The school announced the deal in December, and said it would be partnering with the New York-based firm Otro Capital. Together, they’ll form a new company that handles things like events, ticketing and — importantly — NIL, the mechanism that allows student athletes to earn money for playing. Essentially, the goal is to do a better job of raising money for the school than it could on its own. This matters because the U’s athletic department has actually been operating in a deficit for some years now. And the problem won’t go away: Just last year, it became legal for schools to pay student athletes directly, up to $20.5 million. That money has to come from somewhere, especially if the University of Utah hopes to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive landscape. Journalists from The Athletic and The Salt Lake Tribune are joining us to talk it through.
GUESTS –
Matt Baker | He’s a senior writer for The Athletic, covering college sports. You can read the story he, Justin Williams, and Stewart Mandel wrote about the University of Utah’s private equity deal here.
Jason Batacao | He covers sports at the University of Utah for The Salt Lake Tribune. You can read his recent reporting about the state auditor here, and his reporting about layoffs at the U here.
NOTE: KUER is licensed through The University of Utah.
Airdate: June 4 and 6, 2026