Thamel : Big East Could Grow To 14 Team Fb And 18 Team Bb

[VAHuskyFan]

I agree with HuskyHawk. Priority #1 for UConn has to be to protect basketball if the Big East does come to a split. Football is driving the bus on realignment because football -- in general -- generates more profit for schools. UConn doesn't fully allocate revenues/expenses by sport, but I think we can all agree that:

1) Football generates LESS profit for UConn than for the average BCS school;
2) Basketball (mens & womens) generates MORE profit for UConn than for the average BCS school.

Consider the fact that an SEC school will almost always sell its entire allotment of tickets to a BCS game and book a healthy profit whereas we lost seven figures on the Fiesta Bowl. The economics just don't break out the same for UConn as they do for the majority of BCS schools. I've got to think basketball generates more money for UConn than football. And beyond that, basketball is our national brand. With Calhoun nearing retirement, we just can't afford to wind up in a weak conference with no traditional rivals.

I really hope the Big East can piece something together to keep the conference alive (and keep our BCS status on life support for a few more years in football until we can leave for greener pastures), but if not we can't gamble everything on some doomed-to-fail Conference USA mashup.

 

[upstater]

I really hope the Big East can piece something together to keep the conference alive (and keep our BCS status on life support for a few more years in football until we can leave for greener pastures), but if not we can't gamble everything on some doomed-to-fail Conference USA mashup.

Back in 2004, football generated a couple hundred thou less in ticket sales than basketball did. Both were in the 6 million range.

Basketball was top 6 in the nation behind all the likely schools (Arkansas was the only surprising one listed). Football was top 40, but just less than the average BCS school. BUT, UConn football at $6 million was aggregated in a range of a great many schools. From 30-70, there were many schools within $1 million. From 20-30, you had schools at $10 million. From 10-20 $15m, and the top schools were $15-25m.

IndyStar no longer breaks down revenue by sport and item, unfortunately, and somehow their database defaulted to 2004 instead of carrying the info for the last year they provided it, 2009-2010.

 

[Rumrunner]

No women's sports, including basketball, are profitable at UConn, again highlighting the importance of a successful football program.

 

[zls44]

I agree with HuskyHawk. Priority #1 for UConn has to be to protect basketball if the Big East does come to a split.

This is really shortsighted thinking. Long term, it's still football that makes the most money and calls the shots. As upstater said, when UConn wasn't even in the Big East & the MBB team was coming off a title, football still nearly made equal ticket revenue. That says it all.

 

[zls44]

I disagree entirely that a top hoops team can be successful anywhere.

Rutgers University entered the 1976 Final Four undefeated. Seton Hall was a blown call from possibly winning the 1989 National Championship.

When Louisiana-Monroe is playing in the Rose Bowl, let me know.

 

[upstater]

No women's sports, including basketball, are profitable at UConn, again highlighting the importance of a successful football program.

http://www2.indystar.com/NCAA_financial_reports/expense_stat/show?school_id=26

In 2004-2005, women's bball was profitable.

 

[upstater]

Rutgers University entered the 1976 Final Four undefeated. Seton Hall was a blown call from possibly winning the 1989 National Championship.

When Louisiana-Monroe is playing in the Rose Bowl, let me know.

76 and 89 were eons ago. Agreed that cinderella is not going to play in the BCS CG.
But, outside of Butler and Memphis, no non-BCS school has made it to the bball CG since Seton Hall.

 

[Rumrunner]

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/20...in-red-as-salaries-break-college-budgets.html

In 2010 it wasn't.

http://www2.indystar.com/NCAA_financial_reports/expense_stat/show?school_id=26

In 2004-2005, women's bball was profitable.

 

[upstater]

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/20...in-red-as-salaries-break-college-budgets.html

In 2010 it wasn't.

The revenue difference between 2010 and 2004 is roughly the shortfall for UConn last year, but if you click on the link, you'll see that certain things aren't logged under women's basketball, such as % of concessions and programs, etc. Which, themselves alone, probably makeup for the shortfall and help UConn break even--whereas in past years, they were profitable.

 

[HuskyHawk]

This is really shortsighted thinking. Long term, it's still football that makes the most money and calls the shots. As upstater said, when UConn wasn't even in the Big East & the MBB team was coming off a title, football still nearly made equal ticket revenue. That says it all.

Equal revenue with 50X the expense. How many more scholarships for FB? Coaches? Facilities? Football costs a ton. Most D1A football schools lose money.

 

[upstater]

Equal revenue with 50X the expense. How many more scholarships for FB? Coaches? Facilities? Football costs a ton. Most D1A football schools lose money.

The fact that UConn has to subsidize sports right now (while the TV contracts for the big BCS conferences allow schools to either stop subsidizing sports or else ramp up spending) means that eventually, UConn will not have the money to go toe-to-toe with big schools in basketball. The profit from basketball will be rerouted to other sports as long as Title 9 is around. And if football isn't helping with TV contracts, then UConn basketball will be in the position that say Butler or Gonzaga are in right now.

 

[Excalibur]

I see no logical reason why any of our old conference mates and non traditional bcs football powers (like a UVA or wake or northwestern or vandy) and maybe the next tier up too wouldn't give us home and homes straight away.

There will likely be more conference games for the others, meaning fewer spots available for OOC games. We're not getting home and homes.