DiStefano said the Pac-12 must sell more tickets to catch up to other conference's revenuesGETTY IMAGES
Colorado Chancellor and Pac-12 BOD Chair Phil DiStefano recently sat for a Q&A with the DENVER POST's Sean Keeler and discussed the "tumult that's shaken the Pac-12 since the autumn," including the "jaw-dropping reports" on Commissioner Larry Scott's spending habits." DiStefano admitted it has been a "rough time" recently for the conference and noted while Scott still has a few years on his contract, which runs through '22, the conference will "certainly take a (look) at" it in the future. DiStefano said, "Right now, the focus is with the Raine Group and our media rights." He added Scott is "very open" to more administrator involvement. DiStefano: "He's been very open to it. And again, it's really getting Larry as a commissioner getting direction from the chancellors and presidents and I use the term -- things have evolved in the Pac-12. And Larry's been very open to looking at different ways of doing things. So I think it's been very positive." On how to close the revenue gap between the Pac-12 and other conferences such as the Big Ten and SEC, DiStefano said, "It goes back to filling our stadiums." He added, "There are media rights (issues), but then what can we do as campuses? And how can we be much more entrepreneurial in making sure that (they generate revenue)?" (DENVER POST, 5/26).
TOO MANY COOKS: In Tucson, Greg Hansen noted the Pac-12 last week revealed that Scott was paid $5.3M in '17, which was $1.2M "more than any other conference commissioner." Hansen wrote: "Here's my question: Why does the Pac-12 even need Scott?" Deputy Commissioner & COO Jamie Zaninovich "essentially runs the league," and Mark Shuken is president of the Pac-12 Networks. Beyond them, Scott has "surrounded himself with a chief of staff, a CFO, a senior associate commissioner, seven associate commissioners, seven vice presidents, four assistant commissioners and a senior vice president." Hansen: "Do you really need someone to oversee all of those high-ranking and high-paid officials?" (TUCSON.com, 5/25).
