PAC12 Scenario = Expansion

[Water Pony]

UCLA approved to join Big Ten with one interesting catch
Story by Larry Brown Sports • Yesterday 10:29 PM

UCLA on Wednesday received approval to join the Big Ten in 2024 as they had hoped. But there is one interesting catch. UCLA announced over the summer that they would be joining rival USC in moving from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten.

The decision meant the Los Angeles-based schools would be leaving behind nearly a century of traditions and rivalries for a stronger football conference that promised more national media exposure, and more importantly, money.

But not all of that newfound money will be going to UCLA.

The University of California’s Board of Regents voted 11-5 to approve UCLA’s move to the Big Ten. The catch is that some of the money UCLA will receive from being part of the Big Ten will have to go to Cal as a subsidy.

The UC Regents approved a subsidy in the range of $2M-$10M for Cal, which is another member of the University of California system. The reason for the subsidy is because UCLA’s departure from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten will adversely affect UC Berkeley financially, which remains a part of the Pac-12.

The Pac-12 is seeking a new media rights deal. Once that deal is struck, the UC Regents will determine how much of a subsidy payment UCLA would make to Cal.

UCLA stands to make around double ($60M or so compared to around $30M) in annual payments thanks to a media rights deal from being a member of the Big Ten vs. the Pac-12.

Had UCLA remained in the Pac-12, the inclusion of the Los Angeles market would have strengthened the conference’s position in negotiations with media companies.

UCLA is still coming out ahead financially as part of the move, but the subsidy payment and additional travel costs will eat into their gains.

[Horseshoe]

Gut feeling: San Diego State and UNLV get the call. UNLV because the league wants Vegas to host championship events.
Really hope I'm wrong.

[redpony]

that result would not surprise me. if we are left holding an empty bag then I suspect it will be all downhill after that. left in a trash conference- and possibly the NILs crashing.

[Water Pony]

Gut feeling

: San Diego State and UNLV get the call. UNLV because the league wants Vegas to host championship events.
Really hope I'm wrong.

PAC-12 already hosts their FB Championship in Las Vegas. They may pick UNLV for other reasons, e.g., entertainment destination and large and growing cities. The Rebels may be chosen if the PAC-12 adds more than 2 schools or in a second wave of expansion.

[Dukie]

Gut feeling

: San Diego State and UNLV get the call. UNLV because the league wants Vegas to host championship events.
Really hope I'm wrong.

PAC-12 already hosts their FB Championship in Las Vegas. They may pick UNLV for other reasons, e.g., entertainment destination and large and growing cities. The Rebels may be chosen if the PAC-12 adds more than 2 schools or in a second wave of expansion.

That's a game effort at reasons for UNLV to be in the mix, but I think you know they're really inadequate/irrelevant reasons. And the original idea that the PAC needs to add UNLV so that Vegas will welcome their fans and dollars to town is, um, not supported by reality.

[tristatecoog]

UNLV doesn't have much to offer academically or athletically, and the Pac-12 can already use LV for events. The Pac should add the central time zone and SMU draws a lot of west coast students and is better than most of the remaining Pac-12.

[Doesntmatter]

PAC 12 commissioner came from Las Vegas (MGM events I believe) so many revenue producing opportunity from entities like the LVCVA.

[Pony81]

Having 6 games at SMU in the Central Time zone is being sold as a TV viewing plus for the PAC-12 fans in the central and eastern time zones that won’t stay up for a west coast time game.

[Pony81]

SEC plays across 2 time zones
BIG plays across 3
B12 plays across 3
PAC currently plays across 2

[deucetz]

It should be noted that the most populous time zones are: (1) Eastern Time zone has nearly half of all Americans (~47%), (2) Central (~30), (3) Pacific (~16), and last is (4) Mountain (~7).

Staying in the Pacific and Mountain time zones is dumb. Furthermore, football is more popular in Central Time Zone than in either Pacific or Mountain Time Zones. It would also help donations for the respective PAC-12 schools since they could easily have alumni events in Dallas surrounding the games.

[mtrout]

It should be noted that the most populous time zones are: (1) Eastern Time zone has nearly half of all Americans (~47%), (2) Central (~30), (3) Pacific (~16), and last is (4) Mountain (~7).

Staying in the Pacific and Mountain time zones is dumb. Furthermore, football is more popular in Central Time Zone than in either Pacific or Mountain Time Zones. It would also help donations for the respective PAC-12 schools since they could easily have alumni events in Dallas surrounding the games.

That is an amazing stat/fact.

Anyway, don't lose sight of the PAC12 mass exodus that will occur when they start adding G5 schools.

[SoCal_Pony]

No one is anticipating any mass exodus unless the PAC media deal is substantially below the B12’s.

If SD St & SMU drive down the PAC deal, look for us to be admitted at reduced rates as the PAC wouldn’t jeopardize any existing school leaving in the name of revenue-parity.

I also believe all PAC schools prefer the PAC over B12 as most their prospective students + their existing alumni live there, there is clearly more money on the West Coast, plus the academics are better.

Never forget, first and foremost these are academic institutions.

[mtrout]

lol @ academics. It's all about the benjamins baby.

[SoCal_Pony]

Great quote from Tony Altimore regarding academics vs athletics & expansion

“Yeah, everything’s for academics. We as sports fans love our teams, but to a large extent you’re talking about Walmart’s corporate Mergers & Acquisitions policy based on the flavor of pizza at their food court.’

[SoCal_Pony]

Xx