South Carolina AD Ray Tanner following the SEC's annual spring meetings last week discussed several topics, including the "financial future of the SEC and upcoming facilities projects, including a proposed overhaul at Williams-Brice Stadium," according to a Q&A with Josh Kendall of the Columbia STATE. Below are excerpts from the Q&A, some of which have been edited for brevity.
Q: The SEC stopped releasing its financial payouts in the summer and now makes that information public by releasing its tax returns in January or February. Last year, the conference distributed approximately $40M to each school and record-breaking revenue of $639M. How closely is the league monitoring the future of its finances?
Tanner: We had a really good conversation (last week) about that, about our growth but also the increase in expenses and the things we’re doing on our own campuses and the things that go on in the conference as well when we continue to grow championships and we continue to add technology. It all costs money. That conversation is relevant. I think it’s fair to say that we’re not sitting here thinking that we have a conference that distributes a lot of money to each school and we’re all good. We realize that costs are also escalating from all aspects, from technology to coaching salaries to athletics director’s salaries to everything.
Q: With ESPN and CBS dealing with the effects of cord cutting and ESPN recently going through a round of layoffs, is the league paying attention to what’s going on in the media landscape?
Tanner: Those entities were in to visit with the presidents and athletic directors (at the SEC meetings). That was very, very healthy. In many instances the negative reports are less than accurate. While subscriptions have declined, the profitability is still very, very solid. Growth is a concern if you just drill down to subscriptions, but the sky is not falling.
Q: Did any part of those conversations include the talk that current television contracts might have to be adjusted down in the future based on changing realities of the media business?
Tanner: No, we haven’t had that conversation, but keep in mind we are 62 to 65 million subscribers in the SEC footprint. That’s where we are today. That part is very strong.
Q: How do you feel about the school’s athletic facilities at this point?
Tanner: Being in my former position [as baseball coach], I recognize the fact that facilities count. I always have some angst about hearing the terms, ‘Keeping up with the Joneses,’ or that it’s excessive. I never feel that way. I feel like it’s a level playing field where you have to provide the resources. We have invested quite a bit. ... The football operations building is part of the culture of college football now for efficiency and effectiveness.
Q: What is left on your facilities to-do list?
Tanner: I’d like to do an eastside project with football. That’s still in the conversation stage at this point, but we would like to do suites on the eastside of the stadium to give our fan base more opportunities for premium seating as we expand (Columbia STATE, 6/7).
