(05-03-2016 11:02 PM)zfred12 Wrote: Anyone notice the research firm the big12 hired to consult on expansion? Navigate research. Anyone know who else hired navigate to consult for them a year or two ago? UCF. Straight from navigate's website on why conferences expand: http://www.navigateresearch.com/navigate...ces-expand
Which schools meet all those qualifications the best? Notice the order in which they rank the qualifications
from the site:
1. University Size - More students equal more dollars, more alumni, and an overall larger fan base. Schools with large student populations are naturally attractive because they produce more alumni, which then become fans and ultimately consumers.
2. APR and Academic Success Measures - Conferences are still set in place to help manage institutions of higher learning, and keeping successful academics is certainly a part of that mission. Schools that can enhance the overall academic profile of a conference have an advantage.
3. Television DMA Size - This is a major factor. Many contend it was the driving force behind Rutgers or Maryland to the Big 10. Just because a school may not have a strong following in a particular city does not mean that its location cannot be lucrative to a conference. It is more about the market’s reach and the potential subscription fees that can be charged.
4. Alumni Presence - Conferences want to see an active alumni base, both in athletics and the university. Alumni are key for season tickets, donations, and more.
5. Recruiting - Many conferences sees schools as a favorable place to expand because of recruiting access. Think about USF going to the BIG EAST over a decade ago. That now seems to purely have been a recruiting play with the BIG EAST attempting to gain a footprint in Florida, a high school football recruiting stronghold.