For many University of Maryland Baltimore County fans, the team?s first trip to the NCAA tourney will be an exciting time, delivered in memories. For the school itself and the America East conference, the trip will also be a lucrative time, delivered in cash.
The Retrievers? conference championship win Saturday locked in a first-round game against Georgetown, but also guaranteed a $25,000 bonus for the school, according to UMBC Athletics Director Charlie Brown.
In addition the one-time bonus for winning the conference, UMBC?s first-round appearance will net seven shares of money distributed by the NCAA among teams participating and increased depending on how far a team advances. Brown said the exact amount of those shares was not immediately available, but said the funds would go toward the America East conference budget.
“That was voted on by the athletic directors, so we could enhance the conference by hiring [new] employees, holding a better tournament.” he said.
Brown said the school has also seen big increases in merchandise sales and gate receipts have improved for home games. Alumni support has also grown, he said.
“We ordered 200conference championship T-shirts to sell on our Web site, and boom, they went like that,” he said. “And now and now more people want them.”
Two other Maryland schools, Mount St. Mary?s in Emmitsburg and Coppin State in Baltimore, will play tonight on ESPN at 7:30 for a first-round berth to face the University of North Carolina, the tournament?s top-seeded team, on Friday in Raleigh, N.C.
“I don?t think you can put a price on seeing Mount St. Mary?s [name] across the country,” said Linda Sherman, the school?s director of communications. “Plus this is our 200th year, it couldn?t happen at a better time.”
Coppin State did not return calls for comment Monday.
