Conference Realignment

[ZooMass84]

Well Old Cage, kind of warming up to Sac State as a fan appeared on the MAC board inquiring and my reply was:

My feelings is that only for a large boat load of money that could be used to attract Western Kentucky. The rest to offset travel costs for 4 teams traveling to the West Coast. Idk, but like the NDSU deal for the MWC. 12.5M and no media revenue etc. That would work and help the media deal.

I like the Sac State addition. NDSU is going to be an absolute BEAST in Mountain West. Plus, after getting educated by some posters on CSNbbs; we could potentially lose the next 40 games and the MAC would be hard pressed to kick us out due to the fact we are FULL-TIME members. Just hope we can get at least one win this season (Stonehill). I think Sacred Heart is going to be tough.

[Steve81]

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-footba ... 07211.html

Story byYahoo Sports
Sources: MAC nearing vote on adding Sacramento State to league as football-only member
Sac State’s entry fee is expected to be more than $15 million

Negotiations between officials from Sacramento State and the Mid-American Conference have intensified over an expansion agreement that is now nearing a vote from the league’s presidents.

In deep discussion with the California-based FCS school for more than a week now, MAC executives are reaching the point of a final decision on a move that would bring a windfall to current member schools. Sacramento State’s entry fee is expected to be more than $15 million.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the potential agreement spoke to Yahoo Sports under condition of anonymity. Officials at Sacramento State declined to comment. Those in the MAC also declined comment, citing a standard policy of not discussing expansion.

[MikeUMA]

I hated when the ACC and Big Ten expanded their footprint to cover both coasts.
I'm gonna hate it when the MAC does the same.
UMass to Sacramento State: a 2,548 mile road trip, for a damn MAC football game.
What are we even doing?

[Steve81]

It's not all sports and once every 3 to 4 years we make the trip. As an independent we had to book Hawaii.

From BeatWestern.

I expect the Mid-American Conference Council of Presidents to convene early next week to vote in favor of adding Sacramento State as a football affiliate. I would expect the price for admittance to be in the neighborhood of $17 million.

I'm told the Sacramento media market is appealing as is the Pacific time zone window to ESPN.

Remember Mike, the A10 pays 6.3M for their new media deal from their 990 tax form to split. Would expect the MAC media contract to be over 25M and could go to 30+M. Throw in 15-17M for Sacramento entrance fee and 2.5M for NIU exit fee. Serious athletics require revenue.

Enjoy tonight's game and don't worry about it is my advise Mike. It involves just football and the MAC is not a bad basketball league.

[ZooMass84]

I hated when the ACC and Big Ten expanded their footprint to cover both coasts.
I'm gonna hate it when the MAC does the same.
UMass to Sacramento State: a 2,548 mile road trip, for a damn MAC football game.
What are we even doing?

If we win, then it's PRICELESS!!!!

[ZooMass84]

Sac to the MAC!!!!

[Quann]

I hated when the ACC and Big Ten expanded their footprint to cover both coasts.
I'm gonna hate it when the MAC does the same.
UMass to Sacramento State: a 2,548 mile road trip, for a damn MAC football game.
What are we even doing?

College sports aren’t as fun as they used to be.

[Uminuteman]

I hated when the ACC and Big Ten expanded their footprint to cover both coasts.
I'm gonna hate it when the MAC does the same.
UMass to Sacramento State: a 2,548 mile road trip, for a damn MAC football game.
What are we even doing?

College sports aren’t as fun as they used to be.

Natural rivalry. East Coast v West Coast. Exactly what's needed

[Steve81]

I hated when the ACC and Big Ten expanded their footprint to cover both coasts.
I'm gonna hate it when the MAC does the same.
UMass to Sacramento State: a 2,548 mile road trip, for a damn MAC football game.
What are we even doing?

College sports aren’t as fun as they used to be.

Natural rivalry. East Coast v West Coast. Exactly what's needed

This is exactly what we need. A conference willing to out of the box with 18M in revenue and more leverage in a better media contract. The recent A10 contract was 420k a team. Believe Illinois State is be best #14 team long term as secures the Central time zone, not a flight risk, and helps with basketball. Think all others will be like Sacramento State a length of the next media contract bump, which is fine.

[wmmmfan]

I hated when the ACC and Big Ten expanded their footprint to cover both coasts.
I'm gonna hate it when the MAC does the same.
UMass to Sacramento State: a 2,548 mile road trip, for a damn MAC football game.
What are we even doing?

The conference gets $18M and it will help the next tv contract.

Not to mention College enrollments are on the decline nationally and especially with NE flagship universities, the exceptions being Connecticut and Massachusetts. Having Sacramento in the MAC for 3-5 years should provide West Coast exposure to the universities in the conference. If it can benefit enrollment at some of these schools who does it hurt short term?
I don’t like the loss of rivalries with all these moves but this is where we are, leaders can’t stick their head in the sand and hope it blows over.

[Jack]

Correct. What we're doing is admitting Sac State for $18M and expanding the MAC footprint. What are the alternatives and how much do they cost?

[Sheck]

Would much rather have Sacramento St. in the league for football only than Illinois St. for all sports. This is one cross-country trip for football every 2-3 years vs. having to fly halfway across the country across multiple sports annually.

I'm glad Sacramento St. came in with this offer and more or less forced the MAC to add them for football. Right away they're going to have the 3rd largest enrollment among MAC members behind Buffalo and us. And they are in a top 20 TV market.

[Steve81]

Sheck, understand your point about travel and ok with either way. The MAC will probably add a 14th and like Illinois State basketball. Delaware is another possibity but generally do not have good bb. Old football rival and much closer.

[69MG]

If anyone thought geography played a role in conference structure, they haven't been paying attention the last few years. The whole scenario is totally nuts as far as I'm concerned, but "it is what it is" so make the best of it and take in some extra $$.

As Sheck said, it's football only so 1 road trip to CA every 2 or 3 years is no big deal. I haven't heard any complaints about the Hawaii game.

[Steve81]

The art of the deal. Ross Dellenger @RossDellenger · 25m posted on X.

The MAC’s deal with Sacramento State - now officially announced - is a 5-year agreement in which the school will take no conference distribution, cover air travel costs of visiting MAC teams and pay $6 million of the $18 million entry fee in Year 1, sources tell @YahooSports.