Club brought in the most for UA in season tickets and Tide Pride donations, totaling $1,051,000 and at least $420,400, respectively.
Seven sections containing 1,645 seats saw UA generate $822,500 in ticket revenue and Tide Pride benefit from at least $247,750 in donations.
UA reserves 626 seats for faculty. As UA staff have no required Tide Pride donations, reserved rows in sections W and X generated $250,400.
The 2,284 remaining seats sold as season tickets not requiring Tide Pride donations had prices ranging from $350 for sections A, G, H, M, N and Z to $500 for rows in sections B, C, D, E, F, O, P, Q, R and S.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball Final Four impact: Season ticket revenue soars in 2024-25
