Big 10 expansion?

[patdog]

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Rutgers makes sense for both sides. I don't think Maryland to the Big 10 makes sense for either side. Long term, the ACC's future is brighter than the Big 10's. And $50M is a LOT of money to pay for a buyout. I'm not even sure why the Big 10 would want Maryland anyway. I know there are a lot of people in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, but almost none of them even know Maryland athletics exists, much less cares about it. If I'm the Big 10 I try to add Rutgers and UConn. I know UConn is a little tainted right now, but no more than several of the Big 10's current members.

 

[esplanade91]

Doesn't make any sense to me. Rutgers, maybe, but not Maryland. I don't understand why either party is interested. $50 mil to leave an already good conference... The B1G doesn't benefit from the addition either.

 

[Dawgpile]

The 'in' for the B1G is the more traditional conference fans who live in the MD/DC & NJ/NYC markets. Also, I've read that Fox is buying a channel in NYC that will ensure the BTN is on basic cable in the city.

 

[engie]

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Rutgers makes sense for both sides. I don't think Maryland to the Big 10 makes sense for either side. Long term, the ACC's future is brighter than the Big 10's. And $50M is a LOT of money to pay for a buyout. I'm not even sure why the Big 10 would want Maryland anyway. I know there are a lot of people in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, but almost none of them even know Maryland athletics exists, much less cares about it. If I'm the Big 10 I try to add Rutgers and UConn. I know UConn is a little tainted right now, but no more than several of the Big 10's current members.

All about the TV money. The ACC isn't worth NEARLY what the B1G is with it's own network and those values are only going up. A big nail in the ACC conference fell when they added Syracuse and Pitt and only got an additional about $4mil/team in TV revenue, up to about $17mil/yr. This is ~ half what they would make in the B1G when you factor in the increased revenue from their inclusion to the B1G network deal...

This falls in line with what I've been saying all along. It's not a matter of IF we raid the ACC, it's a matter of WHEN. The crown jewel that is UNC will most likely set that timetable for us, because we are going to go after them with everything we have IMO. I realize they have alot of deep-seeded loyalty to that conference and those teams, but is worth the ~ $35 mil/yr plus they will leave on the table? That is the question. If it is, we will take NC State and allow them to undermine big brother the same way we took A&M...