RE: MAC Expansion Idea
One of the things not reported in the TV deal is the production costs the MAC pays. All we have is second hand comments from school officials here and there who say they barely break even after the MAC production costs. This is why the MAC has such low distributions, few TV dollars ever exit the MAC HQ, so you get some schools with minimal or no apparel or other deals of note collecting as little as $2.5M (e.g., Ball State). It's difficult to get a better breakdown. But the point is the totals are lower in the MAC than C-USA, indicating the money reported is not making it back to the schools.
Distributions and rights vary from school to school. This includes things like Bowl payout distributions. The 2016-17 numbers are actually HIGH for the MAC because they include distributing WMU's NY6 appearance take (hence their $4.4M). 2017-18 is likely to be lower for the MAC. (Note, I am on record as saying FAU has the inside track to get the G5 NY6 slot if they can get through the OOC 3-1, as they will roll by blowouts the 9 CUSA games, while the best in the AAC and MWC will beat each other up and have a pair of losses most likely; this should boost CUSA a little in 2018-19 if I'm right.)
When you look at the actual number the MAC is almost as bad as the Sun Belt. This is why they have mid-week November MACtion. It's a sign of weakness, not strength. We all know their gate has suffered significantly. But the decision has been made to trade off that for exposure - a conscience advertising decision. C-USA made the opposite decision to protect gate, with regular Saturday games and meager TV, but also less overhead. How does that fare?
Well ODU is defending $4,237,654 in ticket sales plus $5,851,095 in donations (people who attend are more likely to donate ... duh). Marshall, the other most mentioned MAC love interest is protecting $3,499,254 in gate and $4,038,955 donations. This compares to WMich, the leading MAC school totals of $2,962,803 in ticket sales with $2,742,325 donations. The MAC ranges all the way down (7 schools total gate of less than $1.3M) to these four (yikes!)
School, Ticket Sales Donations,
Ball, $1,064,726, $ 310,062
CMich, $ 724,471, $1,774,258
Kent, $ 509,730, $ 921,287
EMich, $ 231,725, $ 607,580
There is no question those weeknight games cost each MAC school at least a few hundred thousand in gate, and likely a similar amount in donations. It's a trade off C-USA school conscientiously decided against. The numbers above indicate it is the right choice.
Look, I am well aware that there is strong sentiment among ODU, JMU, and Marshall for a regional conference of say 10 schools, and they all agree on Miami U and Ohio U, probably UDel and App State, with desires to nab WKU and Middle Tennessee. But that is going to happen. Changing a Southern conference with an upper South Division for a Great Lakes one with less revenue and a questionable weeknight November football program does not look at all attractive to me, and cannot imagine it looks any better to one of those schools when they open the books (both ways) and realize this situation.
Bottom line, no C-USA school will go to the MAC or seriously entertain, it if courted, once they look at the books.
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