Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Colleges

UConn's Move To Big East Will Help Finances, But Not In Short Term

UConn's athletic department is a big money loser, after running a nearly $41M deficit in '18getty images

UConn AD David Benedict said that rejoining the Big East "aims to shore up the athletic department's finances, but don't look for UConn sports to break even anytime soon," according to Sean Teehan of the HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL. UConn's athletics department is a "big money loser," having run a nearly $41M deficit in '18 alone. The conference change has "numerous financial implications that will likely impact UConn sports for years to come." On the plus-side, the move brings UConn men's and women's basketball teams into a conference "populated by historic rivals that should garner more fan interest." Those teams are also closer to UConn, which will "cut down travel time and costs." On the other hand, a "homeless UConn football team will now have to schedule all of its own games, and it's unclear whether UConn's successful basketball teams can step up as bigger revenue-generators to prop up the football program." Last year, UConn's men's basketball team brought in about $8.5M in revenue, while the football team earned $19M. UConn BOT member Tom Ritter said that the school's football team is in "prime position to schedule games with high-profile teams as an independent school." Ritter said, "What we're finding is that the Power Five conferences are looking for schools like UConn to fill up their schedules, and they're willing to pay a lot of money" (HARTFORDBUSINESS.com, 10/14).

ONE LAST GOODBYE: AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco said that he "probably won't come to as many UConn games this season as in the past," but he "does not see awkwardness in the Huskies' lame-duck conference status." He said, "There's only awkwardness if you create it. ... I don't think anybody feels that way. UConn's going to be really good in basketball again. In fact, I think they will come back in our league this year and be a real force." Aresco also "reiterated there are no hard feelings, now that UConn and the AAC reached agreement on exit terms, and he still appreciates his relationships" with Benedict and former UConn President Susan Herbst (HARTFORD COURANT, 10/15).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2019/10/15/Colleges/UConn.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2019/10/15/Colleges/UConn.aspx

CLOSE