September 21, 2007
Boise State in the MWC? Don't count on it
Boise State president Bob Kustra was beating the conference expansion drums again last week, publicly re-confirming his hope that the Broncos can leave the WAC and join the Mountain West Conference.
Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret Morning News looks at Boise State and says not so fast my friends. After all, conference expansion is all about TV markets.
Conference expansion is driven by television. It's not fair � and I would argue that it's not right � but it's a fact.The SEC expanded to 12 teams and signed a separate TV contract with CBS. The Big Eight became the Big 12 so that it could add all those TV sets in Texas and demand a whole lot more money from various TV networks � which it did.
...
In terms of television, Boise has very little to bring to the table. It's the No. 119 TV market (measured by number of homes). It's only 29 percent the size of the Salt Lake TV market. Of the current nine teams in the MWC, only Wyoming has fewer TV households.
Ouch. I can't vouch for Pierce's research on TV markets, but... last time I checked... well, let's just say Boise is not in the top 20. Agreed?
The MWC is already bought & tied into a television agreement with CSTV through 2013 (aka the ".mtn"). Any deal before that 2013 expiration would either have to cut the new team out of the revenue completely as an "introductory period", or the nine Mountain West members would have to agree to cutting the revenues they are receiving so as to share with their new stable mate.
I wouldn't hold my breath, Boise State.
Comments:
posted on September 21, 2007 3:54 PM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue
said:
You guys do understand why that would never happen, right? Regardless of what it does for the comptitive landscape (and I'm giving you a LOT of latitude here, despite my own skepticism), there's absolutely zero upside for the Pac 10 financially.
Is ABC/ESPN going to pay more for the Pac 10 because Idaho is in the mix? No. The only upside is the championship game, but that bump is offset by now splitting the pie with a couple of teams that bring nothing to the table financially.
The Pac10 is better off as a 10 than with BSU and Idaho. Just saying.
gatorhippy
posted on September 21, 2007 4:14 PM — 209.16.115.5 — link — abuse? said:
Yeah, I know, Kev...
That was a little humor...
I mostly throw Boise and Idaho out just to keep the dual school rivalry thing going that exists in the PAC...
I seriously doubt that the PAC would ever expand...
But if it did, theu would most certainly add schools in regards to that tradition...
posted on September 21, 2007 4:38 PM — 150.176.192.1 — link — abuse? said:
Did we really start this again?
Utah and BYU should go to the PAC 10. The remnants of the MWC and WAC should then merge, with the exception of LA Tech to form a new 14 team conference with its own championship, say the MWAC.
LA Tech gets demoted to the Sun Belt, joined by Western Kentucky, and everyone is geographically where they belong, except TCU and UTEP.
posted on September 21, 2007 5:08 PM — 64.12.116.136 — link — abuse? said:
I did the math real quick, and if Boise and Idaho joined the PAC 10, it would contribute exactly $530.76 to the conference coffers in additional TV revenue.
I hope I'm not the only one who has to constantly look up to see who are members of these 'other' conferences. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Regan said:
posted on September 21, 2007 10:52 PM — 208.104.87.143 — link — abuse?
They should go after Notre Dame and Boston College.
In the conference expansion world, why not? :-)
Seriously though, if the Pac-10 really does start expanding, I would look for possibly Air Force, Utah, BYU, or maybe San Diego State.
I know little about the TV markets out there, so these could be way off base (feel free to correct me, I am kinda interested in the conference shuffle stuff).
With Air Force, a national following and the Colorado TV area is in play, and BYU has some tradition along with the Salt Lake City area.
Southern California and UCLA get LA, but I know there's a lot of TV's south of there, so San Diego State might be on the table there.
In any case, I thimk we'll be calling it the Pac-10 for a long while, though. Expansion isn't doing as much for the ACC as they had hoped just yet; and from what I know, the Pac-10 can be as resistant to change as the Big Ten.
Don't forget about Boston College, though :-)
Zac said:
posted on September 22, 2007 5:01 PM — 205.188.116.136 — link — abuse?
The Pac-10 doesn't believe in expansion; they don't believe in play-offs; they do get their NC's every so often. This season they could get another.
IF they did expand, Hawaii seems like a good idea. The ESPN Game-Day crew would certainly NOT object to tips out their. Most of their analysts and commentators would fight to the death to be able to make that trip. And, it's probably a better fit than where Hawaii is now.
The 12th team: That's the mystery. Fresno, San Diego, San Jose, would any of these be a good pick? Other than Boise, who else is there?
Lennie Collins
posted on September 22, 2007 5:36 PM — 68.93.134.47 — link — abuse? said:
Hey Zac...the Pacific-10 is going to expand. When, no one knows. The teams, no one knows. Fresno State has the desire you know "WE WILL PLAY ANYONE, ANYWHERE!". That tough guy attitude sure would give the conference a good rep. San Diego State is in a beautiful city and have great surroundings but the team looks and plays terrible. San Jose State? Stanford and California is right near that area so no need to expand there! Boise State maybe going downward and has that silly blue astroplay playing surface so I don't see the Pacific-10 knocking on their door. Hawaii, you said it yourself loud and clear. The name alone sends Beauty and Peace(Pacific means peace) in one's mind plus the team is moving upward. The Pacific -10 coaches doesn't want expansion BUT the commisioner does. There is revenue to be made from a Conference Championship. The stadiums are their (Quest Field, University of Phoenix Stadium, and the future home of the 49ers. They are waiting for the right time to annouce it but I am almost sure Boise State will not be joining! If Notre Dame joins the Big 11 and it gets a Conference Championship Game you know the Pacific-10 is going to jump on it, they would be the only BCS conference without it! But don't be surprise if BYU, Colorado, and or Utah gets invited to join.
College Pigskin Fan said:
posted on September 23, 2007 1:52 AM — 4.245.76.171 — link — abuse?
Lennie Collins,
Alot of wishful thinking, but all fluff, and no facts. Do some research.
Copy and paste the following link.
From Sept 16th, 2006.
“I would say that not only is expansion not on the back burner,” Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen said, “it’s not even on the stove.”
Lennie Collins
posted on September 23, 2007 2:08 AM — 68.93.134.47 — link — abuse? said:
Hey College Pigskin Fan...I don't know you and you for sure don't know me. So before you spread your feathers and stick out your chest like the NBC Peacock...I remember when the Pacific -10 commissioner stated 2 years before the BCS system went in to effect. He state that the Rose Bowl and the teams in the conference would not participate in it. Then when the Bowl season rolled around he change his mind. So the Pacific -10 will expand...when no one know except the commisioner. When there is money to be made believe me people change minds quick. Why you trying to step to me with arrogance and rough talk I don't know BUT I ain't the one!
Lennie Collins
posted on September 23, 2007 2:50 AM — 68.93.134.47 — link — abuse? said:
Hey College Pigskin Fan you were right in regards to the Pacific-10 commissioner not wanting expansion. The discussion came up the week before OU & USC played for the National Title. Remember when Auburn was left out and the arguement came up about the extra game(Conference Championship) should be given special account in deciding. If you read the link you provide it stated that the Pacific-10 was thinking about it in 1997. The link also stated that if the conditions were right the Pacific -10 would consider it. I also believe there is a webpage: www.firetomhansen.com because the fans of the Pacific-10 schools do not like the way he is governing over the conference. If the Pacific-10 expands or doesn't it would not bother me. I remember when the HEAD of the Rose Bowl committee stated that the Rose Bowl would not break tradition(Pac-10 Champs vs Big 11 Champs) for the BCS. My former brothers-in-laws also saw the interview. But two weeks later he gave another interview stating the Rose Bowl is willing to do what is right for college football. (You know that old saying...Money talks and beep walks). The point I'm getting at is if Norte Dame joins a conference there is going to be a dominoe effect. We can debate the issue all we want but the BIGWIGS are going to make the decisions. You got new stadiums in Arizona, Washington, and one coming soon in California. You even got 2 old large ones in the LA area that will make millions for the Pacific-10, FACT. That Commissioner is smart by saying that but there is talk behind close doors. I am a Sooners fan I did not want the Big 8 to expand but hey the Big 8 commissioner looked at dollar signs not breaking up good rival games! Hey the Sooners were going to move thier annual game against the longhorns until they were shown the money!
Mr. McAteer said:
posted on September 25, 2007 4:39 PM — 71.206.247.138 — link — abuse?
thats not the only conference thinking about expansion
i've heard that the Big 10(11) wants to add another member for its conference
the likely choice i think was Notre Shame but they are not going anywhere with that nice TV contract from NBC
so then i heard the commisioner wants to steal another team from the Big East
I heard it was either gonna be Rugters,Syracuse, Pitt, UofL, or WVU
c-dogg said:
posted on September 21, 2007 2:56 PM — 76.188.187.185 — link — abuse?Just join the Pac-10 so that you can duke it out with Stanford as the 'bottom feeder' of the conference.