The Private Equity College Sports Hellscape Thread

[CL82]

Misleading headline. Here's a quote from the article.:

UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham, however, says he isn’t interested in this form of financing—at least not now. He recently told Sportico that despite conversations with a half-dozen firms dating back to last fall, the school will not be taking money from (or selling equity to) any institutional groups in the foreseeable future.

Cunningham goes on to say that he has cheaper access to capital. Although he doesn't specify, one would imagine that he's referring to state bonding which is likely to be far less expensive, and far less demanding, than private capital.

The author of this article continually speculates about the imminent need for private capital for North Carolina, but none of the actual quotes support that.

 

[Patman]

yeah, just because a thing exists doesn't mean it is a good idea or necessary.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Misleading headline. Here's a quote from the article.:

UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham, however, says he isn’t interested in this form of financing—at least not now. He recently told Sportico that despite conversations with a half-dozen firms dating back to last fall, the school will not be taking money from (or selling equity to) any institutional groups in the foreseeable future.

Cunningham goes on to say that he has cheaper access to capital. Although he doesn't specify, one would imagine that he's referring to state bonding which is likely to be far less expensive, and far less demanding, than private capital.

The author of this article continually speculates about the imminent need for private capital for North Carolina, but none of the actual quotes support that.

PE makes no sense for conferences.

 

[huskymedic]

Baby steps…

 

[WestCoastHusky]

Baby steps…

UCONN should be exploring the same thing if we are on top of things.

 

[JohnFSilver]

UCONN should be exploring the same thing if we are on top of things.

No. Deloitte can't help. They don't have any magic ingredients.

 

[ZooCougar]

No. Deloitte can't help. They don't have any magic ingredients.

I’m assuming you know this is Consulting and not PE.

Why? Do you think Athletic Departments are well run?

 

[JohnFSilver]

I’m assuming you know this is Consulting and not PE.

Why? Do you think Athletic Departments are well run?

I have worked with Deloitte, extensively and have had good experiences, and also kicked them off a project. It will be off the shelf 360 review and cookie cutter, broad marketing strategies. Maybe they should hire me.

The tech talent is legit, but I don't like marketing and how they up sell.

Like, what is their value prop here? My
Inclination? It means Kansas doesn't know what they want and want someone to give them a strategy.

The strategy is great, but Deloitte leaves when it comes time to execute the strategy.

The people there are talented, though, will give them that. Especially tech teams.

You should bring these guys for things you can't do.

 

[ZooCougar]

I have worked with Deloitte, extensively and have had good experiences, and also kicked them off a project. It will be off the shelf 360 review and cookie cutter, broad marketing strategies. Maybe they should hire me.

The tech talent is legit, but I don't like marketing and how they up sell.

Like, what is their value prop here? My
Inclination? It means Kansas doesn't know what they want and want someone to give them a strategy.

The strategy is great, but Deloitte leaves when it comes time to execute the strategy.

The people there are talented, though, will give them that. Especially tech teams.

Honestly the off the shelf 360 might be better than the idiocy in our public universities these days.

But personally I think College Sports should be run like German Soccer where the fan is the ultimate customer and the prices of everything are contained.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[JohnFSilver]

Honestly the off the shelf 360 might be better than the idiocy in our public universities these days.

But personally I think College Sports should be run like German Soccer where the fan is the ultimate customer and the prices of everything are contained.

It would be better run. That is not a joke. Rapid demand for results.

 

[CL82]

No. Deloitte can't help. They don't have any magic ingredients.

No magic ingredients, but they do have accounting and business consulting expertise both of which would be useful and managing this brave new world.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

You could say that was a message from the universe. Can’t get more key than that

And yesterday Greg Flugar said that UConn is being required by one of the PE investors that is talking to the Big12. So, it must be.

 

[Drew]

And yesterday Greg Flugar said that UConn is being required by one of the PE investors that is talking to the Big12. So, it must be.

Is there a clip of this somewhere? That is big if true

 

[KryHavok]

Is there a clip of this somewhere? That is big if true

Didn't find the exact wording, but in yesterday's video at the 28 min mark Flugar starts talking about Yormark and how he thinks he'll get what he wants.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but his facial expressions seemed to be coyish. He didn't mention UConn specifically, though I think we were mentioned as ingredients in a soup that Yormark wants with respect to expansion. An Arizona fan in the chat wrote, "That's why we need to add Uconn" while another wrote, "uconn is in...the time isnt right yet".
Meanwhile, it's Fall and leaves are turning colors, yeah for things that are actually happening.

 

[jostar1]

Didn't find the exact wording, but in yesterday's video at the 28 min mark Flugar starts talking about Yormark and how he thinks he'll get what he wants.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but his facial expressions seemed to be coyish. He didn't mention UConn specifically, though I think we were mentioned as ingredients in a soup that Yormark wants with respect to expansion. An Arizona fan in the chat wrote, "That's why we need to add Uconn" while another wrote, "uconn is in...the time isnt right yet".
Meanwhile, it's Fall and leaves are turning colors, yeah for things that are actually happening.

He also said in that video that the UConn-Big 12 talks will become public early next year. He said that in a prior video, too.

I didn't hear him say anything about a private equity investor wanting UConn, but in a prior video he said that Yormark is working on certain things that have to happen before UConn is added. One of those was private equity,

 

[ZooCougar]

He also said in that video that the UConn-Big 12 talks will become public early next year. He said that in a prior video, too.

I didn't hear him say anything about a private equity investor wanting UConn, but in a prior video he said that Yormark is working on certain things that have to happen before UConn is added. One of those was private equity,

Private equity is far from certain. So if he is right about Private Equity then we are still a longshot.

 

[CL82]

Private equity is far from certain. So if he is right about Private Equity then we are still a longshot.

True, but If private equity expressly indicated that we added value to the conference, I have to believe that is a good thing.

 

[jostar1]

Flugaur also mentioned LIV Golf wanted to talk to Yormark about him becoming their CEO. Yormark declined. I wonder if this makes the Big 12 Presidents more inclined to give him what he wants (UConn). As I said before, I'm always looking for some angle that's a positive for us.

 

[LoyalFanCT]

He also said in that video that the UConn-Big 12 talks will become public early next year. He said that in a prior video, too.

I didn't hear him say anything about a private equity investor wanting UConn, but in a prior video he said that Yormark is working on certain things that have to happen before UConn is added. One of those was private equity,

He has speculated Nationwide Insurance, if they pay to have the B12 renamed to the Nationwide Conference, may want a New York City presence That's where UConn may come in.

 

[ZooCougar]

True, but If private equity expressly indicated that we added value to the conference, I have to believe that is a good thing.

But if they pass on PE, as they should. They are passing on us too.

 

[ZooCougar]

He has speculated Nationwide Insurance, if they pay to have the B12 renamed to the Nationwide Conference, may want a New York City presence That's where UConn may come in.

Allstate.

 

[CL82]

But if they pass on PE, as they should. They are passing on us too.

Possibly, but not necessarily. They could decide that we bring value but not decide to bring in private equity. But who knows? We don't even know if the whole PE rumor is even true.

 

[ZooCougar]

I was hoping

Possibly, but not necessarily. They could decide that we bring value but not decide to bring in private equity. But who knows? We don't even know if the whole PE rumor is even true.

I was hoping it was Allstate that was pushing for us.

I hate the idea of PE in college sports.

 

[jostar1]

But if they pass on PE, as they should. They are passing on us too.

The naming rights (Allstate) are separate from Private Equity. I think that UConn would increase the naming rights deal.

 

[CL82]

I was hoping

I was hoping it was Allstate that was pushing for us.

I hate the idea of PE in college sports.

Private equity in college sports, in all likelihood, will end badly for those who choose to dip into that particular well. so far, I haven't seen a single idea floated that would be a long-term net positive for the institutions.

 

[LoyalFanCT]

Allstate.

sorry, you are right, my error.

 

[ZooCougar]

The naming rights (Allstate) are separate from Private Equity. I think that UConn would increase the naming rights deal.

Lots of home owners in our densely populated area of the US. We have more homes than Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma etc. Lots of boats to insure.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

Is there a clip of this somewhere? That is big if true

Go to the 2:18 (hour:minute) mark of this show. He talks about how at least one PE firm wants/requires UConn. I think that is what is slowing things down (as well as the House decision and NIL rules). I've also thought for a while now the Big12 needs it's own tv network to compete with the other 3 power conferences and that PE would be required to fund it and that UConn and the northeast market that we bring would be a large leverage for PE/Big12 Network...

 

[Patman]

My real question with PE is what is it they think they'll deliver they can't do now... and what i think it's going to be is basically an advertising hellscape. Your parking lots will be brought to you by your local supermarket and they'll lay down road markers for it