Fox Sports and BE reach 2 year agreement on corp sponsorship

[CityFriar]

I think it's a great thing- but I think there is a problem with the last line where it says that Fox Sports will have experience when the next conference comes calling. The problem with that is that outside of the Big Ten(which I have a feeling already has the advertising lined up)- no other conference is out there available for a very long time. I mean the next one at all available would be CUSA/MWC in 2015-16, then AAC in 2020, and then the Big 12 like 10 years from now!

Kind of strange that it's only a 2 year deal.

Perhaps the 2 year deal reflects the timeline of Big East's expansion plans?

[Barley]

I think it's a great thing- but I think there is a problem with the last line where it says that Fox Sports will have experience when the next conference comes calling. The problem with that is that outside of the Big Ten(which I have a feeling already has the advertising lined up)- no other conference is out there available for a very long time. I mean the next one at all available would be CUSA/MWC in 2015-16, then AAC in 2020, and then the Big 12 like 10 years from now!

Kind of strange that it's only a 2 year deal.

Perhaps the 2 year deal reflects the timeline of Big East's expansion plans?

God I hope not.

[stever20]

Despite what they've said publicly I do think we'll be expanding sooner rather than later. I think quite frankly the Fox contract probably stipulated that in some fashion. I think it's been kept on the quiet so folks can focus on the court. We'll probably hear more come March/April I think- so folks can come in for the 15-16 season(gettng out of their current conference by end of June 14 for a smaller exit fee). The 2 year deal here then makes a lot of sense- redoing the deal when the expansion has taken place.

[Bill Marsh]

This is good for both the BE and Fox (especially if we perform well). Aside from the money we get from the network, teams get money from the OOC tournaments/challenges. Duke/Kansas/KU/and the other team? each got over 2 million to play that 1 game. All the schools get some extra money for these special 1-2 game tournaments. With this contract Fox can better market the BE and presumably both parties will benefit financially. A Pac 12/BE challenge, higher profile games between other conf teams that may happen. Fox benefits by getting outside sponsorships for the games or events and by drawing better games for their networks.

It's broader than that Ackerman says specifically that this is not just a basketball deal. It's for all sports and for all conference championships - television and non-television. This is a very comprehensive marketing agreement

[Bluejay]

Despite what they've said publicly I do think we'll be expanding sooner rather than later. I think quite frankly the Fox contract probably stipulated that in some fashion. I think it's been kept on the quiet so folks can focus on the court. We'll probably hear more come March/April I think- so folks can come in for the 15-16 season(gettng out of their current conference by end of June 14 for a smaller exit fee). The 2 year deal here then makes a lot of sense- redoing the deal when the expansion has taken place.

I disagree and let me explain why.

The issue here is perception. As we've already seen, BE schools are not getting a lot of respect from the poll voters. Likewise, the question of the day at BE media days and in all of the preseason preview magazines was, "Is the Big East still a power conference?" There is a significant portion of the national media that is taking a wait and see approach on classifying the conference.

Now, working under that shadow, consider the impact if the "new" Big East adds two more teams from what are commonly known as "mid major" conferences. After the additions, almost one-half of the members will have been mid majors as recently as a season or two ago. If that is the case, it will be very easy for the national media, as well as any critics, to malign the Big East by referring to it as a bunch of mid majors along with a couple of traditional powers. Even if it doesn't go that far, it is absolutely guaranteed that the phrase "mid major" will come up a lot more frequently when people talk about the makeup of the conference.

Fans of Creighton, Xavier and Butler know what it is like to be tabbed as a mid major. It is a pejorative term intended to minimize a school's impact on the national stage. Once it is affixed, it is almost impossible to shed. Butler went to two national championships, yet couldn't get away from the tag. It comes up in recruiting as a way to try to steer top talent away from perceived lesser schools as well as in discussing NCAA tourney consideration. It must be avoided at all costs.

The only way further expansion allows us to stay away from the insult is to let the league establish a firm foothold in the college basketball landscape first. Once it can be shown that the league is not just a glamorous mid major, then further expansion can be considered. Until that time, further expansion needs to be placed on hold.