Revenues for the PAC-10 Conference have "increased
115.3 percent" since '90, according to Scott Reid of the
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Revenues generated from conference
bowl and TV contracts, as well as NCAA competitions turned
the conference's athletic programs into a "nearly quarter-
billion-dollar-a-year-business." The schools generated a
combined $239.98M in the '96-97 fiscal year, dividing a
$36.68M payout. The '96-97 fiscal year was the most recent
year for which records were available. The conference paid
half of its schools over $4M each, with USC ($4.82M), Univ.
of WA ($4.59M), and UCLA ($4.31) topping the list. Since
'90, the PAC-10, a non-profit tax exempt organization, has
divided $156.9M among its institutions. During '96-97, the
university's CEOs approved a 34% salary increase for PAC-10
Commissioner Thomas C. Hansen, from $198,721 to $266,409.
Hansen: "I think people in the conference are very pleased
with where we are" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/16).
SHORTING ITSELF? In a separate piece, Reid reported
that, according to PAC-10 officials, the conference "could
be turning their backs on more than $10 million in annual
revenue by standing firm against expansion, a conference
championship football game and postseason basketball and
baseball tournaments." PAC-10 CEOs cite academic reasons
for resisting these changes. Steven Sample, USC President &
PAC-10 CEO Committee Chair: "Academics are always going to
be number No. 1 when we consider an issue." The PAC-10
generates a large part of its revenue from football and
basketball TV contracts ($22.18M), bowl games ($13.56M) and
NCAA basketball tournament payouts ($3.23M). The SEC and
Big 12 divided $58.9M and $56M, respectively, among their
schools during the '96-97 fiscal year. A significant part
of this revenue comes from football championships and post-
season basketball tourneys (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/16).
