The Independent Expansion Groundswell

[statman]

Everyone still hate this idea?

So that's 4 million from ESPN, how much from KSL broadcasting revenues? Any guesses?

A couple of weeks ago, Locke said ~$3 million for local rights only, more if KSL wants to be the one to sell the non-ESPN games nationally.

For national non-ESPN rights, add another couple million (again BYU getting top dollar because THEY'LL be doing the production), and some more money for PPV/internet streaming/etc.

It's a $10 million a year package - for football only. And there's potentially more money to be made from basketball - all games not televised by the WAC could be available on internet HD streaming - by subscription only, of course. This is a business, not a charity... ;-)

[CJF]

If the WAC is losing Fresno and Nevada, maybe the West Coast Conference is our only other option. I don't think any other FBS conference would allow us to come in sans football team.

I would be more welcoming to going Indy if we end up in the WCC rather than the WAC. I hate the idea of going to La. Tech and Hawaii for the non-revenue sports. Just a waste of money and resources. WCC plays good basketball, has several faith based schools, and all on the west coast. Plus, their commisioner is saying BYU would be welcomed to the conference.

[statman]

Plus, their commisioner is saying BYU would be welcomed to the conference.

I hadn't heard this yet - makes sense. BYU would put butts in seats in any WCC venue. But it's good to hear...

[CJF]

I hadn't heard this yet - makes sense. BYU would put butts in seats in any WCC venue. But it's good to hear...

[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5474774"]Mountain West Conference extends invitations to Nevada, Fresno State - ESPN[/ame]

WCC commissioner Jamie Zaninovich told ESPN.com early Wednesday the league would be interested in pursuing BYU for all sports except football. Zaninovich said BYU would fit well with the other church-based institutions in the eight-team league.

[ERCougar]

I would be more welcoming to going Indy if we end up in the WCC rather than the WAC. I hate the idea of going to La. Tech and Hawaii for the non-revenue sports. Just a waste of money and resources. WCC plays good basketball, has several faith based schools, and all on the west coast. Plus, their commisioner is saying BYU would be welcomed to the conference.

Hmm...that's actually not a bad option.
We're back to football scheduling issues, however. I guess we can just play the (former) WAC teams we were going to play...we just lose BSU and TCU from my dream scenario.

Let's just hope that the WAC stays together and BSU and TCU join.

[creekster]

Mountain West Conference extends invitations to Nevada, Fresno State - ESPN

I would love it, from a personal POV, as St. Mary's is just down the road. OTOH, they do have some small gyms.

[CJF]

I would love it, from a personal POV, as St. Mary's is just down the road. OTOH, they do have some small gyms.

That's the draw back. The Gonzaga game could be moved to the Spokane Arena, which wouldn't be bad. The St. Mary's and San Fran's are going to be in smaller arenas, but the basketball will be much better overall. They also play their conference tourny in Vegas if I remember correctly. Plus, this is in our recruiting foot print. Makes a lot more sense to me to go WCC than the WAC.

[Hot Lunch]

Maybe this has been posted, I haven't had time to follow this all day but I am sure the conferences outside of the MWC and WAC and laughing at this and thinking that the WAC and MWC are an even bigger joke than they previously thought.

EDIT: It is a good thing BYU is getting out I guess.

[creekster]

They also play their conference tourny in Vegas if I remember correctly.

That is correct. The more I think abotu it the more I like it, to be honest.

[LiveCoug]

I'm worried about hoops and football long term...

What will attendence look like a couple years down the road? Will the fans come to the MC for games against teams that we have no relationship with (besides USU)? WCC won't bring the people....

Scary.

[LA Ute]

This is not playing well on the MWC board:

http://www.mwcboard.com/www/forums/i...howtopic=26294

[jay santos]

We're idiots if we move to a Fresno and Nevada-less WAC. Voice of reason step forward please.

[Flystripper]

Ah that makes more sense then, thanks.

Fresno State and SDSU are both California State Universities...they just say it differently but are part of the cal state tier and not the UC tier

[CJF]

I'm worried about hoops and football long term...

What will attendence look like a couple years down the road? Will the fans come to the MC for games against teams that we have no relationship with (besides USU)? WCC won't bring the people....

Scary.

I disagree. I think the WCC will bring fans as much as all our current conference brings minus Utah. Gonzaga and St. Mary's will be fine. We seem to play Loyola and Pepperdine often anyway. I think we've played USF a few times in the last five or six years. We're playing a lot of these schools now. Build up a few rivalries, (hello Gonzaga) and things will take off. Plus, it's a good recruiting area for us. I don't love the idea of going Indy, but if we're forced to do it, I hope we are in the WCC and not the WAC.

[Top Ute]

I would be more welcoming to going Indy if we end up in the WCC rather than the WAC. I hate the idea of going to La. Tech and Hawaii for the non-revenue sports. Just a waste of money and resources. WCC plays good basketball, has several faith based schools, and all on the west coast. Plus, their commisioner is saying BYU would be welcomed to the conference.

Yeah, Karl Benson said the same thing and look how that's turned out.

You cannot sell BYU non-revenue sports to a conference in which BYU would crush them from a financial and competitive standpoint.