RE: Is the ACC doomed in 2036?
Sorry if this is a repeat, don't have time to read through the thread.
The ACC under paid. ESPN has money to pay properly. ESPN has more money for every conference.
The ACC is not likely doomed. Presently, ESPEN owns the SECN and the ACCN, a total of 30 schools/properties. Fox owns the BTN, less than 20. probably around 20 if they take a couple more west coast teams. Both the SEC and the ACC make ESPN money. It is bad business to get rid of profit streams. It is worse business to give the profit streams to a direct competitor. If the ACC collapses, the BTN is the primary beneficiary.
Sure, the B1G will want UNC, UVA and GATech, academically the best fits. But why bot grab the northeast since ESPN is stupid an giving up the northeast? Lock it down. Why not grab a few in the south east and compete with ESPN in their own territory? Sure the SEC can take a few schools, presumably FSU, VATech, NCState and someone else.
Under this "hot take" ESPN is going to give up a profit stream to a competitor, which makes zero business sense. Give up the entire northeast to the Fox, locking ESPN out of NYC and other major eastern markets. Allow the B1G to enter their southern territory to compete with their perceived "golden egg" the SEC. Thus the score is now ESPN with 20 schools and one conference generating money and Fox with on gigantic conference and about 30 schools.
Further, if the B1G wants ND, they have to take Stanford as one of the west coast teams. And they likely need 6-8 ACC teams to appease ND because ND wants to play several places along the east coast, not be stuck in a few. Lots of Catholics on the east coast, lost of cities. ND recruits actual Catholic kids as students (what a concept, recruiting real students not just athletes!) which means they need Pitt, SU, and BC, along with UNC, UVA, GATech, probably Miami and someone else. This assumes Navy is not included in the B1G.
In short, ESPN is a business and makes money. The Mickey Mouse Network makes money. Neither likes to lose money. Neither will just give it away, especially to a competitor without something big in return. Have fun with the speculators and talking heads, unless the money really works, no one is leaving.
And for the moron who thinks he figured out how the ACC will be folded by four teams, don't forget that ESPN is a party to the GOR contract. They have the rights to show each team's home games no matter what they do. It's not as easy as some people think to break the GOR. It cost UT and OU more than double for a one year exit. It will cost each ACC team more than double to break the GOR, the precedent is set. More than $1BB to leave is not happening especially if the gaining conference cannot show the games until 2037.
Talk is cheap, and facts don't get in the way. Especially on the internet where posters are anonymous and lack liability for their comments. However, in the real world, facts are important.
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