MSU sees big benefits from basketball season

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Elizabeth Fields

Story Created: Wed May 23, 2012 5:23 PM

Story Updated: Wed May 23, 2012 8:09 PM

MURRAY, Ky. — While the Murray State Racers finished their 25th straight winning season with smiles, university officials are still smiling and seeing benefits from all of the wins.

Catherine Sivills, the associate vice president for communications, helped keep track of everything from T-shirt sales to Twitter followers during the season.

She said sales from the bookstore were up 51 percent, royalty sales were up 113 percent, and on Twitter, the university picked up 2,200 new followers. She said the grand total of basketball benefits are probably around $10 million and the free advertising is priceless.

"When something like this happens for us, it just puts our name out there for weeks and weeks on end," she said. "Our logo was in USA today every Sunday in the top 20 list. I could never pay for that out of my budget."

But she and the athletic department are already getting ready for next season. They have already sold 500 new season tickets.

Plus, the new practice facility is being built and should be finished during the 2012-2013 season. Athletic Director Allen Ward said the facility can only help Coach Prohm with recruitment.