(02-15-2021 08:30 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:07 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 05:49 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 05:31 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 04:33 PM)JRsec Wrote:  Both GORs expire within a few months of each other so I'm not sure dissolution is even needed. But the point is it would be a conference to rival the SEC and Big 10 and would be an alliance of peers rather than 2 Lords and 8 serfs for one and a collection of historic names headed nowhere for the other. Each would lend the other credibility.

A Pacific Southwest Conference of...
Pacific - USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Washington and Oregon
Southwest - Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Ok State, Kansas and ? (TCU/ASU/AZ)
gets you BIG and SEC level media money on a per team basis.

If you put all those 14 teams in a conference, the media money (per team) would be a little lower than the BIG and SEC. Nevertheless, the combined football quality of a 14 team Pac SW combination would IMO be better than the BIG.

ND would not fit in either grouping.

The PAC portion works but there is no need for OSU or TCU as UT and OU deliver all of that market, Tech makes a bridge to the West. Colorado, Kansas, and Iowa State would provide the widest market reach with the most loyal fan bases (Kansas football aside) and the best academics. Arizona works with the PAC division but Utah also provides a bridge and a loyal fan base and works in the Southwest.

Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. When discussing conference alignment of elite programs, you need to understand the essential rival that must remain protected. Otherwise, it’s not worth the effort to begin the discussion. Oklahoma needs to be supportive of a merger...then finances and football strength can be discussed. Okie State may not deliver an additional market, but its value is underrated.

TCU is a more complex issue. They are not necessarily essential, but Texas needs to ensure that the new conference acts in a football first manner. Arizona is clearly not football-first (but they would be preferred by the Cali block). Yet the Cali block can’t call the shots for the SW group. ASU is a football-first school with more value, but they would need to mesh with the SW contingent.

Ask the Sooners how they feel about OSU being a must. Their rivals were Texas and Nebraska. Your probably fairly young, unless you graduated in '84 which means you are pushing 60, but 20 years ago OSU was playing games at Troy. Bedlam may be more one sided than Kentucky Tennessee or Tennessee Vanderbilt, both notoriously lopsided so called rivals. But Tennessee's real rival is Alabama and their new one is Florida. The Pokes just aren't that essential, especially if it costs OU. As long as they know that OSU has a landing spot they'll be fine, and that includes the AAC.

The Sooners will have options (probably from both the SEC and BIG) in the next round of realignment. If the Sooners can continue their in-conference rivalry with the Longhorns while also taking care of the Pokes...then the Pacific Southwest Conference option would be their preferred future. Money and stability are added to their existing strong schedule (Horns and Pokes).

I never suggested that the Pokes were the Sooners’ competitive rivals, but playing Bedlam annually is a fundraising bonanza. The Sooners 80% win percentage over the Pokes is comparable to the Tide’s 82% win percentage over the Bulldogs (and both contests have been played over 100 times)...hence why I said that Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. For schools like Oklahoma (and Alabama), there is no need to eliminate one-sided money making traditions.

(02-15-2021 08:07 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama.

Wait, when did Auburn change its name?

(02-15-2021 10:29 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:30 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:07 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 05:49 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 05:31 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  A Pacific Southwest Conference of...
Pacific - USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, Washington and Oregon
Southwest - Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Ok State, Kansas and ? (TCU/ASU/AZ)
gets you BIG and SEC level media money on a per team basis.

If you put all those 14 teams in a conference, the media money (per team) would be a little lower than the BIG and SEC. Nevertheless, the combined football quality of a 14 team Pac SW combination would IMO be better than the BIG.

ND would not fit in either grouping.

The PAC portion works but there is no need for OSU or TCU as UT and OU deliver all of that market, Tech makes a bridge to the West. Colorado, Kansas, and Iowa State would provide the widest market reach with the most loyal fan bases (Kansas football aside) and the best academics. Arizona works with the PAC division but Utah also provides a bridge and a loyal fan base and works in the Southwest.

Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. When discussing conference alignment of elite programs, you need to understand the essential rival that must remain protected. Otherwise, it’s not worth the effort to begin the discussion. Oklahoma needs to be supportive of a merger...then finances and football strength can be discussed. Okie State may not deliver an additional market, but its value is underrated.

TCU is a more complex issue. They are not necessarily essential, but Texas needs to ensure that the new conference acts in a football first manner. Arizona is clearly not football-first (but they would be preferred by the Cali block). Yet the Cali block can’t call the shots for the SW group. ASU is a football-first school with more value, but they would need to mesh with the SW contingent.

Ask the Sooners how they feel about OSU being a must. Their rivals were Texas and Nebraska. Your probably fairly young, unless you graduated in '84 which means you are pushing 60, but 20 years ago OSU was playing games at Troy. Bedlam may be more one sided than Kentucky Tennessee or Tennessee Vanderbilt, both notoriously lopsided so called rivals. But Tennessee's real rival is Alabama and their new one is Florida. The Pokes just aren't that essential, especially if it costs OU. As long as they know that OSU has a landing spot they'll be fine, and that includes the AAC.

The Sooners will have options (probably from both the SEC and BIG) in the next round of realignment. If the Sooners can continue their in-conference rivalry with the Longhorns while also taking care of the Pokes...then the Pacific Southwest Conference option would be their preferred future. Money and stability are added to their existing strong schedule (Horns and Pokes).

I never suggested that the Pokes were the Sooners’ rivals, but playing Bedlam annually is a fundraising bonanza. The Sooners 80% win percentage over the Pokes is comparable to the Tide’s 82% win percentage over the Bulldogs (and both contests have been played over 100 times)...hence why I said that Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. For schools like Oklahoma, there is no need to eliminate money making traditions.

The Mississippi State rivalry with Alabama is played because they are 90 miles apart and the State players party on the strip in Tuscaloosa on the weekends not involving football season. State at least puts up a tussle these days. Bedlam isn't a Donor bonanza for the Sooners. It's a Donor bonanza for the Pokes. This is like saying Tech tickets are a big deal for Georgia. Georgia's ticket donation bonanza is for the Auburn away game and the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville vs the Gators. And they get priority donations for away games with Tennessee and South Carolina. At one time the Georgia / Georgia Tech game was heated, but it's been decades since it was consistently so. Auburn / Georgia Tech was once a major rivalry and the oldest in the Southeast. Roughly 100 miles separate the two. But that was lost in 1978.

I'd suggest you attend some Deep South games. There is much you need to experience before pontificating based on statistics.

The Arizona market is too populous to leave behind. ASU, being in the Phoenix area, would probably be the seventh PAC divisional foe.

UW, UO, Cal, Stanford, UCLA, USC, ASU

ISU, KU, OU, NU, UT, TT, CU


What the Big Ten would do at that point would be interesting. They may try to keep going at 13 but there will be many who would want to go back to 14. The problem would be the list of replacements for the time being are unsatisfying to the membership. Although some in the SEC may try to offer up Vanderbilt, quietly.

(No, I wasn't serious on that last point. )

(02-15-2021 10:51 PM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  The Arizona market is too populous to leave behind. ASU, being in the Phoenix area, would probably be the seventh PAC divisional foe.

UW, UO, Cal, Stanford, UCLA, USC, ASU

ISU, KU, OU, NU, UT, TT, CU


What the Big Ten would do at that point would be interesting. They may try to keep going at 13 but there will be many who would want to go back to 14. The problem would be the list of replacements for the time being are unsatisfying to the membership. Although some in the SEC may try to offer up Vanderbilt, quietly.

(No, I wasn't serious on that last point. )

Let's say that is the new set up.. Does UT keep the LHN channel? Or does it get bought out and turn into the PSWC channel?

(02-15-2021 11:24 PM)Thiefery Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 10:51 PM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  The Arizona market is too populous to leave behind. ASU, being in the Phoenix area, would probably be the seventh PAC divisional foe.

UW, UO, Cal, Stanford, UCLA, USC, ASU

ISU, KU, OU, NU, UT, TT, CU


What the Big Ten would do at that point would be interesting. They may try to keep going at 13 but there will be many who would want to go back to 14. The problem would be the list of replacements for the time being are unsatisfying to the membership. Although some in the SEC may try to offer up Vanderbilt, quietly.

(No, I wasn't serious on that last point. )

Let's say that is the new set up.. Does UT keep the LHN channel? Or does it get bought out and turn into the PSWC channel?

I tend to think that we could see a streaming package involving those programs that would be a trend-setter. Amazon, Peacock, Roku, Netflix, or, most likely ESPN+, would be good guesses. Maybe the individual programs would have separate deals for the 3rd tier, but it won't be necessary when everything can be streamed. The popularity of the programs would determine which of them would gain more but the differences wouldn't be so great, which is the case in the current B12.

As an aside, if I'm the ACC then I would move the solidify the footprint knowing that the programs won't have enough value to be poached by others. Take West Virginia and Central Florida to make a solid division surrounding Florida State and Clemson. Then Virginia Tech and NC State can thrive in the other division, along with Georgia Tech.

West Virginia, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, Central Florida, Louisville, Florida State, Clemson
Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Duke

Notre Dame can maintain its current status easily, plus the ACC might let them pick and choose which 5 programs they play every season.

(02-15-2021 10:42 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 10:29 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:30 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:07 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 05:49 PM)JRsec Wrote:  The PAC portion works but there is no need for OSU or TCU as UT and OU deliver all of that market, Tech makes a bridge to the West. Colorado, Kansas, and Iowa State would provide the widest market reach with the most loyal fan bases (Kansas football aside) and the best academics. Arizona works with the PAC division but Utah also provides a bridge and a loyal fan base and works in the Southwest.

Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. When discussing conference alignment of elite programs, you need to understand the essential rival that must remain protected. Otherwise, it’s not worth the effort to begin the discussion. Oklahoma needs to be supportive of a merger...then finances and football strength can be discussed. Okie State may not deliver an additional market, but its value is underrated.

TCU is a more complex issue. They are not necessarily essential, but Texas needs to ensure that the new conference acts in a football first manner. Arizona is clearly not football-first (but they would be preferred by the Cali block). Yet the Cali block can’t call the shots for the SW group. ASU is a football-first school with more value, but they would need to mesh with the SW contingent.

Ask the Sooners how they feel about OSU being a must. Their rivals were Texas and Nebraska. Your probably fairly young, unless you graduated in '84 which means you are pushing 60, but 20 years ago OSU was playing games at Troy. Bedlam may be more one sided than Kentucky Tennessee or Tennessee Vanderbilt, both notoriously lopsided so called rivals. But Tennessee's real rival is Alabama and their new one is Florida. The Pokes just aren't that essential, especially if it costs OU. As long as they know that OSU has a landing spot they'll be fine, and that includes the AAC.

The Sooners will have options (probably from both the SEC and BIG) in the next round of realignment. If the Sooners can continue their in-conference rivalry with the Longhorns while also taking care of the Pokes...then the Pacific Southwest Conference option would be their preferred future. Money and stability are added to their existing strong schedule (Horns and Pokes).

I never suggested that the Pokes were the Sooners’ rivals, but playing Bedlam annually is a fundraising bonanza. The Sooners 80% win percentage over the Pokes is comparable to the Tide’s 82% win percentage over the Bulldogs (and both contests have been played over 100 times)...hence why I said that Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. For schools like Oklahoma, there is no need to eliminate money making traditions.

The Mississippi State rivalry with Alabama is played because they are 90 miles apart and the State players party on the strip in Tuscaloosa on the weekends not involving football season. State at least puts up a tussle these days. Bedlam isn't a Donor bonanza for the Sooners. It's a Donor bonanza for the Pokes. This is like saying Tech tickets are a big deal for Georgia. Georgia's ticket donation bonanza is for the Auburn away game and the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville vs the Gators. And they get priority donations for away games with Tennessee and South Carolina. At one time the Georgia / Georgia Tech game was heated, but it's been decades since it was consistently so. Auburn / Georgia Tech was once a major rivalry and the oldest in the Southeast. Roughly 100 miles separate the two. But that was lost in 1978.

I'd suggest you attend some Deep South games. There is much you need to experience before pontificating based on statistics.

Georgia gets priority donations for the South Carolina game???? I thought that game didn't draw flies unless we played @ Columbia. Now getting your hands on Tech football tickets can be pretty difficult from what I hear, and they're pretty expensive this year too!! I wouldn't be surprised to see priority donations at the Tech game too.

(02-17-2021 01:48 AM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 10:42 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 10:29 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:30 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:07 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. When discussing conference alignment of elite programs, you need to understand the essential rival that must remain protected. Otherwise, it’s not worth the effort to begin the discussion. Oklahoma needs to be supportive of a merger...then finances and football strength can be discussed. Okie State may not deliver an additional market, but its value is underrated.

TCU is a more complex issue. They are not necessarily essential, but Texas needs to ensure that the new conference acts in a football first manner. Arizona is clearly not football-first (but they would be preferred by the Cali block). Yet the Cali block can’t call the shots for the SW group. ASU is a football-first school with more value, but they would need to mesh with the SW contingent.

Ask the Sooners how they feel about OSU being a must. Their rivals were Texas and Nebraska. Your probably fairly young, unless you graduated in '84 which means you are pushing 60, but 20 years ago OSU was playing games at Troy. Bedlam may be more one sided than Kentucky Tennessee or Tennessee Vanderbilt, both notoriously lopsided so called rivals. But Tennessee's real rival is Alabama and their new one is Florida. The Pokes just aren't that essential, especially if it costs OU. As long as they know that OSU has a landing spot they'll be fine, and that includes the AAC.

The Sooners will have options (probably from both the SEC and BIG) in the next round of realignment. If the Sooners can continue their in-conference rivalry with the Longhorns while also taking care of the Pokes...then the Pacific Southwest Conference option would be their preferred future. Money and stability are added to their existing strong schedule (Horns and Pokes).

I never suggested that the Pokes were the Sooners’ rivals, but playing Bedlam annually is a fundraising bonanza. The Sooners 80% win percentage over the Pokes is comparable to the Tide’s 82% win percentage over the Bulldogs (and both contests have been played over 100 times)...hence why I said that Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. For schools like Oklahoma, there is no need to eliminate money making traditions.

The Mississippi State rivalry with Alabama is played because they are 90 miles apart and the State players party on the strip in Tuscaloosa on the weekends not involving football season. State at least puts up a tussle these days. Bedlam isn't a Donor bonanza for the Sooners. It's a Donor bonanza for the Pokes. This is like saying Tech tickets are a big deal for Georgia. Georgia's ticket donation bonanza is for the Auburn away game and the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville vs the Gators. And they get priority donations for away games with Tennessee and South Carolina. At one time the Georgia / Georgia Tech game was heated, but it's been decades since it was consistently so. Auburn / Georgia Tech was once a major rivalry and the oldest in the Southeast. Roughly 100 miles separate the two. But that was lost in 1978.

I'd suggest you attend some Deep South games. There is much you need to experience before pontificating based on statistics.

Georgia gets priority donations for the South Carolina game???? I thought that game didn't draw flies unless we played @ Columbia. Now getting your hands on Tech football tickets can be pretty difficult from what I hear, and they're pretty expensive this year too!! I wouldn't be surprised to see priority donations at the Tech game too.

All tickets to away games 1 state away are on priority. And we are talking about Georgia's away game in Columbia, not the other way around. And the biggest reason Dog fans have any priority demands for Tech away tickets is the capacity of Grant Field. Compared to Athens its pretty limited. And where you live in Georgia changes your priorities. I lived for quite sometime on the Coast. Brunswick/St.Simons alums wanted Gator tickets. Savannah/Augusta alums wanted Clemson/South Carolina tickets. Valdosta to Columbus wanted Auburn tickets and Rome to the Tennessee line wanted Vol away tickets. Atlanta was the ones who wanted Tech tickets and vice versa. This diversity is one reason Georgia does as well as it does on donations for ticket priority. Depending on the part of the state they can count on strong interest for any of those away tickets.

At Auburn the priorities are for Bama away and Georgia away. Once upon a time they would have also have had Florida away and Tennessee away interest. Divisional play killed that. The Auburn alums in Mobile will go for LSU away, but that's about it. Back in the 80's and early 90's we traveled to as many away games as we could qualify for on a half scholarship donation. I enjoyed heading to Florid for games with the Gators and the few we had in Tallahassee. We always managed to get Georgia away tickets. That was sweet too. And we managed 1 game at Grant Field when a late left end run by Bo Jackson decided the game. Fun times!

(02-15-2021 10:42 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 10:29 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:30 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:07 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 05:49 PM)JRsec Wrote:  The PAC portion works but there is no need for OSU or TCU as UT and OU deliver all of that market, Tech makes a bridge to the West. Colorado, Kansas, and Iowa State would provide the widest market reach with the most loyal fan bases (Kansas football aside) and the best academics. Arizona works with the PAC division but Utah also provides a bridge and a loyal fan base and works in the Southwest.

Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. When discussing conference alignment of elite programs, you need to understand the essential rival that must remain protected. Otherwise, it’s not worth the effort to begin the discussion. Oklahoma needs to be supportive of a merger...then finances and football strength can be discussed. Okie State may not deliver an additional market, but its value is underrated.

TCU is a more complex issue. They are not necessarily essential, but Texas needs to ensure that the new conference acts in a football first manner. Arizona is clearly not football-first (but they would be preferred by the Cali block). Yet the Cali block can’t call the shots for the SW group. ASU is a football-first school with more value, but they would need to mesh with the SW contingent.

Ask the Sooners how they feel about OSU being a must. Their rivals were Texas and Nebraska. Your probably fairly young, unless you graduated in '84 which means you are pushing 60, but 20 years ago OSU was playing games at Troy. Bedlam may be more one sided than Kentucky Tennessee or Tennessee Vanderbilt, both notoriously lopsided so called rivals. But Tennessee's real rival is Alabama and their new one is Florida. The Pokes just aren't that essential, especially if it costs OU. As long as they know that OSU has a landing spot they'll be fine, and that includes the AAC.

The Sooners will have options (probably from both the SEC and BIG) in the next round of realignment. If the Sooners can continue their in-conference rivalry with the Longhorns while also taking care of the Pokes...then the Pacific Southwest Conference option would be their preferred future. Money and stability are added to their existing strong schedule (Horns and Pokes).

I never suggested that the Pokes were the Sooners’ rivals, but playing Bedlam annually is a fundraising bonanza. The Sooners 80% win percentage over the Pokes is comparable to the Tide’s 82% win percentage over the Bulldogs (and both contests have been played over 100 times)...hence why I said that Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. For schools like Oklahoma, there is no need to eliminate money making traditions.

The Mississippi State rivalry with Alabama is played because they are 90 miles apart and the State players party on the strip in Tuscaloosa on the weekends not involving football season. State at least puts up a tussle these days. Bedlam isn't a Donor bonanza for the Sooners. It's a Donor bonanza for the Pokes. This is like saying Tech tickets are a big deal for Georgia. Georgia's ticket donation bonanza is for the Auburn away game and the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville vs the Gators. And they get priority donations for away games with Tennessee and South Carolina. At one time the Georgia / Georgia Tech game was heated, but it's been decades since it was consistently so. Auburn / Georgia Tech was once a major rivalry and the oldest in the Southeast. Roughly 100 miles separate the two. But that was lost in 1978.

I'd suggest you attend some Deep South games. There is much you need to experience before pontificating based on statistics.

The Georgia-Georgia Tech game is ALWAYS heated. Its just that Georgia fans can easily buy 40% or more of the tickets when the game is in Atlanta.

(02-17-2021 02:35 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 10:42 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 10:29 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:30 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(02-15-2021 08:07 PM)Wahoowa84 Wrote:  Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. When discussing conference alignment of elite programs, you need to understand the essential rival that must remain protected. Otherwise, it’s not worth the effort to begin the discussion. Oklahoma needs to be supportive of a merger...then finances and football strength can be discussed. Okie State may not deliver an additional market, but its value is underrated.

TCU is a more complex issue. They are not necessarily essential, but Texas needs to ensure that the new conference acts in a football first manner. Arizona is clearly not football-first (but they would be preferred by the Cali block). Yet the Cali block can’t call the shots for the SW group. ASU is a football-first school with more value, but they would need to mesh with the SW contingent.

Ask the Sooners how they feel about OSU being a must. Their rivals were Texas and Nebraska. Your probably fairly young, unless you graduated in '84 which means you are pushing 60, but 20 years ago OSU was playing games at Troy. Bedlam may be more one sided than Kentucky Tennessee or Tennessee Vanderbilt, both notoriously lopsided so called rivals. But Tennessee's real rival is Alabama and their new one is Florida. The Pokes just aren't that essential, especially if it costs OU. As long as they know that OSU has a landing spot they'll be fine, and that includes the AAC.

The Sooners will have options (probably from both the SEC and BIG) in the next round of realignment. If the Sooners can continue their in-conference rivalry with the Longhorns while also taking care of the Pokes...then the Pacific Southwest Conference option would be their preferred future. Money and stability are added to their existing strong schedule (Horns and Pokes).

I never suggested that the Pokes were the Sooners’ rivals, but playing Bedlam annually is a fundraising bonanza. The Sooners 80% win percentage over the Pokes is comparable to the Tide’s 82% win percentage over the Bulldogs (and both contests have been played over 100 times)...hence why I said that Okie State is to Oklahoma, as Mississippi State is to Alabama. For schools like Oklahoma, there is no need to eliminate money making traditions.

The Mississippi State rivalry with Alabama is played because they are 90 miles apart and the State players party on the strip in Tuscaloosa on the weekends not involving football season. State at least puts up a tussle these days. Bedlam isn't a Donor bonanza for the Sooners. It's a Donor bonanza for the Pokes. This is like saying Tech tickets are a big deal for Georgia. Georgia's ticket donation bonanza is for the Auburn away game and the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville vs the Gators. And they get priority donations for away games with Tennessee and South Carolina. At one time the Georgia / Georgia Tech game was heated, but it's been decades since it was consistently so. Auburn / Georgia Tech was once a major rivalry and the oldest in the Southeast. Roughly 100 miles separate the two. But that was lost in 1978.

I'd suggest you attend some Deep South games. There is much you need to experience before pontificating based on statistics.

The Georgia-Georgia Tech game is ALWAYS heated. Its just that Georgia fans can easily buy 40% or more of the tickets when the game is in Atlanta.

Did you ever read Lewis Grizzard? He liked to tell this story, I had a friend working for a major corporation in Atlanta who was put in charge of entertainment for a convention being hosted by his company. He called all of the performing arts centers and checked all of the concerts and free concert calendars and nothing was lining up. He then remembered that it was in the Fall and he thought maybe if he was lucky he could land 5,000 tickets for a Georgia Tech game. So, he called the ticket office and asked if they were playing at home in October on Saturday the 15th. The ticket office lady said, "Why yes, we have a home game that Saturday." He said, "I don't want to be presumptive but do you have 5,000 tickets available for the game? She said, "Yes sir we do." He said, "I may be out of line but are any of them good seats?" She said, "I have 5,000 tickets between the 40's on the home sideline." He said, "Outstanding!, what time is kickoff?" She said, "When can ya'll be here?"

The NFL rights are close to being done and once they are then the networks can move towards the college conferences.

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2021/02...-nbc-espn/

(02-20-2021 04:25 PM)schmolik Wrote:  The NFL rights are close to being done and once they are then the networks can move towards the college conferences.

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2021/02...-nbc-espn/

A clear 50-100% jump seems unreasonable to me.

I think Disney may agree.

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2021/02...alks-espn/

ESPN is already not getting a great return on the current investment. It's possible that Thursday Night Football could end up on ABC, but I would call the NFL's bluff on this one.

Would they abandon it? For one, they should already be talking about moving the game to ABC where it will automatically uptick in viewership. Secondly, they need to be able to simulcast on ESPN+. At that point, it might be worth a bump, but even 50% would be pushing it.

Disney could buy a lot of sports rights at the college level and in other spheres(NHL among them) if they utilized that money elsewhere.

ESPN doesn't actually need MNF and I can't see another network paying that rate for it.