Potential Big East name change part of TV negotiations

[MtAiryGoldenEagle]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/jeremy-fowler/21766955/potential-big-east-name-change-part-of-tv-negotiations

[MUMountin]

CBS is blocked for me at work--can anyone summarize the salient points?

[T-Bone]

A new television deal with ESPN, despite the low payout, allows the Big East to transition from a tumultuous 15 months.

Will a name change complete the makeover?

The Big East namesake was part of the television negotiations with NBC, according to a source -- a potential provision of roughly $2 million for the network to market a new name should the league sell the Big East handle to the departing Catholic 7.

The NBC Sports Network offered a reported $20-23 million per year for the Big East's media rights, but ESPN had the exclusive rights to match, which it did last week. It's uncertain whether ESPN's deal has the same provision.

Big East officials did not provide clarification on the contractual language upon request. CBSSports.com has reached out to an ESPN spokesman on the matter.

In December, a Big East attorney sent the Catholic 7 -- composed of DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's and Villanova – a document titled "Mutual Commitment Agreement – Initial Separation Issues List" asking the group whether it wishes to retain the name.

The basketball schools might have more attachment to it because of their history in the league. If the name is worth, say, $8-10 million, that's good money for a football league that resembles the old Conference USA after several waves of conference realignment.

No football team in the 10-team Big East lineup for 2014 has held membership for more than nine years.

More than half this new-look league has yet to make its Big East football debut.

The conference's anchors, UConn and Cincinnati, would prefer to join the ACC. The league will add Navy in 2014 and could include Tulsa in the coming months.

[downtown85]

If I could summarize:  The C7 can get the Big East name if they are willing to pay for it.  The final price is up for negotiations.

[Tugg Speedman]

If I could summarize:  The C7 can get the Big East name if they are willing to pay for it.  The final price is up for negotiations.

That has always been the case ... "we know what you are, we are just negotiating the price."

[Knight Commission]

My understanding is that the C7 can get the name (and records) by paying a price, so that it can avoid a lengthy legal process. Upon dissolution of the league all members share evenly in the assets of the league.  There is no way to distribute intangibles evenly, and there is no way to liquidate the intangibles. A settlement process avoids the ambiguity. My guess is the price for the name and records, trademarks, will be minimal. 

[TJ]

My understanding is that the C7 can get the name (and records) by paying a price, so that it can avoid a lengthy legal process. Upon dissolution of the league all members share evenly in the assets of the league.  There is no way to distribute intangibles evenly, and there is no way to liquidate the intangibles. A settlement process avoids the ambiguity. My guess is the price for the name and records, trademarks, will be minimal. 

The league is not being dissolved though.

[Benny B]

The league is not being dissolved though.

Publically, no.  Effectively, yes.