George Kliavkoff reveals attributes the Pac-12 is looking for in potential expansion candidates

On3 imageby:Barkley Truax07/30/22

BarkleyTruax

Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff is interested in adding new programs into his conference over the next few years following the departures of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten. According to Kliavkoff, it would have to be under the perfect circumstances.

“Start with market, the media value. Go to the athletic value, whether or not they would contribute to the Conference of Champions. Academic and culture fit is part of it,” Kliavkoff said. “Then we’re very focused, I think uniquely, in thinking about the effect of student-athletes when we add schools. We think about travel and about what we’re going to put our student-athletes through if we expand geographically too far away. I’m proud of the fact that’s part of our criteria.”

In terms of conference value lost by the Bruins and Trojans departures, the Pac-12 has lost two national brands. Not only do the lose fans throughout the Los Angeles are – the No. 2 market in the country behind New York City – but two programs that are historically profitable. To make up for the lost revenue, Pac-12 officials need to make a move, and make it fast.

Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir shared Kliavkoff’s sentiment as well, noting that Cardinal presidents and chancellors are behind the move to bring high-profile NCAA programs in the Pac-12 to replace the void left by USC and UCLA.

“That’s really important to the Pac-12. Cultural, academic fit is important. It’s one of our criteria. Listen, we understand how important revenue is. We understand that for the last 10 years, because of a series of decisions that were made by the conference 10 years ago, we’re behind,” Kliavkoff continued. “We have to close the gap in revenue. That’s going to be a focus. But as we think about adding schools, one of the criteria will be cultural, academic fit.”

Programs like San Diego State, Boise State, Fresno State, UNLV and other west-coast programs have been names thrown out as potential suitors for the new-look Pac-12 when the conference realignment takes place in 2024, though no names have officially been thrown out as definitively joining the Power Five conference.

Regardless of who Kliavkoff brings in to help even out the conference, there will be a certain set of standards required before any program will be allowed to don the Pac-12 symbol across their chests in the coming seasons.