SEC member schools averaged $19.5M "from their conference payout in 2010-11, an increase of $1.2 million from the previous year,” according to the league's non-profit IRS filing cited by Jon Solomon of the BIRMINGHAM NEWS. The amount is “more than the $18.3 million average payout the SEC estimated last June from all revenues.” Texas A&M and Missouri will join the SEC in ’12-13 and the league “will negotiate for increased TV dollars because of the additions.” Because the SEC “shares the majority of its revenue, the difference between the highest and lowest payout among schools last year was only $258,925.” In the period between Sept. 1, 2010, and Aug. 31, 2011, the SEC reported $158.3M in revenue from "television and ‘other production’ during the second year of the 15-year ESPN/CBS deals.” That is up 3% from the $153.3M reported "from television and satellite radio in 2009-10.” The conference saw an 11% “increase in postseason revenue" with $89.4M in ‘10-11. Solomon noted television/other production and postseason events “made up 95 percent of the SEC's revenue.” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive made “$1,008,771 in total compensation in 2010-11, nearly the same as a year earlier” (AL.com, 2/17).
CHANGES ARE COMING: In K.C., Terez Paylor notes with Missouri’s impending move to the SEC, AD Mike Alden yesterday spoke about topics “ranging from ticket prices to uniforms and stadium updates as the school attempts to ‘step up’ and improve ‘in all areas.’” Alden said that MU will be “raising football ticket prices ‘across the board’ with the exception of faculty and students.” He also said that the artificial turf surface at Memorial Stadium “will be replaced this summer at a cost of $1.5 million.” SEC logos will “be added, the Tiger logo at midfield will be larger, and the diamonds in the endzones will read ‘Mizzou’ instead of ‘Missouri.’” The design of the new field “hints at another big change,” as the school’s “official rebranding will be unveiled during the Tigers’ spring football game April 14.” Alden said that Missouri “has been working with Nike for more than 18 months on unifying the gold and letter font in all uniforms to make it consistent across all sports” (K.C. STAR, 2/21).
TAKING A GAMBLE: ESPN.com’s Kristi Dosh noted conference realignment “is coming along with short-term costs in the 2012 college football schedule.” Prior to leaving the Big East, WVU “canceled its game against non-conference opponent Florida State and paid a $500,000 cancellation fee.” FSU Assistant AD Elliott Finebloom said that the loss of the home game “will cost the Seminoles far more than the program received in the cancellation fee.” Finebloom: “We’ll probably lose $2.5 million in ticket sales.” Dosh noted it could cost FSU “another $1 million to bring an opponent into town.” Texas A&M has “given up home games and has only five scheduled at Kyle Field for 2012” as it transitions into the SEC. The school has had “seven home games for the past six years.” With two fewer home games this year, the Aggies “could be looking at an $8 million-plus loss” (ESPN.com, 2/20).
