GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The worldwide pandemic of 2020-21 left virtually nothing — or no one — unaffected while ushering in massive change. Less than five years ago, college athletics had yet to encounter the transfer portal or, for the most part, the NIL (names, image, and likeness) factor, which now appears poised to rewrite the competitive landscape like no honest person could have imagined.
Through the tumult Furman Athletics has emerged sporting impressive external growth, as reflected on a broad front that has only strengthened its position as an integral part of the university's goal of maintaining excellence in the challenging, changing times facing higher education and collegiate athletics.
"We have experienced significant growth in all aspects of Furman Athletics the past few years thanks to the dedication, passion and loyalty of our Paladin fans," said Jason Donnelly, Furman's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "We are grateful for the support of our strategic partners and congratulate Drew Ingraham and our external team for everything they do to make these accomplishments happen."
In the area of ticket revenue and actual attendance for football, men's basketball, and women's basketball, from 2021-24 Furman logged a 40 percent increase, highlighted by seven sellouts for men's basketball games, including a record attendance of 6,199 for the Furman-Wofford men's basketball game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in downtown Greenville during the 2022-23 season, and a steady increase in season tickets sold for Paladin Football. Assisting Furman in its effort for expanded ticket revenue was the 2023 partnership with Taymar Sales U and transition to the Ticketmaster platform for all three sports.
Central to Furman's increased ticket revenue has been a 40.6 percent increase in ticketed attendance in the three sports, highlighted by seven sellouts for men's basketball games,
Concession sales mirrored the Paladins' increased football attendance, jumping 49 percent over the past three seasons.
Furman Athletics' growth in its social media presence on the three main platforms — X, Instagram, and Facebook — is reflected in the 18.5 percent increase in followers/fans, 30.8 percent increase in page engagements, and 90 percent increase in comments & replies. The Paladins racked up over three million impressions during men's basketball's trip to the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
The numbers are even more impressive in the areas of corporate sponsorship growth, licensing, and merchandise sales.
Since joining forces with Van Wagner, the program's third-party media rights holder, Furman has grown sponsorship relationships by 42 partners — 4,100 percent growth.
The Furman Fan Shop, an online marketplace launched in Dec. of 2022, has added a new revenue stream for merchandise sales as well as providing NIL opportunities for Paladin student-athletes in multiple sports.
In partnership with Affinity Licensing, a full-service trademark licensing firm, vendors have increased dramatically over the last five years, moving from 53 in the fall of 2019 to 95 by June 2020. A year later it stood at 118, and by June 2022 it reached 129. Currently there are 150 licensed vendors.
There has been similar growth in retailers carrying Furman merchandise, moving from 30 for the 2019-20 school year to 69 by the end of the 2022-23.
The expansion of licensed vendors and retailers, coupled with the start of the Furman Fan Shop, have yielded a jump in royalty numbers, as evidenced by the $37,100 total in the final three quarters of 2019-20 to the $134,726 generated for 2022-23.
In addition to logging impressive gains in its sales and external relation metrics over the last three-plus years, Paladin Athletics has also registered its powerful economic impact by serving as co-host of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament first and second round games at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The three-day event generated over $10 million in economic impact, covering business sales (lodging, transportation, food & beverage, etc.) and personal income, while adding approximately $125,000 in revenue to the local tax digest.
As co-host along with the South Conference, Furman Athletics was also central to Greenville playing host to the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Regional at BSW Arena, which generated millions of dollars to the local economy.
