Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[businesslawyer]

Lawyers love projects like JP Morgan/FSU. It will never happen, but it will create a ton of legal bills.

And the best thing is when deals don’t happen, the lawyers still get paid but don’t lose sleep at night worrying that they made a mistake!

 

[LoyalFanCT]

So I kinda feel like if OSU/WSU end up in the Big12 and Cal/Stanford to the ACC we lock this forum because UConn will never be changing conferences in our lifetimes.

You are totally wrong. UConn will soon be in a different conference!

 

[FfldCntyFan]

If this happens, then the entire exercise last week was to lock Apple out.

If Apple is as vindictive as you claimed (a few days ago) why would anyone try this?

 

[Muddler]

Now imagine you've been giving the person conspiring against you massive tax breaks for 44 years!

Remember when VA politicians used their influence to get VA Tech in. I do not know what is fair, legal, appropriate, etc from our Govenor’s office, but it seems like ESPN feels no pressure to help despite all those tax breaks.

 

[UConnJim]

Remember when VA politicians used their influence to get VA Tech in. I do not know what is fair, legal, appropriate, etc from our Govenor’s office, but it seems like ESPN feels no pressure to help despite all those tax breaks.

The state of Connecticut could go to ESPN right now and offer $30 million/yr in tax breaks to get UConn into the ACC. The state is already subsidizing the athletic department deficit so the state and UConn would be better off paying ESPN so that schedules would improve and UConn would get into the P5.

 

[LoyalFanCT]

The state of Connecticut could go to ESPN right now and offer $30 million/yr in tax breaks to get UConn into the ACC. The state is already subsidizing the athletic department deficit so the state and UConn would be better off paying ESPN so that schedules would improve and UConn would get into the P5.

is that legal?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

If Apple is as vindictive as you claimed (a few days ago) why would anyone try this?

There is an absolute truism in markets and really business as a whole that most people significantly underestimate the likelihood of the worst case scenario. When you are an executive at ESPN or Fox and all you do is win, it is hard to imagine a world where you are losing, even when the whole world is telling you it is about to happen.

 

[greenday61892]

Remember when VA politicians used their influence to get VA Tech in. I do not know what is fair, legal, appropriate, etc from our Govenor’s office, but it seems like ESPN feels no pressure to help despite all those tax breaks.

I'm pretty sure it'd be perfectly legal for Malloy to threaten to pull all tax breaks unless ESPN gets UConn into a P5/4/whatever. Don't think they'd even need a reason to pull tax breaks but make them earn it.

(please correct me if i'm wrong about the legality of that move)

 

[huskymedic]

 

[WhereistheDove?]

The only thing missing from this cluster-F was Rick Pitino...

 

[Mora4Prez]

Well if Stanford and Cal get an ACC invite I think we might as well kiss any hope we have of ever joining a power conference goodbye. God this situation keeps getting worse and worse. It’s so beyond clear that nobody wants us at this point.

 

[GoConn]

Big 12 played us man...its over over

 

[Hamms30]

The state of Connecticut could go to ESPN right now and offer $30 million/yr in tax breaks to get UConn into the ACC. The state is already subsidizing the athletic department deficit so the state and UConn would be better off paying ESPN so that schedules would improve and UConn would get into the P5.

ooorrrrrrrr we go full villain, go to Apple as a co-op with UConn business school to put together the business plan for Apple to buy ESPN outright (they could probably just write a check to Disney, but this nullifies this entire post) and offer them an east coast headquarters in Hartford with all ESPN's tax breaks. Operation Jonathan go!

 

[Huskyforlife]

Big 12 played us man...its over over

I'm hearing we need to find more media money for 17 & 18. This may take a few months.

Few months went by quick.

 

[Mora4Prez]

ooorrrrrrrr we go full villain, go to Apple as a co-op with UConn business school to put together the business plan for Apple to buy ESPN outright (they could probably just write a check to Disney, but this nullifies this entire post) and offer them an east coast headquarters in Hartford with all ESPN's tax breaks. Operation Jonathan go!

Lol being a villain requires people to care about you. We’re more like the ugly step child that nobody wants.

 

[uconnsouth]

Fox was never going to let the Big12 take UConn. Fox gets UConn for pennies in the BE.

Why would Fox pay UConn 8x more --- all while destroying the amazing Big East content they have?

It was never going to happen, no matter what Yormack wanted

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Fox was never going to let the Big12 take UConn. Fox gets UConn for pennies in the BE.

Why would Fox pay UConn 8x more --- all while destroying the amazing Big East content they have?

It was never going to happen, no matter what Yormack wanted

That's a realization I wish I had arrived at a couple weeks ago. Spot on.

If ESPN lets the ACC take Stanford and California over us though...I just don't even know what to think anymore.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm pretty sure it'd be perfectly legal for Malloy to threaten to pull all tax breaks unless ESPN gets UConn into a P5/4/whatever. Don't think they'd even need a reason to pull tax breaks but make them earn it.

I'll go there. This is embarrassing.

 

[JeepCSC]

Stanford only makes sense as a play for Notre Dame.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

ooorrrrrrrr we go full villain, go to Apple as a co-op with UConn business school to put together the business plan for Apple to buy ESPN outright (they could probably just write a check to Disney, but this nullifies this entire post) and offer them an east coast headquarters in Hartford with all ESPN's tax breaks. Operation Jonathan go!

It is not even a question for me that if the choice is Apple or ESPN, UConn should be choosing Apple. Even Disney thinks ESPN is going to lose in a streaming world.

 

[hardcorehusky]

I'm pretty sure it'd be perfectly legal for Malloy to threaten to pull all tax breaks unless ESPN gets UConn into a P5/4/whatever. Don't think they'd even need a reason to pull tax breaks but make them earn it.

(please correct me if i'm wrong about the legality of that move)

From Malloy it means nothing. From Ned Lamont, maybe

 

[Waquoit]

The only thing missing from this cluster-F was Rick Pitino...

Sounds like he's on our side!

 

[WestCoastHusky]

They weren't so savvy as to realize their lowball non-linear offer would cause the destruction of their intended target, were they?

They were negotiating. Apple upped their offer $2M per school. I am guessing they didn't see FOX pull the Oregon and Washington card at the last sec to sink the Apple deal. Stuff like this happens, and it is part of the negotiation for many businesses. These conference realignments are pretty much like cutthroat corporate negotiations. Apple simply got played this time. I am sure they will be more prepared next time.

 

[noeynox]

https://www.si.com/college/2023/08/07/ncaa-conference-realignment-charlie-baker-statement

 

[WestCoastHusky]

Amazon's Prime Video is the 2nd largest streaming service by subscribers at over 175 million subs (people who actually watch PV) in both US and international. And, Amazon has Thursday night NFL football starting this year and they are paying $1 billion per year for the privilege. And, they have MLB and NBA basketball as well as other sports.

As of now, Amazon is a bigger threat to FOX and ESPN than Apple.

Exactly. One thing streaming platforms can offer that's far better than linear traditional media companies is the interactive experience. I am we are not quite there yet, but it is coming. The ability to do interactive things with live sporting events will be key to keeping the next generation engaged. Apple is doing it already, and Amazon won't be far behind. You can kind of see it in the movie and TV series assets already, but it is not quite there in sports just yet. Right now you can click on a MLB game on the app and you can see all kinds of statistics. Imagine if they can integrate live betting, games, and other thing to keep fans engaged even more.