Big 10 Expansion Would Generate Revenue With Right Team

Sports News - March 5th, 2010 - Written By Bryan Cross

Those who have campaigned for the expansion of the Big 10 now have the research to back up their proposition.

A report orchestrated by a firm in Chicago looked at the various scenarios of five different schools joining the Big 10 conference. Specifically, the firm conducted an investigation into the potential revenue stream, to discover if it would indeed be profitable.

"The point was: We can all get richer if we bring in the right team or teams," according to source which spoke to the Chicago Tribune.

William Blair & Company was the firm who conducted the study which included Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Missouri, Syracuse and Rutgers.

While several Big 10 officials are advocates for the expansion, they are quick to point out that they will not support an expansion which causes lost revenue.

"You just don't jump into the league and get a full share of what everyone else in this league has established over time," Wisconsin Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez remarked in an interview with The Associated Press. "I think someone has to buy their way into the league."

Reportedly the source interviewed by the Tribune said that a member of the Big East conference joining the Big 10 would have to offer up a payment of $5 million, deemed a "loyalty clause."

Storied Penn State head coach Joe Paterno supports the expansion plan to add a twelfth team in the conference. Along with Alvarez, they both believe that the addition of a team would pave the path for a conference championship game, and draw more attention to the conference later in the season, specifically after Thanksgiving.

"You take a look at the championship week in December and we're non-players," remarked Alvarez. "We're irrelevant."

Big 10 conference commissioner Jim Delany has held his office since 1989. He added the last team to the current slate of teams in 1993, with Penn State. Since then, the Big 10 tried once more in 1999 to add Notre Dame to the conference, with the University declining the invitation and choosing to remain as an independent.

Delany had little to say of the expansion except "this is not a quiet phase; this is a silent phase."

Last week it was reported that the conference was interested in the University of Texas from the Big 12 conference. The Big 12 is the newest addition to the slate of BCS conferences, launching in 1994.

Despite reports, Texas director of athletics DeLoss Dodds said that the university is content with the Big 12.

Big 10 members are bringing their basketball regular season to a close, with many teams vying for high seeds in the 2010 NCAA Basketball tournament. Currently, NCAA Basketball odds at Sportsbooks have Kansas, Kentucky and Syracuse listed as the betting favorites. Among the Big 10 teams competing for top seeding is Ohio State, Michigan State and Purdue.