So you were not quite good enough to make the NIT. No extra exposure on ESPN. Instead you are given the chance to be in the College Basketball Invitational. Maybe you get to appear on HDNet. Maybe not. The important thing, is you get to keep playing, and hopefully the Gazelle Group will put you in one of their better exposed non-conference tournaments in any upcoming year.Oh, and if you want to be the host team for the game, you have to toss in another $60,000. What a bargain.
If you can make at least $60,000 in ticket and concession sales, then you have to split every dollar after that with the Gazelle Group. Definitely not a guaranteed money-maker for the schools that host. Especially if you lose in that opening game.
Troy, for example hosted the College of Charleston. The Trojans only had attendance of 1045 and they lost. It is unlikely the even recovered their $60,000 outlay. Add in the operation costs at the facility and that one additional game at home really cost Troy.
A visiting team, does not stand to make money. They also, though, do not stand to lose money. They get expenses for travel costs.
