ACC approves Grant of Rights

[huskymedic]

http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-acc-media-rights-0423-20130422,0,4675932.story

ACC's 'Grant Of Media Rights' Makes It Tougher On UConn:

>>... Attorney and sports business analyst Robert Boland, a professor at New York University's Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, does not believe this grant-of-rights agreement spells the end of realignment. Boland said he believes the ACC — which will have 14 full members, plus Notre Dame in all sports but football — could expand to 16.

Boland, who has consulted for conferences in legal matters, speculates that other conferences could also look to expand to 16. The Big Ten, which is adding Maryland and Rutgers, will be at 14 and could be a future landing spot for UConn.

"It probably slows the game of musical chairs, at least within the ACC," Boland said. "I think if I'm UConn, I still think that I'm most interested structurally in that 16th slot in the ACC and I ultimately hope that that will be coming. I don't think this changes their hope for that. What I think this does actually is it narrows the field for schools that are outside the major conferences looking in. I think this will be a much more effective device in the short-run, rather than the idea of conference departure fees."<<

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

It's not a theory - it's a statement of fact.

I doubt they specifically set out to do it, but that's the end result.

Either way, doesn't change the outcome.

I have some friends who work for ESPN and the general impression I've gotten from them is that while ESPN has had influence, they don't control conference realignment. Like most decisions between powerful entities, there are a few different vying interests all competing with each other. For instance, I don't know that ESPN is really in a position to tell the B1G or SEC what to do or who to take.

But I could be wrong, just my two cents.

 

[UCFBfan]

In all of this "let's be boise" talk, has anyone actually looked at what conference they are in or what bowl games they have gone to? what exactly has being boise gotten boise? boise is the poster child for inequity built into the oligopoly.

THIS!

Everyone keeps saying we should be Boise but honestly, where has that gotten them? Yeah, they have beaten some good teams along the way and had that great Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma which will forever be their legacy. However, they are in no better a position that we are. If they lose a game, they are out of the conversation for any major bowl. If they lose a game in conference, forget it. Would I like to win as much as Boise currently does? Yes. Is it going to get us into a new conference? No. Clearly there's a reason Boise isn't in the Big 12 and the same would apply to us.

 

[John Greene]

Give up ZLS. CL82 owns you in this argument. If BC didn't exist Uconn would be in the ACC. Period.

I repeat what I have posted several times over the years. If, at the urging of the former CT AG, the original law suit had not named university presidents, AD's and conference officials as individual defendants, we would be in the ACC this Fall. That move poisoned the well for more then just the individuals named. Rightly or wrongly UConn is given the credit/blame for that particular move.

 

[SubbaBub]

I have some friends who work for ESPN and the general impression I've gotten from them is that while ESPN has had influence, they don't control conference realignment. Like most decisions between powerful entities, there are a few different vying interests all competing with each other. For instance, I don't know that ESPN is really in a position to tell the B1G or SEC what to do or who to take.

But I could be wrong, just my two cents.

ESPN: We'll give you $20M/team, but we want UConn added. It gives us another 12 marquee BB games between legacy programs.
ACC: uhhhh.
ESPN: That's the deal.
ACC: OK.

The actual conversation would could be shorter than that. Just hand them the contract and say, "Sign."

 

[CL82]

Why would the ACC listen to them? Or Gene? On anything?

It's physically impossible to get owned in an argument when the other side doesn't present any actual evidence.

You mean other than the statement of a witness with first hand knowledge? To sum up, BCU's AD admits that:
1) UConn was the primary ACC target along with Cuse until BCU blocked them because they were worried about competing with them on a level playing field; and
2) That ESPN instructed the ACC which teams to acquire.
3) These facts have been reported publically. I linked to the article.

You have presented no evidence to the contrary.

In the end, we have ESPN, who had taken Connecticut taxpayer funds while putting a plan in motion to destroy the Big East, costing Connecticut taxpayers millions of dollars of lost revenue. Now ESPN is renegotiating the ACC contact yet again. All they have to do is offer enough cash to increase the per team payout to the ACC if UConn gets a slot in the ACC and UConn sports are saved. Keep in mind they have done this for other teams and the money is miniscule when compared to their total annual earnings and keep in mind they've "told (the ACC)what to do" in the past. Today, ESPN can save UConn athletics. If they don't, everyone in this state should hold them accountable.

 

[junglehusky]

I repeat what I have posted several times over the years. If, at the urging of the former CT AG, the original law suit had not named university presidents, AD's and conference officials as individual defendants, we would be in the ACC this Fall. That move poisoned the well for more then just the individuals named. Rightly or wrongly UConn is given the credit/blame for that particular move.

I can't present any evidence to contradict that conclusion, it's mostly an argument about perception but it's possible some people at BC or in the ACC offices still harbor grudges... but my personal hunch is that whatever weight those grudges have would have been outweighed* if we had simply demonstrated our superiority to Louisville in FB and as an overall product. We didn't do that, and perhaps even if we had canned Hathaway we wouldn't have been able to make enough of a case to overcome a) geography b) national sentiment from ESPN and other media opinionmakers that UConn>>UL.

*hunch based on the prevailing belief that Swofford, or someone else in the ACC offices, supposedly had us higher up on their board before BCU cawkblocked us for Syracuse, and before Maryland left and we got cawkblocked by UL.

 

[John Greene]

Just for the sake of argument, how would you propose the state "hold accountable" a large company that provides lots of high paying jobs and gives the central part of the state an economic engine. Do you know what % of traffic thru Bradley is ESPN related? I have seen estimates of 18-20%.

 

[uconnric]

Thought you didn't believe in conspiracy theories?

All the board drama queens do. None of this means an end to CR.

 

[John Greene]

I can't present any evidence to contradict that conclusion, it's mostly an argument about perception but it's possible some people at BC or in the ACC offices still harbor grudges... but my personal hunch is that whatever weight those grudges have would have been outweighed* if we had simply demonstrated our superiority to Louisville in FB and as an overall product. We didn't do that, and perhaps even if we had canned Hathaway we wouldn't have been able to make enough of a case to overcome a) geography b) national sentiment from ESPN and other media opinionmakers that UConn>>UL.

*hunch based on the prevailing belief that Swofford, or someone else in the ACC offices, supposedly had us higher up on their board before BCU cawkblocked us for Syracuse, and before Maryland left and we got cawkblocked by UL.

I am reflecting the opinion of two persons connected with the SEC. One retired and the other currently at the Asst. Comm. level. Both have said that the naming of individuals got a lot of people not just in the ACC but in other conferences wondering. That move made it more than just business for them.

 

[Srqhusky]

You mean other than the statement of a witness with first hand knowledge? To sum up, BCU's AD admits that:
1) UConn was the primary ACC target along with Cuse until BCU blocked them because they were worried about competing with them on a level playing field; and
2) That ESPN instructed the ACC which teams to acquire.
3) These facts have been reported publically. I linked to the article.

You have presented no evidence to the contrary.

In the end, we have ESPN, who had taken Connecticut taxpayer funds while putting a plan in motion to destroy the Big East, costing Connecticut taxpayers millions of dollars of lost revenue. Now ESPN is renegotiating the ACC contact yet again. All they have to do is offer enough cash to increase the per team payout to the ACC if UConn gets a slot in the ACC and UConn sports are saved. Keep in mind they have done this for other teams and the money is miniscule when compared to their total annual earnings and keep in mind they've "told (the ACC)what to do" in the past. Today, ESPN can save UConn athletics. If they don't, everyone in this state should hold them accountable.

The minute the state stops giving them breaks they will pack their bags and leave quicker than randy edsall can day dream job

 

[Fishy]

I have some friends who work for ESPN and the general impression I've gotten from them is that while ESPN has had influence, they don't control conference realignment. Like most decisions between powerful entities, there are a few different vying interests all competing with each other. For instance, I don't know that ESPN is really in a position to tell the B1G or SEC what to do or who to take.

Everyone who works for ESPN seems to proclaim that ESPN is perfectly innocent in all this.

But every time someone took a team from the Big East, ESPN wrote that conference a bigger check.

Actions > Words

 

[zls44]

but my personal hunch is that whatever weight those grudges have would have been outweighed* if we had simply demonstrated our superiority to Louisville in FB and as an overall product.

...

 

[zls44]

Just for the sake of argument, how would you propose the state "hold accountable" a large company that provides lots of high paying jobs and gives the central part of the state an economic engine. Do you know what % of traffic thru Bradley is ESPN related? I have seen estimates of 18-20%.

But you don't understand, CL82 IS REALLY REALLY ANGRY

 

[Fishy]

Just for the sake of argument, how would you propose the state "hold accountable" a large company that provides lots of high paying jobs and gives the central part of the state an economic engine. Do you know what % of traffic thru Bradley is ESPN related? I have seen estimates of 18-20%.

Lol - that's deranged.

In a given year, about 5.5 million passengers come through Bradley airport.

You think 1,000,000 of them are heading for ESPN?!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I don't know anyone involved in the state government that is a fan of Malloy's gift baskets for his pet corporations. I am pretty sure the State of Connecticut could find a company to give $100 million to that wouldn't try to destroy the state university.

 

[tzznandrew]

It seems to me that ESPN is culpable only insomuch as they underwrote the expansion of the ACC to 14. It also seems likely that they anticipated that expansion to be Syracuse and UConn. They had little practical say in who the conference took.

Logically, though, if ESPN refused to up the money to the ACC, the BE is still together and UConn is fine. Since they did up the money, they are responsible on some level--even if that level is merely incidental and not malicious.

 

[Alum86]

There was a visionary poster who proposed shutting the football program down 2 months ago. Doesn't seem like such a bad idea now.

This news certainly helps explain the morbid atmosphere and corner cutting at the spring game.

A stretch as conspiracy theories go. Though, coach Dracula and asst. Renfield are complicit in our downfall.....

 

[RS9999X]

Give up ZLS. CL82 owns you in this argument. If BC didn't exist Uconn would be in the ACC. Period.

We don't know this either. We know UConn wasn't under consideration in 2003. Louisville was looking pretty good when they were added. That leaves the SU/Pitt add with SU having been an earlier target in the 1997-2003 period.

Without knowing the votes on Pitt vs UConn outside of BCU we don't lnow that BCU was the deciding vote. There's no evidence the ACC took less money to add Pitt.

FSU was cranky over the whole agenda at that point as 2/3 of the renegotiated contract was in the form of backend extension and additonal media rights. It was more like Swofford fishing for an opportunity to reopen the contract to save some face. In hindsight it was a brilliant move.

Did adding Pitt and SU force the BiG to respond by taking Maryland? No one knows.

 

[UCFBfan]

I'm still surprised FSU and Clemson decided they wanted to be stuck in such a mediocre football league. This either means that:

A) No other conference really came calling like everyone claimed they did
B) They really know that a GoR holds no water and is just a happy thing that has yet to be challenged and broken down. It makes everyone scared but so did the $5 million exit fee and 27 month waiting period that the Big East had at the time....how did that work out?
C) They truly believe that the ACC would provide them the best access to a major bowl since they'd be whooped in the SEC or Big 12 if they went/were invited.

Maybe it's my wishful hope that UConn has an out....SOMEWHERE, but I just can't see why FSU or Clemson would agree to this. It hasn't been announced yet that ESPN is upping the contract money? Right?

 

[upstater]

The minute the state stops giving them breaks they will pack their bags and leave quicker than randy edsall can day dream job

And leave how much behind in buildings and tech? Conn. should stop giving the breaks not to help UConn, but for its overall budget health. Remember, the TV people like being near NYC. This is why NBCS just moved to Stamford. Despite Conn's taxes.

 

[tzznandrew]

I'm still surprised FSU and Clemson decided they wanted to be stuck in such a mediocre football league. This either means that:

A) No other conference really came calling like everyone claimed they did
B) They really know that a GoR holds no water and is just a happy thing that has yet to be challenged and broken down. It makes everyone scared but so did the $5 million exit fee and 27 month waiting period that the Big East had at the time....how did that work out?
C) They truly believe that the ACC would provide them the best access to a major bowl since they'd be whooped in the SEC or Big 12 if they went/were invited.

Maybe it's my wishful hope that UConn has an out....SOMEWHERE, but I just can't see why FSU or Clemson would agree to this. It hasn't been announced yet that ESPN is upping the contract money? Right?

If they go undefeated, they're in the playoffs. Clemson, Florida State, and Virginia Tech are the only good teams in the league. Sometimes they'll play ND. Win your games against the Wake Forests, Dukes, Virginias, BCs, etc., and win the couple of tough games, and you're good to go. It makes a lot of sense, I think.

Don't forget, FSU went like a whole decade in the conference undefeated. The league sucked, but they used that to win titles. It's much harder to do in the other conferences.

Also, if Notre Dame were to ever join a conference, it seems clear to me that they would pick the ACC for almost this exact same reason. Why play Iowa or Wisconsin, who are solid, good teams that play tough defense that makes ugly games, when you could play east coast teams you could run up the score on like Pitt or BCU?

 

[UConn990411]

Since it would be too hard to burn every ACC school to the ground - and since HfD is probably on house arrest and can't leave the state - I vote that we settle on torching the ESPN studio in Bristol.

Who's with me?

 

[John Greene]

Lol - that's deranged.

In a given year, about 5.5 million passengers come through Bradley airport.

You think 1,000,000 of them are heading for ESPN?!

I also found that weird when I read it a few of years ago. It was in a bond issue prospectus for some state transportation funding. I don't remember what the total traffic number was at the time but if you are right about the 5.5, at the 18% it implies about 1400 per day in and out.

 

[kbdiggity]

Who says that a GOR is going to be enforceable anyway? The ACC is trying to win a public relations battle. The GOR makes everybody feel good until it's challenged, like anything else. Don't see how this changes much of anything.

There are other conferences relying on the GoR to keep them stable as well. The Big 12 was officially a conference ready to dissolve before their members signed a GoR. So not only do schools have to fear a financial loss in the hundreds of millions by trying to leave a conference and challenge a GoR... but several conferences have to worry about much worse realignment chaos if even one GoR is successfully challenged. The odds seem to favor no one challenging it.

 

[HuskyV]

There are other conferences relying on the GoR to keep them stable as well. The Big 12 was officially a conference ready to dissolve before their members signed a GoR. So not only do schools have to fear a financial loss in the hundreds of millions by trying to leave a conference and challenge a GoR... but several conferences have to worry about much worse realignment chaos if even one GoR is successfully challenged. The odds seem to favor no one challenging it.

No one is leaving the B1G. The Pac10 is geographically isolated. I don't know that the B1G/SEC have been sniffing around the B12 since A&M and Missouri left.

This may be a deadline for the B1G. If the SEC/B1G make no offers, then we will see stories about ACC solidarity & everyone wanted to stay all along.

Or we will start hearing stories of FSU & Clemson being strongarmed.

 

[kbdiggity]

Keep the source in mind, but this might be a silver lining.

@ 6m
Fwiw I'm hearing ACC GOR will not be legally binding until next fiscal year. Delaney will poach before then.

LOL at you quoting that WVU fraud insider even now, after all his insider info has been proven to be BS.

The ACC GoR was signed today and goes into effect immediately, per the ACC press release.

 

[RS9999X]

Clemson and FSU attendance in 2011:
No. 15 Clemson (547,635)
No. 16 Florida State (544,893)

It's tough to make an argument that TCU and Baylor and Iowa State and Kansas willl improve attendance for them or improve ratings for them. Then there's the general distrust (hatred) for Texas. Both have a better chance for National Prestige and local recruiting coverage right where they are. Then there's the reality of the conference dollars which will come out in public filings over the next few years.

 

[UCFBfan]

No one is leaving the B1G. The Pac10 is geographically isolated. I don't know that the B1G/SEC have been sniffing around the B12 since A&M and Missouri left.

This may be a deadline for the B1G. If the SEC/B1G make no offers, then we will see stories about ACC solidarity & everyone wanted to stay all along.

Or we will start hearing stories of FSU & Clemson being strongarmed.

Start hearing? It's already begun http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/54697/you-want-stability-look-at-the-acc

The ACC is the model of stability! Lol

 

[kbdiggity]

Last fall the ACC announced that their increase in departure fees (to triple one year's revenues) was unanimous. It appears that the ACC has a different definition of unanimous than the rest of the world.

Wrong. Last year the ACC announced that they voted on a new exit fee and that the vote passed. It was well known that FSU and Maryland voted against it.

Today they announced all 15 current and future schools voted for the GoR, and all current and future schools signed the GoR. They listed the schools and they said the GoR goes into effect immediately.