How a lot Duke basketball pays, obtain for nonconference video games in 2025-26 season – The Fayetteville Observer

Earlier than Duke basketball dives into ACC play, the Blue Devils’ nonconference schedule brings a gradual stream of opponents — and payouts — to Cameron Indoor Stadium.
By way of open information requests to Duke’s public opponents, because the personal college is exempt from North Carolina’s public information regulation, the Fayetteville Observer obtained contracts detailing how a lot Duke is paying visiting groups in the course of the 2025–26 nonconference slate. Contracts have been additionally requested, with some being obtained, for Duke’s neutral-site video games and away nonconference contests.
Of their fourth-season underneath head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke is about to host six nonconference opponents in Western Carolina (Nov. 8), Indiana State (Nov. 14), Niagara (Nov. 21), Howard (Nov. 23), Florida (Dec. 2) and Lipscomb (Dec. 16).
Contracts for the Blue Devils’ video games towards Niagara, Howard and Lipscomb have been unavailable as a result of faculty’s being personal and exempt from public information legal guidelines. The Niagara and Howard video games are a part of the Brotherhood Run, with former Blue Devils Greg Paulus and Kenny Blakeney set to make their returns to Cameron Indoor Stadium teaching their respective colleges.
The contact for the Florida sport was additionally unavailable as it’s a part of the ACC/SEC Problem and neither workforce receives compensation since that ESPN marquee occasion is included in every convention’s media rights payout.
For Western Carolina and Indiana State’s journeys to Cameron Indoor Stadium, every program is about to obtain $90,000 from Duke together with 75 complimentary tickets apiece.
Duke additionally hosted UCF in a preseason exhibition sport as a part of the Brotherhood Run, marking the return of former Duke All-American Johnny Dawkins to Cameron Indoor Stadium. The contract for the sport, nevertheless, was unavailable by way of UCF, because the UCF Athletics Affiliation, a Direct Help Group of the College, is exempt from Florida’s public information regulation underneath Florida Statute §1004.28(5)(b).
The Blue Devils have 5 neutral-site video games on their nonconference slate: Texas on the Spectrum Middle in Charlotte as a part of the Dick Vitale Invitational (Nov. 4), Kansas at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis as a part of the State Farm Champions Basic (Nov. 18), Arkansas on the United Middle in Chicago for the CBS Sports activities Thanksgiving Basic (Nov. 27), Texas Tech at MSG for the SentinelOne Basic (Dec. 20) and Michigan at Capital One Enviornment in Washington, D.C., for the Duel of the District (Feb. 21).
Contracts from all neutral-site opponents have been obtained apart from Texas. Kansas is receiving a $300,000 payout from ESPN and will obtain extra if ticket income exceeds $1.2 million. Kansas can be set to obtain 76 complimentary tickets for the occasion. For Arkansas, Texas Tech and Michigan, contracts didn’t embrace a assured cost, although Texas Tech and Michigan are set to obtain 100 complimentary tickets every.
As a result of contracts with Duke weren’t offered as a result of it being a non-public establishment, it isn’t identified if Duke is receiving the identical payout and incentives for these neutral-site video games.
Contracts have been additionally requested for Duke’s away sport opponents in the course of the nonconference slate: its exhibition sport at Tennessee (Oct. 26), journey to Military West Level (Nov. 11) and Michigan State (Dec. 6). Contract requests from the Tennessee and Military West Level weren’t answered forward of publication. Michigan State’s was acquired, and whereas it didn’t present monetary info, Duke is about to obtain 150 complimentary tickets (75 behind its bench) for its journey to East Lansing.
Per Duke’s 2025 Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) Survey Data, males’s basketball was Duke’s second-leading income generator behind soccer, bringing in $52.7 million in income with $31.8 in bills. The Duke athletic division introduced in a grand whole of $181.6 million in income throughout all of its varsity sports activities.
Duke ideas off ACC play vs. Georgia Tech at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as a part of the USA TODAY Community. Attain her at asnyder@gannett.com or comply with her @annaesnydr on X, previously often called Twitter. 

source