Conference Realignment: Boon or Boondoggle? Dallas Branch, Jr., West Virginia University Brian Crow, Slippery Rock University 2009 Scholarly Conference.

Conference Realignment: Boon or Boondoggle?

Dallas Branch, Jr., West Virginia UniversityBrian Crow, Slippery Rock University

2009 Scholarly Conference on College Sport

April 17, 2009

Conference Realignment Benefits

• Enhanced conference revenues• Enhanced media “footprints”• Long-term conference “health”• Enhanced brand image• Balanced power base of conference• Create new rivalries• New stadiums• Intangibles

Conference Realignment Costs

• Flat or declining revenues• Travel cost increases• Unbalanced schedules with traditional rivals• Revenues shared with more schools• Conference cultural shifts• Media rights negotiations• 26 schools with new conference affiliations

and brand identity

• No. of members (prealignment) 12 (9)• 2007 total distribution to members (% change

from 2004) $138 million (+40%)• Overall conference revenue (% change) $160

million (+45%)• Overall conference expense (% change) $154

million (+41%)• +3 new members (Virginia Tech and Miami

’04, Boston College ’05

• No. of members (prealignment) 16 (15)• 2007 total distribution to members (% change

from 2004) $66 million (-1.2%)• Overall conference revenue (% change) $78

million (+5%)• Overall conference expense (% change) $78

million (+5%)• +3 new full members (Cincinnati, Louisville, South

Florida) +2 non-football members (DePaul and Marquette)

• No. of members (prealignment) 12 (15)• 2007 total distribution to members (% change

from 2004) $29 million (+2%)• Overall conference revenue (% change) $40

million (+22%)• Overall conference expense (% change) $40

million (+19%)• 9 depart +6 (Central Florida, Marshall, Rice,

Southern Methodist, Tulsa, and UTEP)

• No. of members (prealignment) 14 (12)• 2007 total distribution to members (% change

from 2004) $3 million (+3%)• Overall conference revenue (% change) $8 million

(-47%)• Overall conference expense (% change) $9 million

(+2%)• +2 (UNC-Charlotte and St. Louis)• 2007 average member revenue $202K (-4%); + 2

members (-75%)

All s on TV

• SEC-$3+ billion basketball and football contract with ESPN/ABC (2008)– $205 million/yr. for 15 years

• ACC in TV contract negotiations – Current contract 7 yrs. for $258 million--$37

million per season (football only), +60% over previous contract

All s on TV

• ACC hired IMG Sports Media’s Barry Frank to handle media rights negotiations. Handled BCS negotiations in 2008 (+50% increase over previous contract).

• Thursday night games—6 presently

• Basketball (Raycom Sports 25 year association with ACC) and football pooled or separate? “Syndication is the key. Do we want 15 year deal? Will it still look as good in 10 years?” (Shane Lyons, Associate Commissioner, ACC)

Winners and Losers?

• Winners– ACC?– Big East?– Conference USA?– A10?– WAC?– Mountain West?– MAC?

Thank you