PAC soon on the Prowl again for more Football members...

[DentonStang]

14 hours ago, NT80 said:

PAC has 7 now for football, need 8 by 2026 season.  But really prefer 9-10 by 2027 for better scheduling.   

The American Athletic Conference (AAC) buyout fee is $10 million plus a 27-month notice period.

The PAC has a war chest of funds to help with buyouts if needed.   

I think Texas State buyout from the SBC is only $5 mil.

So.eone up above posted PAC is aiming at $10M/school media value.  You think Texas State is worth $10M?  I can't see it.

[wardly]

On 3/1/2025 at 12:17 AM, NT80 said:

Info courtesy of @MCMLXXX on the Conference ReAlignment forum...

St. Marys appears very close to being added for basketball.

Texas St. listed as "all but done" and UNT now listed as "possible" along with UTSA in this updated PAC expansion video.

 

The BIG Mountain podcast says St. Mary's in for basketball and Texas State for all sports. Texas State has a cheap buyout [$5 million] while the AAC program buyouts are cost prohibitive [$15 million]. The PAC then takes a pause and see how their arbitration with the MWC plays out.

[NT80]

19 minutes ago, DentonStang said:

So.eone up above posted PAC is aiming at $10M/school media value.  You think Texas State is worth $10M?  I can't see it.

No, not in today's $.   

The figures I saw mentioned was that media was bidding on the western time slots, and it didn't matter which G5 programs were added, that they were all valued the same. 

But then I saw there was belief that some Central Time zone schools would add appeal with some of the media platforms, getting into Texas markets.   Maybe they are selling it as these 7 base schools plus 3 additions = $10/mil each/yr?

Media deal supposed to be finalized by end of this month.   Then the MWC poaching court case settled or mediated, then the $$ remaining in the PAC bank will be know along with future revenue expectations to see potential invitees.

We'll see if any of it is close to factual, lol....

[NT80]

14 minutes ago, wardly said:

The BIG Mountain podcast says St. Mary's in for basketball and Texas State for all sports. Texas State has a cheap buyout [$5 million] while the AAC program buyouts are cost prohibitive [$15 million]. The PAC then takes a pause and see how their arbitration with the MWC plays out.

$10 mil exit fees with 27 months notice = notice to leave AAC by June of 2025 to play in PAC in Sept 2027 season?

[wardly]

2 hours ago, NT80 said:

$10 mil exit fees with 27 months notice = notice to leave AAC by June of 2025 to play in PAC in Sept 2027 season?

Thanks for correcting me. I was close enough for government work.

[GMG_Dallas]

3 hours ago, NT80 said:

No, not in today's $.   

The figures I saw mentioned was that media was bidding on the western time slots, and it didn't matter which G5 programs were added, that they were all valued the same. 

But then I saw there was belief that some Central Time zone schools would add appeal with some of the media platforms, getting into Texas markets.   Maybe they are selling it as these 7 base schools plus 3 additions = $10/mil each/yr?

This would make a lot of sense and is how I figured things would play out. Media partners have probably told them $10 mil per school is what they're worth regardless of which G5 schools they add. The Texas market is great but I don't think the G5 Texas schools available currently bring enough value to boost the media deal (including us, sadly). Now, if I'm the PAC, I do see the Texas market as a huge area of opportunity and who knows what some of the G5 Texas schools can accomplish with more money.

I've read on Redit threads that the new PAC really values basketball and considering some of the additions (Gonzaga, St Mary's), that seems pretty obvious. No clue how plugged-in those reddit members are so it could just be basic fan observations. If you're looking at the two main revenue sports, we have a clear edge in basketball over the other Texas G5s available. If they want to be a basketball conference for the sake of earning a bunch of tournament credits to boost their earnings, there's not many better schools available than us.

Here's to hoping we get an invite and take a chance.

[NT80]

52 minutes ago, wardly said:

Thanks for correcting me. I was close enough for government work.

I think it is around $15 mil for less than 27 months notice. 

But some schools that left the AAC before we got in negotiated a lessor early-out fee.

[NT80]

39 minutes ago, GMG_Dallas said:

I've read on Redit threads that the new PAC really values basketball and considering some of the additions (Gonzaga, St Mary's), that seems pretty obvious. No clue how plugged-in those reddit members are so it could just be basic fan observations. If you're looking at the two main revenue sports, we have a clear edge in basketball over the other Texas G5s available. If they want to be a basketball conference for the sake of earning a bunch of tournament credits to boost their earnings, there's not many better schools available than us.

Here's to hoping we get an invite and take a chance.

Yes, NCAA bids bring in a lot of revenue for a Conference.   The PAC hopes to be a multi-bid league.   

Texas is also valued for recruiting by PAC coaches.   Plus, getting their teams seen to the middle and eastern time zones is important to an AD. 

It would be a risk/reward opportunity for North Texas.   We bring good men's and women's basketball, and beat Oregon St this season, to maybe open some eyes up there?  Hopefully football plays well hosting Washington St in football this fall.  Playing in DFW would be a good recruiting trip for the PAC.

I'm just not sure Jared is a salesman for such an endeavor.   He seems more like a sit-back-and-wait for someone to call, rather than initiating contact and being a builder/promoter of the program.  

[NM Green]

I agree about Jared. He seems to go with flow of the other Texas schools and our AAC brethren. Notice this department really only hops into marketing action after we biatch about poor marketing efforts then he puts some nice things together. But initiating is not what I think of when I see Jared. I see methodical, safe, absolute proof of results first before acting.

A move to the PAC would require a Maverick. If we took the chance and moved with Texas State we would leapfrog UNLV UTSA the rest of the Mountain West, and others who would secretly desire to move to a higher profile league.

GMG