Conference naming rights?
- Thread starter 95coug
- Start date
Wonder if Pres. Schulz and Mrs. McCoy are collaborating with their counterparts at Oregon State.
That could be a chance to add to the $250M nest egg
B12 currently represents 7 states. They need 5 more if they want to change the name further, to the Allstates 12.
And of course, with the change their abbreviation will go from B12 to A12. Not sure that is a good thing, given some of the things that the "A" could stand for....?
And of course, with the change their abbreviation will go from B12 to A12. Not sure that is a good thing, given some of the things that the "A" could stand for....?
Not sure what you mean. $250M is a real number, as has been discussed numerous times. But it is already being spent, along the lines of ~$10M to balance our FY 24 budget, and $30M plus to balance FY 25's budget. Plus the money for our scheduling agreements ($14M to the MW, $7M for our half). So WSU's $125M is already spent or committed to the tune of $47M and counting. Of the rest, $30M in future NCAA BB $ will be lost if we join one of the fantasy conferences everybody but the mighty Loyal One crows about.
To Pete's point, the Pac-2 is not savvy enough to do shit in terms of corporate sponsorship. Although the Alaska PacWest 14 is an interesting idea.
Alaska Airlines unveils its new “Go Cougs” jet
Awash in crimson and gray and packed with loyal Cougs, the newest WSU-themed Alaska Airlines jet will make its maiden voyage to Pullman on Saturday.
news.wsu.edu
Sure it’s a real number*
Contingent upon New-PAC regenerating itself into a power 5 with a Mega Media deal.
That money was also committed to future liability awards from pending court cases, yes?
Contingent upon New-PAC regenerating itself into a power 5 with a Mega Media deal.
That money was also committed to future liability awards from pending court cases, yes?
UberCoug, any chance the Pac-2 could go back and get additional financial assistance from the 10 schools that left if these legal bills pile up?
Could the Whitman County judge take another look at the matter as conditions have changed now that the NCAA's blood is in the water so to speak?
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I’m not an attorney and
How do I see “damages” being paid if some of these athlete claims are awarded? From the $250 mm first, then once exhausted former teams will kick in their share. This, I believe is why the conference members “settled” so quickly. They all agreed to simply kick the can down the road.
I don’t see P-2 sitting on a pile of cash while sending out bills to the p-12 escapee’s and receiving checks from them, without a big fight.
I’m not privy to any of the negotiations. I have no inside info other than what is in the public sphere. My opinions are my own and I’m often wrong.
I hope ESPN/Fox/Apple/??? send a Bouncer out into the street to find WSU and OSU and escort us back into the Big Kids party. But, I won’t hold my breath.
- there’s always a chance. It’s why you play the game.
How do I see “damages” being paid if some of these athlete claims are awarded? From the $250 mm first, then once exhausted former teams will kick in their share. This, I believe is why the conference members “settled” so quickly. They all agreed to simply kick the can down the road.
I don’t see P-2 sitting on a pile of cash while sending out bills to the p-12 escapee’s and receiving checks from them, without a big fight.
I’m not privy to any of the negotiations. I have no inside info other than what is in the public sphere. My opinions are my own and I’m often wrong.
I hope ESPN/Fox/Apple/??? send a Bouncer out into the street to find WSU and OSU and escort us back into the Big Kids party. But, I won’t hold my breath.
WTF are you talking about? Contingent upon what? The only contingency is the $30M in NCAA BB units - we have to still be a conference.
And I am not 100% certain about this, but I believe that potential liabilities were addressed in the legal agreement(s) and have no direct tie to the $250M. In other words, of course 2 teams aren't on the hook for 10 other teams retro liabilities.
This piece by Wilner gets into the liabilities issue pretty well. Basically, WSU's/OSU's lawyers were mindful of the liabilities for the pending and anticipated court cases, thankfully, but the terms of the agreement spelling out exactly what the departing schools remain on the hook for was redacted from the document, so nobody knows.
Years of seeing subpar drafting in WSU's agreements that have been made public cause me to retain some healthy skepticism, but it appears they took this seriously and (hopefully) addressed it adequately. They had solid lawyers this time, not WSU in-house folks.
www.mercurynews.com
Years of seeing subpar drafting in WSU's agreements that have been made public cause me to retain some healthy skepticism, but it appears they took this seriously and (hopefully) addressed it adequately. They had solid lawyers this time, not WSU in-house folks.
Pac-12 legal affairs: Key ‘Pac-2’ attorney suggests departing schools on the hook for damages in House lawsuit vs. NCAA
The departing members of the Pac-12 will leave behind $65 million to the conference based on the terms of a negotiated settlement ratified late last month. But over time, their financial obligation…
www.mercurynews.com
This guy spit balling some names for naming rights. Pac-12 mentioned in the article.
hoosierhuddle.com
The (Potential) Future World of Conference Naming Rights: Which Sponsors Fit Best? — Hoosier Huddle
By Evan Alvarez McDonald’s Ligue 1, La Liga EA Sports, Barclays Premier League (formerly), and Serie A Enilive are recent examples of European and English soccer leagues signing title sponsors for their respective leagues - effectively changing the name of the leagues entirely when discussing them.
hoosierhuddle.com
Then there is this article. The MW isn't sitting on their hands. Yet another reason for us to get the reverse merger going and rebrand as the Alaska Air PacWest or Alaska Pac Mtn conference. Otherwise we are going to be left out and totally F-ed. It is sooo obvious. Oh but let's be patient.....This guy spit balling some names for naming rights. Pac-12 mentioned in the article.
The (Potential) Future World of Conference Naming Rights: Which Sponsors Fit Best? — Hoosier Huddle
By Evan Alvarez McDonald’s Ligue 1, La Liga EA Sports, Barclays Premier League (formerly), and Serie A Enilive are recent examples of European and English soccer leagues signing title sponsors for their respective leagues - effectively changing the name of the leagues entirely when discussing them.
Edit - Wake the F up fellow Cougs. How many trains will we miss before the band of monkeys gets their shit together? I'm specifically talking about Sgt Schulz, that OSU woman Prez I can't spell, and woefull out of her league Teresa at the Pac-2 HQ?
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There will be no naming rights to the Pac 2/12ths
We need to stop living in a pipe dream. Hang on for two years to get any remnants of Pac 12 assets then merge with the MWC.
Wasting money and brain cells trying to convince 10 institutions to jump into a resurrected PAC 12 is titling at windmills.
We need to stop living in a pipe dream. Hang on for two years to get any remnants of Pac 12 assets then merge with the MWC.
Wasting money and brain cells trying to convince 10 institutions to jump into a resurrected PAC 12 is titling at windmills.
Highly insightful post as usual. The MW, as per the link in another post, is already looking at naming rights. A new PacMtn-12/14 is not a pipe dream. And an Alaska Air PacMtn Conference is not a pipe dream. What is the name of the mutts BB arena? Merging into the MW, as discussed ad nauseum, would cost us $30M in lost NCAA BB revenues. While we sit around for 2 years and earn -0- in future NCAA revenues. That is just stupid.
Why would the MWC voluntarily implode? They already have a deal, a conference and a schedule.
What broadcaster(s) are holding their breath with checkbook open, to add WSU and OSU to MWC?
Explain it to me like I’m 6 years old.
What broadcaster(s) are holding their breath with checkbook open, to add WSU and OSU to MWC?
Explain it to me like I’m 6 years old.
Pres. Schulz may be spending his free time in the Tri-Cities working with Pres. Murphy at Oregon State on a plan to get into the Big 12.
Signing an agreement with the Mountain West before the Big XII has filled all of its potential expansion vacancies seems risky.
Dr. Schultz and AD McCoy may be going to their delay tactics to buy WSU more time
Signing an agreement with the Mountain West before the Big XII has filled all of its potential expansion vacancies seems risky.
Dr. Schultz and AD McCoy may be going to their delay tactics to buy WSU more time
What part of hold tight for two years is difficult to understand?
What part of there will be no Pac 2/12ths naming deal is difficult to understand?
In two years the most likely outcome is a merger between the Pac 2/12ths and the MWC without having either party need to pay exit fees or give up what they already have in hand.
0-11, Some in the media as well as Mik here at CougZone think including all the MWC schools will dilute the value of the conference, in other words: "cut the bottom feeders" to raise the value.
Are they any other advantages to a 14-team superconference other than dodging exit fees or spending a rightfully-earned windfall?
Observer11:
Oh you guys.
Ok Uber. Since you post like you ARE 6 years old, I will dumb it down for you. You too Observer.
One more time. In the scheduling agreement signed with the MW last December, the notion of a merger was specifically mentioned.
Uber - what "deal" does the MW have in hand? Their media deal expires in July, 2026. WSU and OSU, and what's left of the Pac's name adds value to the MW. And value to the next media deal. If you don't agree, then why the F would the Big-12 or ACC have any desire to add us? Answer - they didn't and don't want us.
Observer - apparently your intimate knowledge of the College sports landscape makes you all-knowing about what naming possibilities are out there? At least the MW is being proactive in talking about it while we sit on our asses. A full or almost full reverse merger would cost both sides nothing.
Meanwhile, the Pac-2 competes in the MW for FB, without the ability to play for the title, and with no share of anything except to pay them for the privilege of having those games. We will have the ability to compete for the WCC (aka HS arena league) title in BB, but we will not share in any of their NCAA BB units even if we make the tourney. And with Women's BB likely to create their own, smaller NCAA revenue pool, that means something (or in our case -0- $) on the Women's side as well.
And yes if the Pac-2 loses its conference identity in 2 years we will give up approx. $30M in year 3-6 NCAA BB units, while in the meantime earning -0- in future units.
Finally, the Pac-12's affiliation with several bowls, specifically the Holiday and Vegas bowls, both played in MW cities, ends in 2 years. At least now we can talk to them about a continuing affiliation, albeit doubtful. But more of a chance than zero.
Sitting tight for 2 years costs us millions and millions and brings us basically nothing but a further journey into irrelevance.
But yeah let's hold tight for 2 years at which time we can beg the MW to take us (and probably have to pay them what little $ we will have left), at which time they will have negotiated their media deal and probably naming rights and maybe added a couple of other teams.
Well those are a good start. Plus being part of their next media deal. Plus start earning NCAA BB units (the MW had what, 5-6 teams in the tourney this year?). Plus being able to compete for a league title and a helluva better shot at getting a CFP invite. And saving a shit ton of money closing the Pac-2 offices in favor of Gloria as Commissioner and her offices as the league HQ. And maybe, just maybe salvaging a decent bowl affiliation or 2.
Loyal is anxious. And refuses to realize that the bargain basement, discount rack TV deal the MWC has will still be around.
D-Gib, do you or your sources feel good about Pres. Schulz getting WSU into either the Big 12 or ACC?
Don't count on them being around buddy. And pray tell just what better options will materialize for WSU in the meantime as we spend our nest egg with -0- return? Big-12? ACC? Ain't going to happen. And even if it did, and even if WSU got to have a full share of whatever money they will bring, we would still be woefully underfunded compared to all but maybe a few of their members and be flying all over the country in all sports.
I’m a business guy that works in the business world - not the public sector. The sponsorship will be worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. If at all.
Unless there’s some corporation whose brand is “we try harder”, there’s no compelling reason to spend marketing funds building a brand around something that may or may not be around in two years. Hence, no sponsor for the Pac Two-Twelfth Conference.
Whoever the MWC signs on with as their corporate sponsor may or may not score an affiliation with the New and Mountainous Pac-12 in a couple years, but certainly their negotiations would include contingencies and fees with or without WSU and OSU.
Now I see what you have been saying on the 2/12th notion. To clarify, my premise is that we reverse merge and seek naming rights for the new PacMtn-12/14, not the Pac-2. And to your point, I imagine that a Mtn West agreement would contain contingencies as you describe. But I will stick to my opinion that we and they are better off to come together NOW (as of July 1, 2025), and negotiate naming and media rights, and bowl affiliations, as a new and seemingly stable conference rather than limp into the picture when all of those birds have already flown. Contingencies or not.
But I tire of this. I think I will step away from this debate and wait to see what happens. $10 sez I will re-engage on this topic in a year or two to say "I told you so" no matter what if any scenario transpires. And then heckle most of you mercilessly and endlessly. If on the very remote chance that the sky falls, hell freezes over, pigs fly out of my ass and WSU finds a Genie bottle on the beach in Hawaii on our road trip there in 2025, I will humbly concede that I was wrong and sitting on our asses frittering away money begging for scraps was indeed a masterful strategy.
Let me be the very first one to propose a lucrative agreement for the new Pacific Mountain Dew Conference!
Ok I like that one.Let me be the very first one to propose a lucrative agreement for the new Pacific Mountain Dew Conference!
And Loyal doesn't realize that WSU has a lame duck university president and interim AD.
Brand X seems confident Dr. Schulz will make Mrs. McCoy the full-time AD before he rides off into the sunset
Let me put it to you this way. There is a drunk gal at the end of the bar near closing time. She's there because she hasn't found someone to take her home, but it seems like a certainty. The catch is she's leaving now, with or without you. But, she'll be back tomorrow.
On the other hand, the bartender just mentioned he heard at the wedding center down the street the groom got cold feet and bailed on the bride, and there might be a pack of single women including an emotionally fragile jilted bride on the way. Not certain, but maybe.
What's your play Loyal? Do you settle? Or hold out for something that may be much better?
BTW, zero percent chance the Pac is holding on to the Vegas bowl. Holiday, maybe.
Dang it I was gonna stop commenting on this topic. Moth to flame.
First of all, I am well aware that WSU has a lame duck President and a soon-to-be promoted interim AD. And the Pac-2 has a Commissioner with a 2-year contract. All of whom are lame.
Second, you have already thrown out your drunk chick at the bar analogy . Problem is, who is the jilted bride in your scenario?
Third, the Holiday Bowl paid out $6.5M last year, the Vegas Bowl $2.9M. Seems like retaining the Vegas Bowl is more likely. Although with the Holiday moving to 35,000 seat Snapdragon stadium this year, that might shuffle the deck a little.
This is actually a pretty appropriate scenario. You've got the drunk girl who was nobody's choice, but you know for sure is there and available. Or, you've got a secondhand rumor of dubious origin and with no supporting evidence that there might be a jilted bride who might be willing to slum it for the night.
So your options are to swallow your pride, close your eyes, and take the sure thing....or hold out to explore rumor and risk going home alone.
Pretty much exactly where we are.
I like your take on this 95. My only addition would be to say that if and as we continue to wrinkle our noses at the Mtn West and portray them as some undesirable 6-packer (I can explain to those who don't understand the term), they may very well just say F- you Pac-2, we are just fine the way we are. Or UNLV and SDSU get poached and they truly do become undesirable.
Hell almost all of their Athletics programs turned a breakeven or profit last year. CSU, SDSU, and soon to be Hawaii built or are building new stadiums. BSU and CSU are renovating theirs. All of which are similar in size to WSU's.
Is there a chance that WSU and OSU are having active conversations with a select number of MWC schools about the future and nobody knows about those conversations because nobody wants the outside world to know? A lot of your concerns are driven by the notion that WSU and OSU aren't doing anything and we don't know that to be the case. FWIW.....
Is a 6-packer the same thing as a double bagger or a butter face? Inquiring minds want to know.
No way, Flat! Because colleges and universities NEVER have conversations behind the backs of the peer schools in their conference. Know what I mean, Vern?
I suppose there is a chance. I would rate it right up there with the chance that pigs will fly out of my ass here pretty soon. after all, the Mtn West was formed after a secret meeting between the 8-founding member occurred at an airport, gutting and ultimately destroying the WAC.
You speak of select schools, which immediately conjures up the draconian exit fees and penalties of $60M plus if we were to poach 5 or 6 of them. Which the Pac-2 can't afford, despite what some of you all think. And why would they come anyway?
When Gloria (Mtn West Commissioner) goes to the podium and speaks to their discussions about naming rights, etc. and the silence from the Pac-2 about anything other than Apple Cup tickets is deafening, I would speculate that our hapless leadership is doing absolutely nothing. Or making calls that go to voicemail. In my all-knowing but always humble opinion.
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