I really don't care what ESPN thinks its responsibility is. Who cares? The points is, don't create a perverse incentive that will damage one of the state's most important institutions, especially if you expect state benefits. ESPN can do whatever the hell it wants. The state can do whatever the hell it wants. The fact is, ESPN could have easily shoehorned UConn in by paying more, and that way BC's ridiculous obstruction would have cost each and every ACC member real dollars. Simple as that. And it's an easy case to make too given UConn's market, its TV rights, its sponsorship, its bball program, and the fact that its football was attracting more fans and they were winning more games against the teams it lost out too. Simple as that.
What is the matter with you people anyway? You say you understand this but it is so obvious that you don't.
If you believe this maneuver would work then you believe that ESPN would never leave the leave the state of Connecticut, and as Frankthetank has mentioned previously ESPN's profits equal EVERYTHING else that Disney owns. How much does ESPN get in tax breaks? 60 million dollars? ESPN would either threaten to leave the state of Connecticut over a gradual withdrawal if they were losing money or offer to go to another state.
I understand you think ESPN could tell another conference to invite UConn, but as Frankthetank mentioned it would have drastic circumstances to ESPN's shareholders. ESPN can have their cake and eat it as well. ESPN loves being in Bristol and loves the tax breaks, but the company would be profitable anywhere, and while ESPN wouldn't want to lose the tax breaks I am sure they would find other ways to generate the revenue they would lose in tax breaks by asking for more money from cable carriers to carry ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, or other ways.