(03-05-2012 08:04 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(03-05-2012 01:48 AM)tj_2009 Wrote:  ...the other conferences: B1G, Pac-12, SEC and Big XII all make a lot more $$$ than the ACC from TV. This is only going to get larger over the next few years due to that terrible contract the ACC is in (I think 2022 is when the ACC contract is up) which means that the ACC will be vulnerable to being raided by any of the other conferences...

I'm not picking on anyone, I've seen this kind of post over & over about how the bad ESPN contract is going to bring down the ACC (or some such). The problem with this logic is it assumes ESPN would rather take ACC teams which are under contract to them and drive them away to another conference that may not be under contract (or at least, not as good for ESPN) all for a short-term gain. I don't think ESPN has worked that way in the past and I don't see why they would start now. More likely they will renegotiate (like they did with the Big-12 when it looked like it was going to fold).

Plus, keep in mind that the ACC/ESPN contract has an "adjust for inflation" clause which can be settled by binding arbitration. ESPN would rather give the ACC a raise than to let an arbitrator determine how much they'd have to pay, IMO.

Good point about ESPN. I forgot that they have contracts with other conferences too. It is in their best interest to not let a conference implode or get weakened too much that their investment is diminished.
On the other hand, they probably do not want to pay out extra money unless it is absolutely necessary.
They did step up to save the Big XII (of course it was in their own self interest).