UVa athletic department expenses have increased dramatically in the last decade. In 2006, the department generated $52.9 million in total revenue and reported $51.6 million in expenses. By 2017, the department took in $92.8 million in revenue and spent $100.3 million, recording an operating loss.

Expense drivers include increasing coaching salaries — payroll was $37.9 million in 2017, compared with $19.8 million in 2005 — and facilities costs.

Money from broadcast rights accounts for a large portion of UVa’s increased revenue over this period, but the student fee also saw a steep hike seven years ago, increasing from $238 in 2001 to $657 in 2011, where it has remained since. Daves said there are currently no plans to increase the athletics portion of the student fee for 2019.

Some have taken notice of the high athletics fees across Virginia’s universities.

In 2015, Del. Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, now the speaker of the House of Delegates, introduced a bill to limit the athletic fees charged by Virginia’s four-year universities. Then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed the bill into law.