LeFors:
Your point is well-made, but I believe it is only "the quiet before the storm". Your statistics are both accurate and they serves as a solid evidence of the situation today. However, we have not yet seen the consequences of what all of these changes will evolve into as we get further into the future.
First, the ten million viewers is a significant form of valuation right now, but in all fairness, most all of that TV audience is currently free. Like most, I recall when all ESPN, like ABC, NBC and CBS, were free, but even at this early point in time, ESPN is requiring a monthly fee for Premium content. Cable is going to increase its cost as it recognizes fewer people attending the venues in person in favor of watching at home.
We are already witnessing more and more schools reporting reduction in the number of season ticket holders, and its only time before the arena and stadium attendance feel the financial impact as the donations and ticket prices must increase to cover the reduced demand and increased expenses. Some schools are already questioning their acceptance to Bowl venues as they see fewer requests for tickets from alumni and fans.
Admittedly, some of the SEC and BIG schools are as popular as ever before, and clearly "they are printing money" in most all of their revenue sports, and I am not assigning the same dismal consequences to "those usual suspects", something that explains ESPN investing so much in those two conferences. However, at some point in time, even those two mega-conferences will discover that some of their own members are not contributing ............. and the "total cost of ownership" will become a topic of concern for some of those same members who recognize their alumni, Board of Directors and fans are questioning their own Mission Statements.
Ask yourself how long can UL justify its participation in the ACC based on the combination of cultural trends and financial realities affecting the schools mission? UL is not alone, there is a growing number of Universities that recognize the challenges and the required investment to play college football, and provide sufficient funding for Title IX non-revenue sports. Imagine the cost just to transport Teams round trip to California .............how did anyone include that in its budget?
I truly hate to sound so negative and pessimistic ............I just cannot see any of this as sustainable.
