Big 12, Pac-10 look at alliance

[ArrowheadHawk]

Big 12, Pac-10 look at alliance

By BLAIR KERKHOFF
The Kansas City Star

Big 12 Conference athletic directors met with their Pacific-10 counterparts in Phoenix on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss collaborating in a future sports landscape and possibly working together on television contracts, a source told The Kansas City Star.

Contacted Thursday, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe confirmed the meetings but did not offer specifics. He called the exchange “very positive.”

“It was an informal gathering,” Beebe said. “We talked about how we might cooperate going forward.”

The meeting could be seen as preparation for possible Big Ten expansion. The Big Ten announced last December that it was exploring adding members, and among those swirling in the speculation are Big 12 members Missouri and Nebraska.

An alliance between the Big 12 and Pac-10 could strengthen their position in television negotiations. As the two major conferences west of the Mississippi River, their schools are located in or near six of the nation’s top 13 media markets — Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Houston, Seattle and Phoenix.

The Big 12 has football television contracts with ABC/ESPN that go through 2016 and with Fox Sports Net through 2012. The league begins negotiations with Fox starting next spring.

The Pac-10 also has deals with ABC/ESPN and Fox through 2012 and is expected to begin negotiating new deals this year.

According to the source, a negotiating point for new deals could involve games between the Pac-10 and Big 12.

The conferences already partner in men’s basketball. Last week, the leagues announced the matchups for the fourth Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.

Posted on Thu, May. 06, 2010 06:12 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/05/06...-alliance.html

[ArrowheadHawk]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

Texas can do whatever the **** they want. Their AD makes by far the most money in the country and their endowment fund was ****ing 16 BILLION in 2008, I don't even know what it is now.

This. Texas can do whatever the **** they want to.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by truebigdog

The TV market in Denver? I know Denver isn't exactly huge, but isn't it somewhere in the mid 20s in population in the US?

Denver was the #18 TV market in 2004 (quick search, so I'll go with '04), but I doubt that it performs like a larger market when it comes to CU sports.

I grew up in Ohio, so I'm comparing that to what I see in Denver. CU has a small fraction of the attention of the market that Ohio State commands.

CU doesn't have the tradition, so there just aren't that many people paying attention. They aren't going to be able to manufacture it. They're really more suited to a second-tier conference, IMO.

[beer bacon]

Originally Posted by Coogs

Call me Old School. I like things just the way they are.

It isn't old school to like the Big 12 the way it currently exists. It would be old school to want the Big 8 back.

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

Why in the hell would the Big 10 ever do that? I guess that's a pretty neat idea in a world where money is of no importance.

So you are saying an All Midwest major conference would not be a money seller with shorter traffic lanes to follow than a B12 & Pac 10 . B10 adding all he B12 schools would boost TV sales and boost recruiting. Pac 10 & B12 teams would be a transportation nightmare.

But please explain to me why it wouldn't work better. ?

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by beer bacon

It isn't old school to like the Big 12 the way it currently exists. It would be old school to want the Big 8 back.

I could live with that. Loved the Big 8.

[ROYC75]

I know Texas is the key to it, they have to give, but will they ?

[beer bacon]

Texas is now my most hated state when it comes to sports. Sorry Colorado and Kansas.

[ChiefsCountry]

Here is my prediciton:
Missouri, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse to the Big Ten
Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Utah, and Texas Tech to the PAC-16.
Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Florida State, and West Virginia to the SEC.
Connecticut, West Virginia, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Temple to ACC.

You have 4 16 Superconferences plus Notre Dame. 65 BCS teams. A plus one playoff is more than likely in the works with the 4 BCS bowls.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

Big 12, Pac-10 look at alliance

The Pig-22. I like it.

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

The Pig-22. I like it.

The 12 Pac

[ArrowheadHawk]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Here is my prediciton:
Missouri, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse to the Big Ten
Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Utah, and Texas Tech to the PAC-16.
Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Florida State, and West Virginia to the SEC.
Connecticut, West Virginia, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Temple to ACC.

You have 4 16 Superconferences plus Notre Dame. 65 BCS teams. A plus one playoff is more than likely in the works with the 4 BCS bowls.

How is that gonna work?

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadHawk

How is that gonna work?

I assume WV has a massive and well-regarded state system. Kinda like UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, etc

[Mr. Flopnuts]

I thought Kansas and Kansas State were tied at the hip?

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I thought Kansas and Kansas State were tied at the hip?

I gave up explaining why the merger wasn't going to happen a page or so ago. We're dreaming now.

[ArrowheadHawk]

Originally Posted by alnorth

I gave up explaining why the merger wasn't going to happen a page or so ago. We're dreaming now.

Better than waiting I guess. I'm pretty sure Lew will have KU in good shape after this mixup. I couln't think of anyone else I would rather have as an AD right now.