Please post any news articles relating to the ACC #12 spot in theis thread. Thank you.



ACC trains its eyes on BC again
By Mark Blaudschun, Globe Staff, 9/30/2003:

http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2003/09/30/acc_trains_its_eyes_on_bc_again/

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Wow! So after expansion, the ACC will have reduced income on both their basketball and football contracts from ESPN!

Friarfan, I was never convinced the ACC could make all the money projected from expansion.

When the SEC expanded to 12, the conference was making less than most of the current BCS conferences. The same situation was true for the SWC/Big 8. Growing revenue was almost a guarantee for those two super conferences.

According to reports the ACC was making the most revenue per BCS school with 9 teams. The ACC was maxed out in basketball with new contracts.

Lets assume the revenue sharing for the ACC was 9 million a year per school.

Adding Miami alone will require the 9 million football championship game revenue to keep the shares per team at current 9 million per year.

Everyone will agree that Miami will add strength to the ACC and may help the ACC gain an occasional at large BCS bid every few years. The ACC is not going to get any more bids than the SEC or Big 12 which average multiple bids every couple years.

An extra BCS bid evey couple years will help the ACC, however, will it make up for Va Tech and a possible new 12th school.

The ACC may be in a no win situation. The TV star Notre Dame has turned the conference down.

Notre Dame is the only school in the country that could help a conference raise an additional 20 million per year in revenue.

The ACC could decide to not expand to 12 at this time and cut the loses. The conference is in a catch 22 as scheduling would be improved with 12 teams.

Could Miami look back at the Big East offer of 45 million and regret the decision to move. If they dont make a minimum of 9 million per year from the ACC, the move was not good from a revenue standpoint. Was this not the major reason that Miami moved to the ACC.

College sports are starting to amaze me as they don't really think like Corporate America, however, they sure act like Corporate America.

Nice analysis, Lash.

The Big East saw its contracts decrease last spring & word was out there that TV money would not be available in the amounts that it was in the '90s. But this shows how badly the ACC miscalculated in a couple of ways.

First, they believed that Miami would be an asset not only because they are a major draw everywhere but also because they would bring a new market & that the networks would pay for this new market. It doesn't appear that this has happened. Of course, the substitution of VA Tech for Syracuse & BC diminished this new markets strategy before it was out of the gate.

Secondly, they believed that they would continue to get the basketball dollars that they had been getting. I don't think they expected to hear that fewer dollars would be offered because the addition of Miami & VA Tech has diluted the basketball product. In light of this, if I were the ACC, I would now be looking at Syracuse instead of BC for a 12th member. They could also be admitted on the fast track & could bring another big market, but most importantly they could make the basketball product more attractive . . . less "diluted."

The Big East should take a lesson from this. As much as the 16-team Big East may include the best collection of basketball teams under one umbrella, they won't be attractive to the networks if the top teams aren't playing each other. They may be better off rethinking their plans & reconfiguring to a more manageable number - even if it continues to include some of the basketball-only schools to maintain the big markets in NYC, Philly, or DC.

I do not think that it is a big surprise that there will not be as much money. It was speculated when all of this started that the money, in general for everybody, would go down. A market correction if you will. How much money would the ACC get for football without Virginia Tech and Miami? The additions could only be a plus. As far as basketball, I cannot speak to that, but the “diluted” tag seems like a made-up excuse.

I also believe that the lack of money for the new market, Miami, shows how flawed that thinking was from the beginning. Even if Boston College comes aboard, I would not expect there to be a revenue increase because of the Boston market. Television executives have already learned with past Big East contracts that the size of the market does not translate into viwership.

As far as Miami’s guaranteed money from the Big East, where was it going to come from? With revenues already dropping, I have to believe that the Big East contract would take a major hit, even with Miami, after its renegotiations in 2007. This would perpetuate increasingly diminished returns for other member institutions. The idea of bribing a member at the expense of all others would amplify an already flawed situation, eventually leading to more turmoil.

Any short-term disappointments must be put aside as this is a long term venture; one that is reshaping college athletics. The ACC will be fine for the long-term.

BCHokie, I agree that the ACC will be fine for a long time to come. However, Sofford was predicting large revenue increases in his public statements. So either he was lying or this came as a surprise to them. I believe that it was a surprise. I believe that the calcultions that were done for them were out-of-date by the time they made their decision.

The guaranteed money for Miami from the Big East was guaranteed for 5 years, which would have taken them through 2007. No one knows what market conditions will be in 2007 & if the Big East contracts will take a hit.

Although the arrangement proposed for Miami doesn't fit any difinition of a bribe, I agree with you that it is not an effective tool for managing a conference - especially after 12 years of existence as a conference.

I talk with ESPN executives here in Connecticut & their comments to me do not reflect your representation of "what television executives have already learned with past Big East contracts . . ."

They sound like lowball "beginning talks" offers to me.
The idea that "BB is now less valuable" is a real shaky argument when they have no problem with the 11 Big Ten teams (which I think is still the #2 BB deal in the country). Penn State didn't drag down that deal at all.

Hard to believe they hate Miami and VT more than love NC, MD, and Duke.

The FB offer is probably a more honest figure, with roots in the current economy, but I'm sure we'll see that go up since ABC/ESPN needs the ACC to cover the east coast with the SEC still on CBS. They'll stick with Miami - FL ST - VT combo over the Pitt - WV - BC combo to pair with their Big Ten deal.

I think we all know the expansion was about long-term survival, and not outright cash, no matter what puffed-up numbers they gave the school presidents.

Unquestionably, the ACC is stronger as a conference with Miami & VT aboard for football and national press. Good lord, this previously-one-pony-race is now being decribed as the #2 FB league in the nation! That may make expansion worth it right there.

Either the ACC or Big East was going to lose their ESPN FB TV deal this go-around, and the ACC just made sure it wasn't them.

Granted the current ESPN offer is lower than the previous deal. but think how low that FB offer would be if they DIDN'T have Miami! It probably would have been half of that old $24 million deal. No doubt, Miami's presence will keep the deal in the $20 - $25 million range. Not bad in this economy.

If the BE gets stuck with one of those convoluted Fox Sports / TBS deals, the ACC guys will look like financial and marketing genuises.

FriarFan, I apologize regarding the TV executive comment. I had read once on Techsideline.com that CBS had overpaid for Big East football in the early or mid- 90’s and that ABC had paid a more appropriate price when they picked up conference telecasts. However, I do not have any hard data.

EarthX, good point about television liking Duke, UNC, and Maryland more than disliking Virginia Tech and Miami. I do not know about Miami, but I am very confident that Tech will field a very competitive basketball program in the ACC within the next five years. Granted, the past decade and a half Tech has been abysmal, only two post-season appearances (NIT 1995, NCAA 1996) since 1986. However, prior to that time, the HOKIES were much more competitive. I believe that the ACC will bring Tech’s program on par with Virginia’s or North Carolina State’s. That is just my opinion.

Boston College would make a great addition, as would Syracuse, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, and Rutgers. I hate to see any of these fine institutions/programs get hurt.

BCHokie, no apology needed. We're just chewing the fat here. Who knows? You may have a better take on this thing than I do. I'm just passing on what here hear from some folks I know.

EarthX, good points. While ACC expansion was about money, you're absolutely right about it also being about stability & strengthening the conference.

BC Back In Sights Of ACC
October 1, 2003
By KEN DAVIS, Courant Staff Writer

http://www.ctnow.com/sports/college/hc-bcacc1001.artoct01,1,908422.story?coll=hc-headlines-sports-college

This article says that the ACC presidents are not scheduled to meet again until Dec. 18.

A busy agenda at ACC meetings
10-1-03
By Rob Daniels, Staff Writer
News & Record
http://www.news-record.com/sports/acc/acc01.htm

The latest from Andy Katz . . .

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?id=1628532

By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

The Big East can't move forward with expansion until it knows whether Boston College is staying or going to the ACC, multiple sources told ESPN.com Wednesday. And BC is waiting to hear from the ACC if it's going to be the 12th team or if the issue is dead for the foreseeable future.

Although ACC officials said they didn't discuss a 12th team at two-day meetings in Virginia, sources close to the process said the Eagles expect to know their fate in the coming weeks. Multiple authorities said the invitation hasn't come yet. But when it does, it is believed the Eagles would accept on the spot, hoping to compete in the ACC during the 2004-05 season.



Sources said the Big East is putting a pinch on the Eagles to find out what they are going to do, but BC can't offer an answer yet. Some inside the process think the ACC should not let BC continue to twist in the wind and has to give the Eagles a decision soon.

The ACC will likely need a 12th team for a financially-rich football championship game in 2004 and beyond. The NCAA Championship Cabinet and Football Issues committee failed to recommend to the NCAA management council to allow a championship football game with fewer than 12 teams. The management council and board of directors could make its own decision in April, but the lack of a recommendation doesn't bode well for the legislation to pass.

Getting 12 teams in ACC football would also allow for a better scheduling balance in the conference.

The Big East wants to avoid an embarrassing situation -- again -- if it were to announce it had expanded to 16 with Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette and DePaul and then lose Boston College soon after. That would mean the Big East would have to find another all-sports member, which would likely be South Florida or Central Florida. Central Florida received an invitation from the MAC Wednesday for all-sports membership. Central Florida plays football in the MAC, all other sports in the Atlantic Sun.

The Big East is losing Miami and Virginia Tech to the ACC after this season. Getting to 16 schools would give the Big East eight Division I-A football schools and eight members that don't play football at that level.

If the Big East doesn't lose BC, then it could still add the four Conference USA schools in all sports, plus one of the Florida schools as an affiliate member in football to get to nine teams. That would allow more equitable scheduling, with four home and four road games.

The Big East is expected to move on expansion at a Nov. 5 meeting of the presidents in Philadelphia, although an announcement could come at a later date.

But the Big East and BC need to know what the ACC is going to do before that meeting.

BC missed out on being an ACC member in June by one vote.

In a related note, Notre Dame's candidacy is not an issue anymore, after the ACC said earlier this week that it would only take members for all sports. Notre Dame has been clear that it doesn't want to join a conference for football.

Andy Katz is a senior writer

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http://www.news-record.com/sports/acc/accqanda_100203.htm

Who's happy? Who's unhappy?
10-2-03
By ROB DANIELS, Staff Writer
News & Record

Q: What does all this scheduling stuff mean?

A: It's a two-year arrangement that will be re-examined in 2006. Sooner if the ACC adds a 12th member.

Q: Is the annually guaranteed basketball round-robin among Duke, North Carolina, N.C. State and Wake Forest dead?

A: Not necessarily. Wake knows it's playing Georgia Tech and N.C. State twice in both years, for example, but the full schedule won't be released until January. Everybody has two perpetual opponents and will play four other schools twice in both seasons. The identity of those four "round-robin" teams will be released in January. Each team will play the remaining four clubs once. That adds up to 16 conference games.

Q: What's the football format going to be?

A: Everybody plays eight conference games per season and avoids two teams -- the same two teams -- in both years covered under the agreement.

Q: What's the women's basketball format?

A: Everybody plays 14 league games. Each team will face four other "primary opponents" twice a year and the remaining six once per season.

Q: Nobody's going to admit they dislike their deal. But who's got to be happiest?

A: North Carolina basketball retains the guarantee of twice-a-year meetings with Triangle rivals Duke and N.C. State. The Maryland football team is spared Miami in 2004 and '05, and Virginia Tech won't have to tangle with Florida State in those years.

Q: And who's unhappiest?

A: In football, Carolina, State, Wake and Virginia play the powerful triumvirate of Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech in both seasons. N.C. State won't see Duke, the league's worst team lately, in either year.

Q: Why aren't the women playing as many conference games as the men in basketball?

A: Among other reasons, the league's coaches were concerned that a 16-game schedule was compromising their NCAA tournament chances. Less equals more, in other words.

Q: What about the schedules in other sports?

A: Their formats won't change. Miami and Virginia Tech will be plugged into the schedules of every sport in which they field teams. ACC schools play each other once in everything except for volleyball (twice). Baseball will play 30 conference games -- 10 series of three games apiece.

Q: What's up with expansion?

A: While nobody will talk about it, the matter almost certainly has to be resolved quickly. The ACC is moving forward with its petition to the NCAA to permit a conference championship football game with fewer than 12 teams, but the future of that request is murky at best. It will either be killed in January or put up for a final vote in April. Either way, that's a long time to wait without knowing if the league can conduct the financially necessary contest.

The game is a mandate, because starting in the 2006-07 academic year, when Miami and Virginia Tech become full financial partners, the conference is going to have to divide its revenue 11 ways rather than nine. Every school will take a hit if the estimated $8 million to $10 million from the championship game isn't available. If the ACC adds a 12th member, it can drop the request and play the game.

Boston College is the most likely choice. Previous opposition to BC, based largely on geography, could fade quickly. Virginia, which played political hardball and managed to get Virginia Tech into the ACC, owes everybody. The three Triangle schools would have to form a solid bloc to turn aside BC again.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rdaniels@news-record.com