The Pac 2's Contracts with the MWC and WCC
The Pac 2 chose price over quality for a basketball partner.
I received the Pac 2’s affiliate agreement with the WCC today and compared it with the MWC agreement. The only surprises in the comparison were 1) the option to schedule basketball with MWC and 2) the cost differential between the two leagues for scheduling basketball. Basketball scheduling was on the table with the MWC and the WCC at the same time for just a few weeks in December 2023. The Pac 2’s choices were to pay $175,000 to the WCC or $1.0 million to the MWC for one year of men’s and women’s basketball. The MWC will likely get more NCAA bids than the last version of the Pac-12 this year.
Key Terms of MWC Agreement
One year with option for a second
Forty-five (45) day option period (December 1, 2023, to January 14, 2024) for good faith negotiations to add men’s and women’s basketball to the football scheduling agreement.
$2.0 million administrative fee paid to MWC five days after the execution of the agreement.
$1.5 million paid to MWC for each scheduled home football game (6
12games for total of $9.0 $18million).$1.0 million to be paid for Men’s and Women’s Basketball for a full season(if agreed to in subsequent negotiations)
$3.0 million General Participation Fee paid to MWC for operational support.
Exit fee of $5.5 million each for WSU/OSU.
If the Pac-2 were to convince six MWC conference schools to join the conference (to meet the 8-team eligibility requirement) the withdrawal fee would be $67.5 million. This does not include the departing schools exit fee.
Key Terms from WCC Agreement
Two years with an exit fee for year two
Executed December 21, 2023 (three weeks into MWC negotiations for basketball affiliation)
The Pac-2 pay $1.16 million to the WCC to participate as affiliate members (see schedule below)
The Pac-2 can withdraw from the second year of the WCC agreement with notice before January 1, 2025, and a payment of approximately $425,000 each.
No share of broadcast revenues for games.
No representation is guaranteed for various administrative committees.
WSU/OSU eligible for Automatic Qualification spots in all sports
NCAA Men’s Basketball units earned by WSU/OSU are retained by the WCC.
