I got curious about the financial payouts for Tourney success, and basically the way it works is each game a team appears counts as a "unit" and equates to an approximately $2 million payout to that team's conference. 135 units in all according to the below article, which means the winner of the championship game must get an extra unit? The total payout for each Tourney is paid out over 6 years (so for example if the Big Ten earns 30 units this tournament, that's $60 million in payments, so $10 million a year for the next 6 years just for this tournament). The conference determines how that gets distributed.
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com
So anyway, if you were on the fence about whether to root for Big Ten teams in the tourney or not, maybe the fact that each time a Big Ten team wins it nets over $100k (assuming even distribution) for the Illinois athletic department might be one factor to consider.
First Four, early rounds boost conferences’ NCAA payouts
The piece explains how NCAA men’s basketball tournament units are allocated and paid out and which conferences are cashing in through the first two rounds.
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com
So anyway, if you were on the fence about whether to root for Big Ten teams in the tourney or not, maybe the fact that each time a Big Ten team wins it nets over $100k (assuming even distribution) for the Illinois athletic department might be one factor to consider.
