Alabama football netted $47 million profit in 2016

The rich got richer in 2016.

The University of Alabama football program netted a profit in excess of $47 million last year, according to financial documents obtained by The Tuscaloosa News.

The football program earned $103,871,075 in 2016, helped in large part to nearly $21 million in media rights fees along with more than $37 million in ticket sales. The $47,794,452 in profit is up more than a million from 2015.

The team profited more than $5 million from bowl revenues.

Coaches salaries made up for $14 million of the more than $56 million of total expenses. A total of nearly $9 million was spent on bowl expenses.

The athletic department as a whole made a profit of $18,732,379 in 2016 with total revenues of $164,009,745 minus total expenses of $145,277,366. That profit is up from $16.6 in 2015.

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.