Without Football, Iowa Could See $100 Million Loss

Football fan's worst fears were confirmed last week when the Big Ten Conference cancelled fall football. An empty Kinnick Stadium this fall means no football. But for the University of Iowa it also means no money. A lot of lost money.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta is releasing details about just how much money the University of Iowa is going to lose from not having a football season. In a letter to season ticket holders Barta says that Iowa is anticipating a loss of revenue near $100 million. That would lead to a budget deficit of between $60 to 75 million. In the letter Barta says that the school is working hard to find solutions, but many upcoming decisions with be "very challenging."

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Big Ten presidents voted last Tuesday to postpone all fall sports to the spring of 2021. The conference hasn't said much else since making the announcement. Parents of players at many schools, including Iowa, are making their voices heard and petitioning the league to reinstate the football season. They have yet to hear a response from the Big Ten.

The Gazette reports that Barta said all 250 athletic department employees have talked about "shared sacrifices." That's the problem with no college football. It's not just the football program that is affected. Universities depend on that revenue for all kinds of programs, athletic and otherwise. Tough choices are coming this fall to Iowa and many other schools.