BE Media Contract

“@ECoastBias: Big East 's media deal and conference realignment: estimated facts and figures http://t.co/6LSIlNI6”

The seven Big East Catholic, non-FBS schools met with Big East commissioner Mike Aresco Sunday to express their concerns for the direction of the conference, multiple Big East sources confirmed to ESPN.com Monday.

Sources said the New York meeting was the first among the seven schools (Marquette, DePaul, St. John's, Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall and Villanova) and could ultimately lead to them splitting from the Big East's football members.

Sources said the seven schools discussed a number of options but most importantly wanted to have "lots of dialogue to better understand the best course of action for the future.'' Another source said no decision was made on what future action to take.

"It's too early to say on that,'' said a source.

At issue is whether the Big East basketball-only schools have the power to dissolve the league and retain all the assets and brand name. A source with knowledge of the situation said until July 1 the seven have the majority votes and the necessary three-fourths to have controlling power. There are only three remaining football members -- Connecticut, Cincinnati and South Florida.

But a number of sources couldn't confirm if Temple, which is a football only member this season, has a controlling vote. One Big East source said Temple has a vote on football issues, but wasn't sure if the Owls could use that vote for membership. If the Owls could, then Temple would likely be the fourth vote preventing any dissolving of the league.

The seven schools are concerned about the additions of full members Memphis, Temple, Tulane, Central Florida, SMU and Houston and football only member East Carolina over the next two years to replace departing Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, Rutgers and Notre Dame.

"The basketball schools are not thrilled with Tulane and what they will do to the league's RPI," said a league source from a football-playing member. "They were not all that excited with that addition."

The source added that "the basketball schools would have fallen off the ledge if we would have added East Carolina as a full member and what that would have done to the basketball league."

At Sunday's meeting, which was first reported by Ajerseyguy.com, the seven basketball-only schools wanted to secure the best possible television deal. Aresco was there to soothe any concerns about the prospects of a new deal.

Last week, CBSSports.com reported the Big East's media rights deal is expected to bring between $60 million and $80 million, which would actually provide the basketball schools less revenue than its current deal. Based on those figures, the basketball schools would earn only $1.06 million (based on the $60 million estimate) or $1.41 million (based on the $80 million estimate). They currently annually receive $1.5 million from the league's media rights deal.

The problem for the Catholic seven would be if they were to venture off without taking the assets and brand name then they would forfeit all the NCAA tournament revenue from the conference and would be left without any start-up to form a new conference. Then, of course, the seven schools would have to attempt to lure Atlantic-10 members Xavier, Dayton, Saint Louis, Butler and possibly Creighton, the latter out of the Missouri Valley, to form a city league that would stretch from St. Louis to Chicago to Milwaukee to Indianapolis to Cincinnati to Dayton to Providence to New York-New Jersey to Philadelphia to Washington D.C.

Of course, the A-10 could try to poach the departing schools before it would suffer a grab by this possible new conglomerate.

Sources said the schools are banking on luring more lucrative television dollars with these media markets then continue to see the league watered down.

A basketball split, which has been rumored for years, would send shockwaves throughout the rest of the potential Big East members, especially football-only members like Boise State and San Diego State, which are scheduled to leave the Mountain West for an expected, but now uncertain, bigger media rights payday in the Big East. Boise State and San Diego State will have to put their non-football sports in the Big West.

Syracuse and Pitt are leaving the Big East for the ACC in 2013. Notre Dame is attempting to get out of the conference early, as well, but may have to wait until 2014. Louisville is expected to join the ACC in 2014 and Rutgers to join the Big Ten in 2014.

Cincinnati and Connecticut publicly attempted to get into the ACC but Louisville was chosen over those two schools last month.

"The league was not happy the way Cincinnati and UConn reacted to the news they were not selected by the ACC," a Big East source said.

The seven Catholic schools have sat idle the past year, assuming the defections wouldn't crush the league, but that was before the most recent departures of Louisville and Rutgers.

"I still think it will take a lot for them to split away," a league source said.

Meanwhile, a source with knowledge of the Big East's deal with Madison Square Garden told ESPN.com that MSG is "covered" and can get out of the contract if the league continues to change its membership.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8735330/big-east-direction-concerns-conference-catholic-schools-sources-say



Good to see the 7 non FBS school actually meeting. I really hope they dissolved this pathetic conference, and we form a new one with basketball schools only.

Catholic 7 need to stick together.  We'll make it through this and build back up stronger than ever.

Well with the numbers being discussed now for a media contract, it might actually be viable to get perhaps more money for basketball only schools although the overall dollar amount may be less.

A very good basketball conference can be assembled with 12-16 schools, and hopefully keep the big east name.

Very glad to see if at least some of the 7 schools are pissed.

If we do stay with the current format, at least add good basketball schools to the conference to please the basketball only schools we have.

 

Well with the numbers being discussed now for a media contract, it might actually be viable to get perhaps more money for basketball only schools although the overall dollar amount may be less.

A very good basketball conference can be assembled with 12-16 schools, and hopefully keep the big east name.

Very glad to see if at least some of the 7 schools are pissed.

If we do stay with the current format, at least add good basketball schools to the conference to please the basketball only schools we have.

 

Pretty sure the bball schools were just waiting to see what kind of numbers Aresco could come up with for a new TV deal.  With schools bolting every week, and lack of commitment and active petitioning by Uconn and Cincy, that ship has sailed. 

The 7 schools MUST keep the Big East name.  Then invite the better members of the A-10 and re-work a better contract for an all-sports league.  SJU will still have the cache' of the Garden to draw top notch OOC opponents anyway. 

Problem is though, that Temple became a full voting member in July 2012 apparently.  Not sure what to be done about it.  I'm not sure how voting power is distributed at this point.  Basketball schools need voting power.  If anything they should reject the additions of Tulane and ECU at this point.  force the hand of the football schools. 

Problem is though, that Temple became a full voting member in July 2012 apparently.  Not sure what to be done about it.  I'm not sure how voting power is distributed at this point.  Basketball schools need voting power.  If anything they should reject the additions of Tulane and ECU at this point.  force the hand of the football schools. 

Has it been confirmed they are full voting member or just on football matters.  That was the question.

Quote from: MCNPA on December 11, 2012, 10:23:34 AM

Problem is though, that Temple became a full voting member in July 2012 apparently.  Not sure what to be done about it.  I'm not sure how voting power is distributed at this point.  Basketball schools need voting power.  If anything they should reject the additions of Tulane and ECU at this point.  force the hand of the football schools. 

Has it been confirmed they are full voting member or just on football matters.  That was the question.

Basketball schools are disputing that they are a full member

Quote from: Moose on December 11, 2012, 10:32:01 AM

Quote from: MCNPA on December 11, 2012, 10:23:34 AM

Problem is though, that Temple became a full voting member in July 2012 apparently.  Not sure what to be done about it.  I'm not sure how voting power is distributed at this point.  Basketball schools need voting power.  If anything they should reject the additions of Tulane and ECU at this point.  force the hand of the football schools. 

Has it been confirmed they are full voting member or just on football matters.  That was the question.

Basketball schools are disputing that they are a full member

If there is truly a dispute as to Temple's voting rights, I hope the Catholic 7 get organized really fast and get that issue resolved, whether by seeking a declaratory judgment or reaching an agreement, as their 7 votes will become diluted come this summer.

They have the power right now.

Question is: Is now the time to strike?

Quote from: MCNPA on December 11, 2012, 10:23:34 AM

Problem is though, that Temple became a full voting member in July 2012 apparently.  Not sure what to be done about it.  I'm not sure how voting power is distributed at this point.  Basketball schools need voting power.  If anything they should reject the additions of Tulane and ECU at this point.  force the hand of the football schools. 

Has it been confirmed they are full voting member or just on football matters.  That was the question.

Don't know but their AD Bradshaw is quoting the contract and says it states they became a full voting member July 12. 

They have the power right now.

Question is: Is now the time to strike?

It's only the right time if they are organized and have a plan.  That said, the saying "if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem" becomes readily apparent in this case.  This thing isn't likely getting better.  I'm most worried about having the 7 bball schools lose power and be booted from the conversation all together.

Schools like Uconn and Cincy as well as the rest of the football schools are part of the problem for the bball schools.  I think we are past the point of it working itself out.  We will likely lose Uconn and Cincy anyway.  If we are idle for too long we will lose the Big East name and the history associated with it.  I'd hate to see that.

Atlantic 10 looking to add the 7 Big East hoops schools

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8736716/atlantic-10-open-adding-big-east-basketball-schools-creating-21-team-conference-source

As long as we get to retain the BE name and conference tournament at the Garden.

Atlantic 10 looking to add the 7 Big East hoops schools

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8736716/atlantic-10-open-adding-big-east-basketball-schools-creating-21-team-conference-source

I really hope the Catholic 7 were not asleep at the switch when Temple's voting rights were established as part of its entry into the BE so as to allow Temple the ability to block the 7 schools from having the ability to dissolve the current conference and reform with the other non-FBS bb programs.  It could be the key to a successful transition for SJU and the other 6 looking to establish a basketball superconference.  Maybe it's with the benefit of hindsight, but I find it shocking that Temple's voting rights at this juncture are not clear-cut.

Atlantic 10 looking to add the 7 Big East hoops schools

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8736716/atlantic-10-open-adding-big-east-basketball-schools-creating-21-team-conference-source

Turrible idea.

A10 dont wag the tail. BE7 do. 

A10 has way too many lousy bottom feeders like LaSalle, Fordham, Duquesne, St. Bonnies (in spite of last years) which are MAAC level programs at best in terms of facilities and success on the court.

Lionel Simmons ain't walkin thru that door.

Quote from: kingofk1ngs on December 11, 2012, 02:06:35 PM

Atlantic 10 looking to add the 7 Big East hoops schools

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8736716/atlantic-10-open-adding-big-east-basketball-schools-creating-21-team-conference-source

Turrible idea.

A10 dont wag the tail. BE7 do. 

A10 has way too many lousy bottom feeders like LaSalle, Fordham, Duquesne, St. Bonnies (in spite of last years) which are MAAC level programs at best in terms of facilities and success on the court.

Lionel Simmons ain't walkin thru that door.

Agree.  I don't think it will happen that way.  Big East name and teams have the pull here.  A-10 would be entirely too big at 21 teams.  Come time to share NCAA revenues, you're talking about maybe 5 teams splitting between 21 schools.  If BIg 7 split, there will have to be either a new conference or merger of bball schools under the Big East name.

Need to be selective with schools like Xavier, Dayton, Creighton, St. Louis, Bulter and maybe one or two more ala Richmond, VCU.  All must have good bball programs with big following.  Schools like Creighton, Dayton and others draw over 15k to games and have solid bball following. 

Just joining the A-10 "as is" is a recipe for mediocrity.  Their contract is not real good and likelihood could at least be doubled per school with the Big East 7.  Again, really think keeping the Big East name is important, but might be hard to iron out. 

If the football schools won't make it easy, then first order of business is to nix Tulane and ECU.  Force the football side to struggle to add teams and they'll want to leave and form their own league under another conference moniker.

Quote from: Choz4Life on December 11, 2012, 03:06:00 PM

Quote from: kingofk1ngs on December 11, 2012, 02:06:35 PM

Atlantic 10 looking to add the 7 Big East hoops schools

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8736716/atlantic-10-open-adding-big-east-basketball-schools-creating-21-team-conference-source

Turrible idea.

A10 dont wag the tail. BE7 do. 

A10 has way too many lousy bottom feeders like LaSalle, Fordham, Duquesne, St. Bonnies (in spite of last years) which are MAAC level programs at best in terms of facilities and success on the court.

Lionel Simmons ain't walkin thru that door.

Agree.  I don't think it will happen that way.  Big East name and teams have the pull here.  A-10 would be entirely too big at 21 teams.  Come time to share NCAA revenues, you're talking about maybe 5 teams splitting between 21 schools.  If BIg 7 split, there will have to be either a new conference or merger of bball schools under the Big East name.

Need to be selective with schools like Xavier, Dayton, Creighton, St. Louis, Bulter and maybe one or two more ala Richmond, VCU.  All must have good bball programs with big following.  Schools like Creighton, Dayton and others draw over 15k to games and have solid bball following. 

Just joining the A-10 "as is" is a recipe for mediocrity.  Their contract is not real good and likelihood could at least be doubled per school with the Big East 7.  Again, really think keeping the Big East name is important, but might be hard to iron out. 

If the football schools won't make it easy, then first order of business is to nix Tulane and ECU.  Force the football side to struggle to add teams and they'll want to leave and form their own league under another conference moniker.

Completely agree with what you've said.   Good post.
The Big East additions change that league entirely.   It becomes our (the BE7's) league.   And, hopefully retains the name of the BE. 

When the BE started it was seven schools and then added teams over the years--some positive and some negative.  Maybe this is the way to go again.  You need home and home to enhance/build rivalries.  Not too large a league to make it difficult to play national games and some local rivals.  Mega conferences will no longer have that.  Then be selective about who comes on board because you want the $$$ sport to be top notch and you also need a conference for all the other sports.