I was going to call it news. but most of it doesn’t even come close to that. Opinions, pontifications, lunacy, and stupidity? Plenty. Actual news. Well, that’s rather limited.
So let’s get that out of the way first with some comments from Big East Commissioner John Marinatto from a Wednesday interview.
One factor that could play a huge role in the league’s expansion plans are its current and future television markets. The Big East’s current TV contract with ESPN/ABC expires after the 2013 football season and the 2012-13 basketball season.
If the Big East added new members before the current TV contracts expire, the league could seek to renegotiate.
“Membership — quality membership and quality inventory — drives value,” Marinatto said. “We’re certainly cognizant of the value that expansion and quality inventory would bring to a television partner.”
Marinatto also indicated there has been “no discussion” about forcing out any existing members to make room for any additional schools.
None of this is really news, so much as confirmation of what was believed/expected.
