ORPHEON

College Athletics

The Sports Capital Office for college athletics

Stronger revenue, capital and funding for athletics, starting from where your department is today.

We work for the institution

Discuss your institution

What happens first

A diagnostic built from your own numbers. No structural change is assumed at the start.

What it involves

Why now

Athletic departments are expected to operate like commercial enterprises, within a structure built for something else

Revenue comes from many sources but is managed through a centralized university treasury. Donors and institutional support have historically closed funding gaps. Athlete revenue sharing and rising costs are stretching that model to its limit. Departments need more revenue, and more from every dollar already in the system.

Decentralized revenue

At the center

The Athletic Department

within a centralized treasury: funds held across treasury, foundation and other entities

Orpheon

Advises across the whole cycle, alongside your treasury, teams and partners

Commitments out

Around your department

Institutional expertise, working for Athletics

Your leadership sets the priorities. Orpheon advises across the whole position and helps put the plan into practice, working alongside your teams, university treasury and existing partners, with additional specialists where needed.

At the center

Your athletic department

leadership sets the priorities

Current providers and specialists brought in, each doing their part

Orpheon advises, and brings them together around one plan

Where the value is

Three ways to strengthen Athletics' finances

Grow revenue, make every dollar work harder, and build a sustainable athletics program around the commitments it has made, including athlete revenue sharing.

01 · Grow revenue

More revenue, arriving when it is needed

Commercial growth sponsors · rights · ventures Cash-flow optimization schedules · collections · timing ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT OR A DEDICATED LLC NEW revenue FOR ATHLETICS
We examine

The department's commercial assets and what they produce.

We act

Develop new revenue and strengthen existing agreements.

Athletics gains

More revenue from assets the department already owns.

Commercial partnersData and technologyLegal

02 · Make every dollar work harder

Every dollar with the right job

RECEIPTS ACROSS THE YEAR JulAugSepOctNovDec JanFebMarAprMayJun Tickets Conference Stronger liquidity Greater flexibility Long-term strength ready as commitments fall due a cushion for the unexpected capacity for future priorities + More resources for Athletics
We examine

How funds are held and what each commitment needs.

We act

Give every dollar the right job, within its rules.

Athletics gains

Greater financial capacity from the money Athletics already holds.

Family officesAsset managers and OCIOBanksYour treasury and foundation

03 · Build a sustainable athletics program

Commercial and capital architecture, planned together

PLANNED TOGETHER Facilities Scholarships, debt Athlete rev. sharing Facilities build JulAugSepOct NovDecJanFeb MarAprMayJun FUNDED BY Recurring income Donors and reserves Financing
We examine

Commercial revenue and capital against long-term commitments.

We act

Align funding with each commitment, now and over time.

Athletics gains

A competitive program on a sustainable financial footing.

Capital partnersBanksLegalYour foundation

What Orpheon builds

The commercial and financial architecture behind Athletics

Athletics' revenue, capital and commitments connected within the university's structure, so the program is easier to lead and better positioned for the future.

What this makes possible

Greater financial capacity for Athletics.

Fund athlete compensation

Support recurring revenue-sharing commitments and athlete retention.

Fund priority investments

Direct additional resources to facilities, scholarships and program needs.

Reduce reliance on subsidy

Strengthen internally generated income to ease pressure on university support and repeated donor appeals.

Build financial resilience

Align revenue, reserves and obligations to manage funding gaps and sustain commitments.

Uses depend on available funding, restrictions, NCAA and conference rules, and the institution's priorities.

How we work

A continuing relationship that builds value for Athletics

Value to Athletics ↗
Visibility

Diagnose

A clear view of the department's commercial and capital position, built from your own numbers.

Leads toPriorities agreed with leadership

Control

Design

Commercial and capital arrangements designed around Athletics, with new entities only where they serve a purpose.

Leads toA design leadership approves

Economic upside

Build

The architecture put in place with leading specialist partners, alongside your team.

Leads toRevenue and capital working more effectively for Athletics

Compounding value

Oversee

Ongoing oversight of the agreed plan, with progress reported to leadership and priorities reviewed each budget cycle.

Leads toKept current as priorities and commitments change

ADVICE THROUGHOUTOrpheon works beside the AD, CFO, president and board at every stage.

Where we start

A diagnostic built from your own numbers

Using figures your team already holds and a working session with leadership, the diagnostic establishes the department's position and priorities. No structural change is assumed at the start.

Explore further

HomeThe Sports Capital Office, the partner network and what we doExplore The FirmOur purpose, and the experience behind the firmExplore

Contact

Discuss your institution

More resources for athletes, programs and facilities, with less reliance on subsidy and repeat calls on donors.

Start the conversation

or email enquiries@orpheoncapital.com