(02-28-2013 09:05 AM)stever20 Wrote: 1. The seven non-FBS Big East schools have always wanted to exit for the 2013-14 season if they could get out in time and the TV deal -- with Fox -- was done. The problem is they can’t and don’t want to leave, according to a high-level source within the seven, until they have secured the other three schools to be a 10-team league. The seven are confident, though, that they can extract three schools (likely Butler, Xavier and one other) on short notice. The Atlantic 10 confirmed that it would cost each school $2 million to get out early, money that won’t be an issue for the seven and Fox to offset. The logistics of setting up a league, including soccer in August, are what could keep the seven in the Big East until the fall of 2014.
So one option would be for BU, XU and one other to pay exit fees and join. I've seen on the message boards that A-10 would be $2 million for short-term notice and $1 million with long-term notice. MVC would be $500k. Under this scenario, the exit fees would be as follows:
BU - $2 million
XU - $2 million
3rd team - $500k (Creighton) - $2 million (A-10)
4th team - $500k (Creighton) - $1 million (A-10)
5th team - $1 million (A-10)
Total - $6.5 million to $8 million
Assmuing Fox pays $30 million for 10 teams, the C7 get the BE name, the A-10 fee is smaller for longer-term exit, Creighton is getting an invite, ND is looking to leave the Aresco League early and the C7 are assisting new members with exit fees, could the C7 do the following in a cost-saving move for 1 year:
1) Invite Creighton for $500k
2) Invite one of XU/BU for $2 million
3) Invite ND for one year (let them make $1 million), with no entrance/exit fee. There have been rumblings about their options should the C7 leave after this year.
4) Invite the remaining 3 for the 2014-2015 season at a cost of $1 million each.
Under this scenario, the exit fees would be as follows:
CU - $500k
BU/XU - $2 million
3rd team - $1 million
4th team - $1 million
5th team - $1 million
Total Impact = $5.5 million cost + $2 million additional conference revenue for ND's partial revenue take ($3 million per school vs $1 million for ND) for a net cost of $3.5 million. Generates a $3 million - $4.5 million savings in a rush year.
ND for 1 year is not the same as UC or UConn because everyone knows ND is going to the ACC while UC/UConn would be looking to leave. It also only takes 1 from the A-10 with short notice, which makes the presidents feel more responsible in realignment. Then the conference is a full go in 2014.