NY Times: Fox would up TV deal to $600 million for 12 teams

[muwarrior69]

The new Big East will join a Fox Sports 1 college roster that features the Big 12, the Pacific-12 and Conference USA. Fox also owns 49 percent of the Big Ten Network, carries the Big Ten football championship game and alternates the Pac-12 football title game with ESPN.

Big 12, PAC12, 49%share of BTN, now Big East. PAC12/Big East Challenge anyone?

[GGGG]

According to USA Today, the new BE is "an authentic and elite basketball league."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/bigeast/2013/03/11/big-east-bids-farewell-to-tradition-in-last-conference-tournament/1977077/

In other words, not "mid-major."

[Eldon]

And then there's this

[Warriors10]

And then there's this

Because the WCC is a mid-major conference, that's why Gonzaga wants out.

[GGGG]

Because the WCC is a mid-major conference, that's why Gonzaga wants out.

If I'm the President of Gonzaga, I don't join the Big East.  I'm not shipping my student-athletes at least 1,500 miles away for every conference road game for the sake of a couple million $$. 

Not to mention my largely west coast alumni base would likely not get to see games that start at a reasonable time on television because they would still be at work, and not get to see them in person when we visit their metropolitan area once or twice a year.

It simply doesn't make sense.

[79Warrior]

Dont be surprised if Gonzaga joins the Big East in M and W basketball only.

Explain why they would put their players at a disadvantage every week with coast to coast road trips? Yes, I would be very suprised if they came in. You are dreaming.

[Avenue Commons]

Look at it this way: The distance between traveling from Spokane to Providence is only a couple hundred miles less than flying to Providence from DUBLIN, IRELAND!

In other words, the travel commitment for a weeknight game is roughly the equivalent of a transatlantic flight. It will not happen.

I've said it before, the only way it happens is if Gonzaga relocates to University of Detroit's campus.

[GGGG]

And let's say the situations were reversed.  Let's say that the WCC was the caliber of the new BE, and the BE was the caliber of the current WCC.  And Marquette was the current #1 team in the country.

Would you want Marquette joining the WCC?  Where every road game is 4,000 mile round trip and a 9 or 10:00 start time?  Just for the sake of a couple million?

[Tums Festival]

I think somehow the eastern schools get Richmond or VCU in, possibly over Dayton.

[Groin_pull]

I think somehow the eastern schools get Richmond or VCU in, possibly over Dayton.

Good.

[GGGG]

I think somehow the eastern schools get Richmond or VCU in, possibly over Dayton.

I think the issue is Dayton v. St. Louis for the last spot.

[Pakuni]

I think the issue is Dayton v. St. Louis for the last spot.

If that's really what it comes down to, then it ought to be a pretty easy decision.
St. Louis is the better program in the bigger market without any significant overlap from a fellow conference member.
Plus, another team in the central time zone opens up another team/host for weekday doubleheaders, i.e. 7 p.m. Eastern early game followed by 9 p.m. game in Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis or Omaha.

[Tums Festival]

I think the issue is Dayton v. St. Louis for the last spot.

+1

[Brewtown Andy]

Look at it this way: The distance between traveling from Spokane to Providence is only a couple hundred miles less than flying to Providence from DUBLIN, IRELAND!

In other words, the travel commitment for a weeknight game is roughly the equivalent of a transatlantic flight. It will not happen.

I've said it before, the only way it happens is if Gonzaga relocates to University of Detroit's campus.

Just look at how much WVU is now complaining about the constant trips to Texas. And that's only half of that trip.

[🏀]

I think the issue is Dayton v. St. Louis for the last spot.

Completely agree.

I believe Richmond is in.

[Avenue Commons]

I think somehow the eastern schools get Richmond or VCU in, possibly over Dayton.

VCU is a non-starter because of the FOIA issue. The conference will want all private schools in order to keep league finances confidential. This appears to be a legitimate concern as I understand it.

If a Richmond-based school is added, it will almost certainly be Richmond.

But, there is a reason we keep hearing SLU and Dayton. If you were starting a closely held, private business, and candidates were mostly equal, would you hire your friends or strangers?

[NavinRJohnson]

You cannot be a major conference without football. There can be major basketball teams in a mid-major conference, but the conference is mid-major.

OMG

[Tums Festival]

VCU is a non-starter because of the FOIA issue. The conference will want all private schools in order to keep league finances confidential. This appears to be a legitimate concern as I understand it.

If a Richmond-based school is added, it will almost certainly be Richmond.

But, there is a reason we keep hearing SLU and Dayton. If you were starting a closely held, private business, and candidates were mostly equal, would you hire your friends or strangers?

If the eastern schools are having some heartburn over Creighton being the 10th team, as has been reported, I don't see how both SLU and Dayton both get in. At some point an additional eastern school will have to be in the mix.

[mu35577]

Big 12, PAC12, 49%share of BTN, now Big East. PAC12/Big East Challenge anyone?

I would love a Pac12/ Big East Challenge in the future! Here's to a nice November trip to LA

[Aughnanure]

You cannot be a major conference without football. There can be major basketball teams in a mid-major conference, but the conference is mid-major.

Where the hell did you come up with this crap definition?

So we all have to play an ridiculously expensive sport than none of us except a handful of media-obsessed schools can win? Sounds legit.

[Avenue Commons]

If the eastern schools are having some heartburn over Creighton being the 10th team, as has been reported, I don't see how both SLU and Dayton both get in. At some point an additional eastern school will have to be in the mix.

The eastern schools have a much greater allegiance to their fellow Catholic schools than they have concerns about geography. Just sayin'

[Norm]

VCU is a non-starter because of the FOIA issue. The conference will want all private schools in order to keep league finances confidential. This appears to be a legitimate concern as I understand it.

If a Richmond-based school is added, it will almost certainly be Richmond.

But, there is a reason we keep hearing SLU and Dayton. If you were starting a closely held, private business, and candidates were mostly equal, would you hire your friends or strangers?

I thought this was hashed out on these threads and that the FOIA issue is not as big a deal as originally thought. I don't have the link to the thread, but I thought someone had pointed out that this really wouldn't preclude VCU or any other public university from joining the league.

[WarriorInNYC]

I thought this was hashed out on these threads and that the FOIA issue is not as big a deal as originally thought. I don't have the link to the thread, but I thought someone had pointed out that this really wouldn't preclude VCU or any other public university from joining the league.

This is the impression I was under as well.  Thought this was only relevant to emails to/from VCU and did not subject the whole conference to the FOIA.

[🏀]

This is the impression I was under as well.  Thought this was only relevant to emails to/from VCU and did not subject the whole conference to the FOIA.

I thought this was hashed out on these threads and that the FOIA issue is not as big a deal as originally thought. I don't have the link to the thread, but I thought someone had pointed out that this really wouldn't preclude VCU or any other public university from joining the league.

Yes, it is only correspondence with VCU. Emails, mail, etc... anything sent to VCU for their review, their signature/approval or for their info can be requested via FOIA. So unless VCU wants to be completely in the dark in regards to anything conference related ($$$, new members, tournament location, etc), they won't be invited.

[keefe]

Seriously in 20 years won't the travel times be cut in a third?

Only if the FAA eases the restrictions on supersonic flight. Commercial air travel is now maxed out on speed.