UCF to receive $1.5M for 2016 game at Michigan
UCF's 2016 game at Michigan will pay nearly as much as the school's yearly take from the American Athletic Conference's television contract with ESPN.
According to the game contract, which UCFSports.com recently obtained from UM via a Freedom of Information Act request, UCF will receive a payment of $1.5 million dollars for their one-time appearance in Ann Arbor on Sept. 10, 2016.
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The American's TV deal with ESPN nets each member school approximately $2 million dollars per year. The shortfall in projected revenue is perhaps the biggest reason why school leaders have softened their stance on only scheduling opponents on a home-and-home basis.
The game, announced last month, becomes the second non-conference game on the Knights' 2016 slate, along with a home game against FIU.
Other details from the contract:
-UCF agrees to use the Big Ten instant replay system.
-All rights of distribution "throughout the universe" belong to the University of Michigan and the Big Ten Conference.
-UCF will receive 400 complimentary tickets and shall have the option to purchase up to 2,500 game tickets at the single game ticket price.
-Schools retain the option to mutually cancel the game at no penalty, but should any team want to back out of the contract, the cancellation penalty would be $1.5 million.
UCF's future non-conference games
2014
Aug. 30: Penn State (at Dublin, Ireland)
Sept. 6: FIU
Sept. 13: at Missouri
Oct. 11: BYU
2015
Sept. 26: at South Carolina
TBA: at FIU
2016
Sept. 10: at Michigan
Sept. 17: FIU
2017
Sept. 9: at Texas
2018, 2019
TBA
2020
Sept. 19: Maryland
2021
Sept. 18: at Maryland