RANT SPORTS – The ACC-ESPN extension is step one in saving the conference

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and ESPN have officially agreed to a media contract extension until 2036. The primary objective is to maintain the unity of the ACC and resolve the lawsuits involving Clemson and Florida State University (FSU).

To no one’s surprise, ESPN extended the deal that was set to expire on February 1. The extension binds ESPN and the ACC together until 2036.

According to an ESPN report, the ACC board of directors voted to approve the extension on Wednesday night. The ACC is now working towards a settlement with Florida State and Clemson to end both schools’ lawsuits against the conference.

FSU has been engaged in a legal dispute with the conference since December 2023, focusing on media rights and the exit fee the school would be required to pay if it chose to leave the conference.

The plan to keep Clemson, FSU, Miami, and UNC happy

The ACC, along with Florida State University and Clemson University, has been engaged in discussions regarding a new revenue distribution model since September. The extension of the television contract could expedite settlement negotiations and lead to a restructuring of revenue sharing, potentially resulting in both FSU and Clemson withdrawing their lawsuits against the conference.

A crucial aspect of the new agreement is that a portion of the ACC’s TV revenue will be allocated to a “brand” fund, according to multiple reports, including ESPN. This fund be distributed to schools that generate the most revenue annually for the conference in football and men’s and women’s basketball. Florida State and Clemson are expected to withdraw their lawsuits if the agreement is finalized.

The ACC is negotiating an agreement with its members to allocate a percentage of the conference’s television revenue to a “brand” fund, which would be distributed to the schools that generate the most revenue for the conference, likely based on metrics such as TV ratings. This initiative aims to reward Clemson, FSU, Miami, and UNC for their capacity to generate substantial revenue for the ACC.

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The Notre Dame factor

Another provision involves the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The recent national runners-up have an agreement to play several games against ACC members each season. ESPN and the ACC will now seek to leverage this partnership with the Fighting Irish.

The goal would be for Notre Dame to play more games against FSU, Miami, Clemson, and North Carolina. It makes sense because of the TV ratings. The Irish had some epic battles in the 1980s and ’90s against both Miami and FSU.

These battles would also benefit the Irish who could see their partial share of the football revenue increase.

The end game

ESPN gets cost certaninty with the extension with the ACC and it makes sure the conference remains viable. As for FSU, Clemson, Miami and North Carolina they stay where they are and quit shopping for the SEC or the Big Ten.

Just for clairity none of the four were going to be invited anywhere anytime soon. Does that conference realighnment

The event in June, 2026.

You have to wonder what FIFA, the governing body of international football or soccer, is going to do with its crown jewel event, the 2026 Men’s World Cup that is scheduled to be played in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Once upon a time, not too long ago, FIFA officials were probably dreaming of American greenbacks, Canadian loonies and Mexican pesos flowing into the business. Now FIFA is staring at an economic mess because of the trade wars that have erupted in North America. On April 10^th, 2017, the United States, Canada and Mexico announced that the three countries would bid for the 2026 World Cup and President Donald Trump expressed support for the bid. FIFA waived its no co-hosting rule and awarded the event to the united bid on June 13^th, 2018.

As of now, there are sixteen cities or markets hosting 2026 World Cup matches. Mexico will get three contests,  while Canada gets two, one in Toronto, which is the economic capital of Canada, and one in Vancouver, which is Canada’s gateway to Asia. Eleven American cities will host contests, Santa Clara, California, Los Angeles, Seattle, Arlington, Texas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Foxboro, Massachusetts, Miami, Philadelphia and the championship game scheduled for East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19^th, 2026. FIFA has navigated through the Qatar Men’s World Cup and has awarded the 2034 Men’s World Cup to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but has not faced a situation before where one of the host countries has started a trade war against its two nation partners. FIFA is not the one sports entity that is dealing with the trade war. The National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League all have business in Canada. The trade war will impact sports.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tony DeAngelo converted on a breakaway 33 seconds into overtime to lift the New York Islanders to their seventh straight win, 3-2 over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night.

Kyle Palmieri and Adam Boqvist, in his Islanders’ debut, also scored for New York while Ilya Sorokin finished with 28 saves.

Nikita Kucherov tied the game with 46.1 seconds left in regulation while Jake Guentzel also scored for Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots for Tampa Bay.

The Lightning opened the scoring when Guentzel tipped a shot by Erik Cernak at 5:39 of the second period.

But Boqvist, in his first game since being claimed off waivers from Florida on Friday, followed up Mat Barzal’s breakaway chance that was stopped by Vasilevskiy at 18:16 of the second.

Palmieri put New York ahead at 6:41 of the third period before Kucherov tied the game.

Takeaways

Islanders: Barzal registered his 328th career assist to tie Pat Flatley for eighth in franchise history. Barzal left the game in the final minute after taking a shot by Darren Raddysh off his left leg.

Lightning: Tampa Bay scored less than three goals for the fourth time in its past six games. Guentzel’s 26 goals through 50 games played is the second most in franchise history for a player in their first season with Tampa Bay.

Key moment

Tampa Bay was on the power play with 4:31 left in the second period when Kucherov hit the crossbar, Brayden Point was denied from the slot and two rebound chances by Guentzel were denied. Boqvist tied the game with 1:44 left in the second.

Key stat

Tampa Bay fell to 0-14-3 this season when scoring two or fewer goals.

Up Next

The Islanders are at Florida on Sunday and the Lightning host Ottawa on Tuesday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl