By james art The Nevada men’s basketball team’s non-conference schedule this season isn’t as expensive as the one the Wolf Pack built last year.
Nevada will have a net outlay of $295,000 in game guarantees for its 11 non-conference games, down from last season’s $424,000 in game guarantees for 14 non-conference games. Nevada Sports Net obtained the contract for each game through a public records request. The typical going rate for Nevada’s non-conference schedule was $200,000-$250,000 before last year’s jump. That was $306,500 for the 2022-23 season.
The Wolfpack also won’t have as many travel expenses with just one non-league road game, a trip to Los Angeles to play Loyola Marymount. Nevada will also participate in three games at the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. There are seven non-league home games. The Wolves will play three fewer non-conference games than last season, with the Mountain West expanding its league slate from 18 to 20 games.
The Wolf Pack pays Sam Houston and Weber State $80,000 each for games at the Lawlor Events Center. Texas Southern and South Dakota State will each receive $75,000 for trips to Reno. The matchups with Washington, Washington State, Santa Clara and LMU are part of home-and-home series with no cash payouts. Nevada will receive a $15,000 travel scholarship to play in the Charleston Classic.
Here’s a closer look at the financials of each of Nevada’s 11 non-conference games this year.
Game 1 vs. Sam Houston (Nov. 4)
location: Renault
Price: Nevada owes $80,000
advantages: Sam Houston gets 50 free tickets; MW employees used; $100,000 cancellation fee
Rematch: No rematch
Game 2 vs. Washington (Nov. 9)
location: Renault
Price: No cost
advantages: Washington gets 50 free tickets; MW employees used; $85,000 cancellation fee
Rematch: This is a rematch of Nevada’s contest at Washington last season
Game 3 vs. Weber State (Nov. 13)
location: Renault
Price: Nevada owes $80,000
advantages: Weber State gets 50 free tickets; Weber State gets 20 hotel room nights selected by Nevada; MW employees used; $100,000 cancellation fee
Rematch: No rematch
Game 4 vs. Santa Clara (Nov. 16)
location: Renault
Price: No cost
advantages: Santa Clara gets 50 free tickets; MW employees used; $100,000 cancellation fee
Rematch: Nevada to play in Santa Clara in 2025-26 (date to be determined)
Games 5-7 of the Charleston Classic (Nov. 21, 22, 24)
location: Charleston, South Carolina
Price: Nevada receives a $15,000 travel stipend
advantages: Nevada receives 24 free tickets per game plus an event gift for each member of the traveling party; free access to cheerleading squad, mascot and up to 30 band members; there is no cancellation policy
Rematch: No rematch
Game 8 vs. Washington State (Dec. 2)
location: Renault
Price: No cost
advantages: Washington State gets 50 free tickets; MW employees used; $100,000 cancellation fee
Rematch: Nevada will play at Washington State in 2025-26 (date TBA)
Game 9 at Loyola Marymount (Dec. 6)
location: Los Angeles
Price: No cost
advantages: Nevada gets 50 free tickets; WCC employees used; $100,000 cancellation fee
Rematch: This is a rematch of Nevada’s contest against LMU last season
Game 10 vs. South Dakota State (Dec. 11)
location: Renault
Price: Nevada owes $75,000
advantages: The state of South Dakota gets 50 free tickets; $150,000 cancellation fee
Rematch: No rematch
Game 11 vs. Texas Southern (Dec. 14)
location: Renault
Price: Nevada owes $75,000
advantages: Texas Southern gets 50 free tickets; Texas Southern gets 24 hotel room nights selected by Nevada; MW employees used; $150,000 cancellation fee
Rematch: No rematch
Sports columnist Chris Murray provides insight into Northern Nevada sports. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.