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VCU already benefitting from Final Four (read: $$$)

The financial and advertising impact of VCU’s Final Four run won’t be known for a couple years. But the school’s already raking in merchandise sales and athletic donations.

The school bookstore sold more merchandise in five days before the Final Four than it sold in the previous 12 months. The athletic department has seen as estimated 20 percent increase in donations.

The Final Four. It’s good for that bottom line. From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

The bookstore alone sold more than 40,000 T-shirts celebrating the Rams’ run through the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight to the Final Four in Houston.

That doesn’t include the 6,000 shirts that the VCU athletic department sold online, or the number sold through other licensed outlets around the region, said Robby Robinson, associate athletic director for corporate partnerships. Altogether, Robinson estimates VCU sold at least 55,000 T-shirts.


That was last week. Sales are still mighty brisk. Robby Robinson, the school’s associate athletic director for cooperate partnerships, says “there’s no end in sight.”

With coach Shaka Smart back for the foreseeable future, better stock up on apparel. Probably gonna need it for the next few years.

You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.