Grass may be greener in Big 12

Frustrated with ACC, both FSU and Miami are jealous of UCF

You know it’s reached defcon levels of frustration and dissatisfaction at Florida State and Miami when they are publicly admitting to being jealous of UCF.

Earlier this week, Florida State athletic director Michael Alford, in an interview with FSU fan website Warchant.com, was asked how the already-outdated media rights (television) deal the ACC signed with ESPN in 2016 compares to the recently negotiated TV deal that UCF’s new league — the Big 12 — signed with ESPN and Fox.

“If you look at the revenue projections, they [Big 12] should have a better agreement than we have by going out to market,” Alford told Warchant.com “That means there’s going to be another school in the state [UCF] that’s going to have a better agreement than Miami and us. And that’s just not acceptable to us.”

My translation of Alford’s quote comes appropriately from the classic movie Network: ”FSU and Miami are mad as hell and they aren’t going to take it anymore.”

Actually a more fitting translation might be: “FSU and Miami are mad as hell and there’s absolutely nothing they can do about it.”

And that’s one of the major reasons they are so disgruntled — because the 14 members of the ACC know they are stuck in a bad deal they all agreed to seven years ago. And with the SEC getting ready to add Texas and Oklahoma and the Big Ten getting ready to add USC and UCLA, both of those leagues have recently signed new TV deals that dwarf the ACC’s. In addition, the Big 12, even though they are losing Texas and Oklahoma and adding four less-prominent members (UCF, Cincinnati, Houston and BYU), has a deal that — depending on who you ask — is equal to or maybe even a little better than the ACC’s.

Stadium, a new plaza area and renovations to the existing Wayne Densch Sports Center.

Previously the expected total amount for the plans was $125 million, the Sentinel reported a year ago. While those plans made it clear that the number was just an estimation and it may be altered based on “scope changes, schedule delays, and market conditions,” a new total cost had not been publicly shared since Mohajir introduced the changes mentioned above less than two months ago — until now.

UCF said the new total cost of the proposed project is $267,878,184, according to the project budget included in the application. So far, $26,850,00 has been raised for the project, the document said.

The university is requesting $176,625,000 over a 10-year period, which is approximately two-thirds of the total project cost, according to the application. UCF said the remaining funds would then come from “private sources, including philanthropy, corporate partnership revenue and premium seat revenue.”

As part of the application, UCF was asked when the development began, what stage the project is currently in and when the first operation is expected.

UCF mentioned the 2021 launch of the plans and multiple steps already taken in the process, which included approval from the trustees to spend $4.7 million for A ECO M to design key aspects and a recent announcement of the start of $12 million in funded updates to the basketball and volleyball venues.

UCF added that several components not included in the TDT request could begin as soon as late 2023, pending philanthropic funding.

The university said the requested funds would go toward a number of “transformational” components, including the construction of the new football stadium tower which would introduce a “Launch Club” and expand suite options among other new premium seating opportunities.

“These transformational components need TDT investment for accelerated development,” UCF wrote in the application. “If TDT funds are committed over a 10-year period, UCF would be positioned to design and construct as quickly as feasible to drive additional visitor capacity and attract new events and related tourism revenue guaranteeing a strong return of investment to the region.”

This phase of the project would “build capacity and drive tourism,” an explanation that is crucial to the potential approval of the TDT funding.

The university explains that UCF’s upcoming July 1 entry into the Big 12 Conference will “bring new, vibrant fan bases and visitors” to the Orlando area, especially during the football season.

“As Orange County becomes home to a Power 5 athletics program, these facilities will deliver sustained and consistent programming and activity year-round,” UCF wrote. “In addition, the completion of this project will enable UCF to better supportive competitive bids for national events that drive the professional, amateur and young sport tourism sector in Orlando.”

If approved, UCF would receive $10 million in 2024, $15 million in ‘25, another $15 million the year after and so on, the request said. The requested payment timeline would look as follows:

„ ■ 2024: $10 million

„ ■ ’25: $15M

„ ■ ’26: $15M

„ ■ ’27: $16.6M

„ ■ ’28: $20M

„ ■ ’29: $20M

„ ■ 2030: $20M

„ ■ ’31: $20M

„ ■ ’32: $20M

„ ■ ’33: $20M

Almost $4 billion was requested from more than 50 eligible applicants for various projects, including $800 million to complete renovations to Camping World Stadium, $975 million for a new baseball stadium and $256 million to renovate the Amway Center.

While the task force will hear formal pitches from the applicants, the Orange County commissioners will have the final say on the spending plans.