The AAC "wants to be considered a power conference" and yesterday released a strategic plan "designed to help it improve its stature," according to Pat Eaton-Robb of the AP. The plan "sets numerous goals for athletics, academics, health and safety, marketing and revenue." Among them are "filling football stadiums and basketball arenas" to between 70-80% capacity; "strengthening the conference's TV and media rights deals and pushing 'a Power 6 narrative.'" The plan "features a logo that reads 'American Power,' with the 'e' in the word Power replaced by the numeral 6." AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco said that the conference "already has the athletic achievements of a power conference" and the "key now is to find a 'legislative path' to be counted among the other big conferences when it comes to autonomy and post-season consideration, especially in football." Aresco: "We'll also need a better TV deal, we know that. But the very first step is to be perceived by you, the media and the fans as a P6 conference" (AP, 5/1). In Tampa, Joey Knight notes "utilizing and leveraging the national TV platform afforded the league via Thursday and Friday games also remains an ongoing quest." Many will consider Aresco's Power 6 push as a "monetary pipe dream, considering how AAC schools simply can't match the revenue generated by their Power Five peers." The AAC's current TV deal with ESPN -- "puny compared to those of the Power Five leagues -- expires" after the '19-20 academic year. Aresco has said that the AAC will "explore the possibility of an agreement with a viable online entity such as Google or Facebook" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/2). In Wichita, Paul Suellentrop writes the AAC's plan is an "ambitious goal," but it is "all PR until some sort of media company pays up" (WICHITA EAGLE, 5/2).
