Realignment Rumblings re: UH

[StallionsModelT]

I have to wonder if there are negotiations with P-5 conferences in the works. Why would we be spending this much money on athletics if we were permanently relegated to a non-p5 conference?

I don't know that there has been any concrete negotiations with P5. I think its more likely that SMU understands that this next phase of realignment is likely the last. We are going to do everything we possibly can to give ourselves a shot at getting in. That means spending money on facilities, coaches, etc. to try and distance ourselves from our G5 peers. We will see what happens but SMU is clearly committed to making its best effort.

[Dutch]

[dcpony]

'so any expansion into the State of Texas is a stretch, due to big distances and the problem of a new and earlier time zone (CT).'

I disagree with this. I don't know if it matters but more of the PAC-12's teams games besides USC/Stanford will be watched by the east coast media and viewers with teams playing in Dallas and Houston. So yeah a long shot but somewhat plausible

The SEC only comes to Houston and Dallas to take B12 viewers. Keep in mind, there's a ton of LSU alums in Houston.

[Dutch]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/business/the-big-tens-bigger-footprint.html?_r=0

Mr. Delany countered with the invitations to Rutgers, then of the Big East, and Maryland of the A.C.C. With their addition, the conference will cover roughly 30 percent of the country by population and more than 15 percent by geography. There are 4.7 million Big Ten alumni scattered nationwide, part of what Mr. Delany calls the Big Ten diaspora.

The strategy is about television. Mr. Delany does not expect New Yorkers to start following Rutgers football the way they follow the Giants or the Yankees, but the Big Ten alums spread throughout the New York region are likely to pay attention when Michigan and Ohio State show up. In essence, Mr. Delany has found a back door into two of the largest television markets in the country and a way to tap into that alumni diaspora.

[Dutch]

and from another article. i've repeated this many times. SET TOP BOXES IS ALL THAT MATTERS IN RE-ALIGNMNET.

http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/big-ten-network-hits-the-nyc-jackpot-worth-tens-of-millions-of-dollars.html

Let’s do a little quick "back of the napkin math" on this massive victory for BTN. At last check, the channel charges a $1.00 fee per subscriber per month for those customers within the conference footprint, which NY/NJ now falls into thanks to Rutgers. Much like the "Is Andy Murray British or Scottish debate," New Jersey gets to be a part of the NYC metropolitan area seemingly only when it’s convenient to someone looking to make money.

Cablevision has 3.1 million subscribers in the area. Time Warner has a little more than 2.6 million subscribers in New York state, many of them concentrated in the city. New Jersey has a fraction of that at just over 40,000. Let’s just be extra conservative and put the total number of subscribers that will now get BTN at 4 million.

Just from this deal alone, the Big Ten just pocketed an extra $48 million per year.

Forty. Eight. Million. Dollars. Per. Year.

And that’s just from one carriage agreement in New York City. Let’s not forget Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and the rest of the I-95 corridor that BTN will look to expand into. Back in 2012, Sports Illustrated prophetically estimated that the Big Ten could make $200 million annually from television money on the east coast. And that number may now be on the low end of the spectrum.

[dcpony]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/business/the-big-tens-bigger-footprint.html?_r=0

Mr. Delany countered with the invitations to Rutgers, then of the Big East, and Maryland of the A.C.C. With their addition, the conference will cover roughly 30 percent of the country by population and more than 15 percent by geography. There are 4.7 million Big Ten alumni scattered nationwide, part of what Mr. Delany calls the Big Ten diaspora.

The strategy is about television. Mr. Delany does not expect New Yorkers to start following Rutgers football the way they follow the Giants or the Yankees, but the Big Ten alums spread throughout the New York region are likely to pay attention when Michigan and Ohio State show up. In essence, Mr. Delany has found a back door into two of the largest television markets in the country and a way to tap into that alumni diaspora.

Tons of SEC alums in Texas. Relevant.
http://theadvocate.com/sports/5874033-3 ... tball-game

[Dutch]

so just considering TV market rank, # viewers, and % of national TV market, here are the markets being discussed (Nielsen numbers)...

#5 DFW, 2,603,680; 2.288%
#10Houston, 2,301,230; 2.022%

#36 Cincinnatti; 876,290; 0.770%
#50 Memphis; 653,560; 0.574%
#51 New Orleans; 641,150; 0.563%
(Tulane - for some reason people down there think they're on the invite list to the BigTX)

you tell me who's most attractive?

[RE Tycoon]

As for SMU, Dallas is the #5 TV market and the second fastest growing city in the country. It's ALL about money, and TV is money.

Dallas is stagnating, region is on fire, but Dallas proper has been struggling for years losing population and jobs:

Because even though the region surrounding Dallas has been healthy, the city itself is recovering from too much attention paid to the ­suburbs and not enough to its interior urban areas. As a whole, yes, the Dallas-­Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area - sexy name, no? - is a success story. It added 1.2 million people between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census. Dallas proper, however, accounted for less than 1 percent of that growth: It added 7,706 people, the fewest the city has gained since 1880, notes Patrick Kennedy, an urban planner and designer.

Link

It's a mistake everyone makes, including the mayor of Dallas

Link2

Not to get all political, but it's something we should all care about because a healthy Dallas is critical to the future of a vibrant SMU.

There are some different groups out there trying to focus on the city of Dallas, so if you're so inclined to get involved, please do. No matter where you fall, vote on may 9th, these elections impact your daily life.

Get Involved

[Dutch]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/business/the-big-tens-bigger-footprint.html?_r=0

Mr. Delany countered with the invitations to Rutgers, then of the Big East, and Maryland of the A.C.C. With their addition, the conference will cover roughly 30 percent of the country by population and more than 15 percent by geography. There are 4.7 million Big Ten alumni scattered nationwide, part of what Mr. Delany calls the Big Ten diaspora.

The strategy is about television. Mr. Delany does not expect New Yorkers to start following Rutgers football the way they follow the Giants or the Yankees, but the Big Ten alums spread throughout the New York region are likely to pay attention when Michigan and Ohio State show up. In essence, Mr. Delany has found a back door into two of the largest television markets in the country and a way to tap into that alumni diaspora.

Tons of SEC alums in Texas. Relevant.
http://theadvocate.com/sports/5874033-3 ... tball-game

just proves my point about alumni coverage, set top boxes, why they added A&M (houston & Dallas market) and Mizzou - St. Louis & KC markets.

[PonyTime]

Yep, I just found it to be humorous. I think UH/SMU would be a solid get for the Pac-12; the only issues I can imagine would be 1) a less than stellar football record and 2) getting the Pac-12 schools to accept a school with "Methodist" in the name. Otherwise, we're in one of the fastest-growing markets with excellent academics, a large endowment, a great basketball program, and a clear commitment to football success.

You think that "Methodist" in the name is the issue? What about the addition of a commuter school to their conference (a FAR bigger issue). You do know the original nickname of the USC team - right?

Hint: Rhymes with Bighting Rethodists

[Dutch]

As for SMU, Dallas is the #5 TV market and the second fastest growing city in the country. It's ALL about money, and TV is money.

Dallas is stagnating, region is on fire, but Dallas proper has been struggling for years losing population and jobs:

Because even though the region surrounding Dallas has been healthy, the city itself is recovering from too much attention paid to the ­suburbs and not enough to its interior urban areas. As a whole, yes, the Dallas-­Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area - sexy name, no? - is a success story. It added 1.2 million people between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census. Dallas proper, however, accounted for less than 1 percent of that growth: It added 7,706 people, the fewest the city has gained since 1880, notes Patrick Kennedy, an urban planner and designer.

Link

It's a mistake everyone makes, including the mayor of Dallas

Link2

Not to get all political, but it's something we should all care about because a healthy Dallas is critical to the future of a vibrant SMU.

There are some different groups out there trying to focus on the city of Dallas, so if you're so inclined to get involved, please do. No matter where you fall, vote on may 9th, these elections impact your daily life.

Get Involved

when the powers that be sit down at their meetings at DirecTV, AT&T Uverse, Dish, Comcast, TWC, etc., do you think they're talking about dallas proper? or the entire fu<king market? why are you bringing local politics into a discussion about cable?

[StallionsModelT]

Uhhh, downtown Dallas is actually growing at an unbelievable rate so.....yeah

https://www.bisnow.com/dallas-ft-worth/ ... gain-44049

[LA_Mustang]

Dallas is stagnating, region is on fire, but Dallas proper has been struggling for years losing population and jobs:

That improvements of downtown and DART are helping but It's no secret the biggest issue Dallas proper faces is DISD. It's the elephant in the room.

My original point is the size of the DFW TV market which really doesn't matter if people live in Dallas, Frisco, Southlake or Arlington.

[Dutch]

That improvements of downtown and DART are helping but It's no secret the biggest issue Dallas proper faces is DISD. It's the elephant in the room.

My original point is the size of the DFW TV market which really doesn't matter if people live in Dallas, Frisco, Southlake or Arlington.

yep, and the ever looming, er, "southern sector"

[StallionsModelT]

"By 2017, Dallas’ urban core should have more than 50,000 residents. That’s a critical mass needed to draw big retailers, which Big D is already beginning to see. Some retailers have some things on the drawing board from larger and diversified retailers to the smaller ones, he says. "They’re calling us now," he tells us. "Our competition is not among North Texas cities; it’s in Atlanta, Chicago and Denver." Across the Metroplex, there’s a rush of activity with something to fit every company’s needs. DDI’s two goals are to create that critical mass Downtown and to give people a reason to be there. "We don’t want to be a drive-through city; we want to be a destination," John says."

Doesn't sound like stagnation to me.