Project Rudy---a new Super League concept looms that could radically alter college sports

[Knight Shift]

Oh boy--private capital --this may not end well.




"Project Rudy is built on two somewhat simple concepts to increase revenue from television networks and corporate sponsors.

(1) Arrange more games between power conference programs by eliminating all games against Group of Five and FCS opponents; expanding the playoffs; and pitting blue-blood powers more often against one another.

(2) Consolidate the media rights of the 70 schools under one agreement, instead of the current structure of five different packages (one for each power league and Notre Dame)."

While SEC and Big Ten leaders mull major changes, a new Super League concept could radically alter college sports

As SEC and Big Ten leaders prepare to meet this week in Nashville for a historic summit of the industry’s two powers, there is an unreported undercurrent driving the discussion: Project Rudy.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[RUbacker]

Oh boy--private capital --this may not end well.




"Project Rudy is built on two somewhat simple concepts to increase revenue from television networks and corporate sponsors.

(1) Arrange more games between power conference programs by eliminating all games against Group of Five and FCS opponents; expanding the playoffs; and pitting blue-blood powers more often against one another.

(2) Consolidate the media rights of the 70 schools under one agreement, instead of the current structure of five different packages (one for each power league and Notre Dame)."

While SEC and Big Ten leaders mull major changes, a new Super League concept could radically alter college sports

As SEC and Big Ten leaders prepare to meet this week in Nashville for a historic summit of the industry’s two powers, there is an unreported undercurrent driving the discussion: Project Rudy.

sports.yahoo.com

sorry hate the name project rudy lol

 

[Joey Bags]

So much for ND being forced to join a conference

 

[RU_Goo]

I dont see the teams from the big ten or sec going for this. they have all the power, and people dont give that up for the sake of goodness and keeping other schools involved.

 

[ashokan]

"Spearheaded by former Disney executives-turned-investment professionals..."
Keep the scum out.


CCP front groups already headed for NFL

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/05/nfl-private-equity-how-investing-in-teams-will-work.html

 

[LotusAggressor]

Curious to name a project after someone who went to jail in a pump and dump stock scandal. And whose greatest moment started with him being offsides.

 

[Knight Shift]

"Spearheaded by former Disney executives-turned-investment professionals..."
Keep the scum out.


CCP front groups already headed for NFL

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/05/nfl-private-equity-how-investing-in-teams-will-work.html

When you say CCP, do you mean this entity, and if not, you got a link for CCP to which you are referring to?

CCP Equity Partners

 

[ashokan]

When you say CCP, do you mean this entity, and if not, you got a link for CCP to which you are referring to?

CCP Equity Partners

Its well known that China told BlackRock that if they want to do business in China they will have to push CCP agenda in US. BlackRock pushed ESG/DEI poison pills, got radicals on Exxon to cut production 25% among other things. BR is the gang that sees undercutting US as a goldmine. Foreign countries (and others) see US sports as great propaganda tools

"ESG has grown in importance and value, moving beyond a niche set of investors to large institutional investors and hitting a watershed moment three years ago when BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, the world’s largest institutional investor, declared in his annual letter that companies should get on the right side of ESG or get out of the BlackRock portfolio."

ESG and the CCP: Why Investors Should Care about the Chinese Communist Party Incorporated

Investors have a vested interest in understanding the Chinese Communist Party’s relationship with corporate environmental, social, and governance regulations. By holding all industries accountable to strong standards, business and society will benefit.

www.csis.org

"BlackRock invests in about 30 subsidiaries of Chinese defense contractors that have been banned since 2022 by the Treasury Department."

Wall Street, Led by BlackRock, Is Funding Blacklisted Chinese Companies

BlackRock invests in about 30 subsidiaries of Chinese defense contractors that have been banned since 2022 by the Treasury Department.

www.newsweek.com

Sports: The next frontier of foreign influence in America

American sports had remained one of the few sectors in American society that was largely insulated from foreign influence. Until now.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

 

[RUbacker]

"Spearheaded by former Disney executives-turned-investment professionals..."
Keep the scum out.


CCP front groups already headed for NFL

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/05/nfl-private-equity-how-investing-in-teams-will-work.html

want nothing to do with anyone from Disney. totally agree with you.

 

[Knight Shift]

Its well known that China told BlackRock that if they want to do business in China they will have to push CCP agenda in US. BlackRock pushed ESG/DEI, got radicals on Exxon to cut production 25% among other things. BR is the gang that sees undercutting US as a goldmine. Foreign countries (and others) see US sports as great propaganda tools

"ESG has grown in importance and value, moving beyond a niche set of investors to large institutional investors and hitting a watershed moment three years ago when BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, the world’s largest institutional investor, declared in his annual letter that companies should get on the right side of ESG or get out of the BlackRock portfolio."

ESG and the CCP: Why Investors Should Care about the Chinese Communist Party Incorporated

Investors have a vested interest in understanding the Chinese Communist Party’s relationship with corporate environmental, social, and governance regulations. By holding all industries accountable to strong standards, business and society will benefit.

www.csis.org

"BlackRock invests in about 30 subsidiaries of Chinese defense contractors that have been banned since 2022 by the Treasury Department."

Wall Street, Led by BlackRock, Is Funding Blacklisted Chinese Companies

BlackRock invests in about 30 subsidiaries of Chinese defense contractors that have been banned since 2022 by the Treasury Department.

www.newsweek.com

Sports: The next frontier of foreign influence in America

American sports had remained one of the few sectors in American society that was largely insulated from foreign influence. Until now.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

Larry "Fink"--what a name.

 

[krup]

People trying to switch college football to the NFL model of equal TV revenue don’t seem to understand that the NFL only has it because it happened before TV was real money, and the NFL wouldn’t have it if they started up today.

 

[Rutgers NJ]

It'll NEVER happen. It's the college sports boogeyman equal to The Project 2025 bullspit that'll NEVER happen.

 

[rutgersguy1]

 

[Brisket and Bourbon]

Sounds like something Notre Dame came up with so that they don’t have to join a conference… Also, what would be the point of being in a conference if it is basically 70 teams all tiered by TV viewership?

Ugh…

 

[NickRU714]

People trying to switch college football to the NFL model of equal TV revenue don’t seem to understand that the NFL only has it because it happened before TV was real money, and the NFL wouldn’t have it if they started up today.

Good point. Perhaps.

But what’s “best” for CFB? As a whole?
Wouldn’t it create an “even playing field”?
What’s best for Alabama, Georgia, OSU, Michigan and Rutgers isn’t necessarily what’s best for “college athletics.

It’s funny how some people rail against NIL and “what about equality in sports??” but then are completely silent on the Media Revenue Model that is designed to create inequality between conferences and teams.

 

[rutgersguy1]

People trying to switch college football to the NFL model of equal TV revenue don’t seem to understand that the NFL only has it because it happened before TV was real money, and the NFL wouldn’t have it if they started up today.

It's not even a switch to equal tv revenue. If you read through it has proposal for a weighting for revenue towards a good handful of name brand schools. There's a thought of relegation/promotion into that higher weighting but also possibly keeping some brands with a permanent higher weighting.

Regardless of this, I think that's something we might see in the future in all conferences including the SEC/B10. In the past, people have mentioned kicking out schools from a conference etc..I didn't think that would happen. But I could envision somewhere down the line where the bigger brands in a conference take a bigger chunk of the pie. Not so much to let the rest of the conference starve but certainly a bigger piece for themselves.

 

[angmo]

How long will college sports remain a tax free pro sports league?

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

I

How long will college sports remain a tax free pro sports league?

Probably the same as Churches; i.e., forever.

 

[robcac26]

How long will college sports remain a tax free pro sports league?

Isn't every pro sports league tax-exempt for some reason?

 

[Caliknight]

There is nothing for this from the SEC and B1G perspective.

Zero chance they sign on. No highly successful industry leaders are signing over control of their companies to PE sharks for a few dollars that they are going to make anyway.


It would be like Google giving up control to make their competitors stronger. Makes no sense.

 

[angmo]

Isn't every pro sports league tax-exempt for some reason?

Found this. The front office of the NFL used to be, but not any longer. The individual teams pay taxes. The revenue sports fell under the tax free status of the university. Not sure how a pro sports league avoids taxes for long.

NFL ends tax exempt status after 73 years: 3 things to know

The league office and Management Council will file returns as taxable entities for the first time since 1942.

www.cbssports.com

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

Found this. The front office of the NFL used to be, but not any longer. The individual teams pay taxes. The revenue sports fell under the tax free status of the university. Not sure how a pro sports league avoids taxes for long.

NFL ends tax exempt status after 73 years: 3 things to know

The league office and Management Council will file returns as taxable entities for the first time since 1942.

www.cbssports.com

Probably luxury suites, hookers and blow.

 

[RuSnp]

There is nothing for this from the SEC and B1G perspective.

Zero chance they sign on. No highly successful industry leaders are signing over control of their companies to PE sharks for a few dollars that they are going to make anyway.


It would be like Google giving up control to make their competitors stronger. Makes no sense.

Unless they coax the biggest names from both. Sadly I think you are generally right but a likely outcome of this could be uneven revenue distribution.

 

[wheezer]

I don't follow all the details of the master plan, but if given a choice, would rather see a collaboration between the SEC and Big 10, that does not include the other leagues

Anything else is too disruptive, and some of the lower level.teams in those two leagues would be betrayed unfairly

these two leagues have the power_it seems

 

[RUNYGDVLSFAN]

love this focused academic collegiate amateur sports process... ahem.. nevermind

 

[rutgersguy1]

I don't follow all the details of the master plan, but if given a choice, would rather see a collaboration between the SEC and Big 10, that does not include the other leagues

Anything else is too disruptive, and some of the lower level.teams in those two leagues would be betrayed unfairly

these two leagues have the power_it seems

I've mentioned in the past that I wonder if the SEC/B10 ever would line up their tv deals to negotiate with the networks as one. But I kind of think it'll end up being no because the more exclusive you get the more likely you're going to invite outside interference (gov't). So partnerships like OOC scheduling and bowls and heavy influence in CFB etc..sure but an explicit tie up like tv packages and or a league of just the 2 of them I don't think would happen.

 

[robcac26]

love this focused academic collegiate amateur sports process... ahem.. nevermind

Unfortunately that ship sailed long ago. Personally I think club sports are more like what college athletics should be--regular students playing against each other as an extracurricular activity, but when I played college club roller hockey and we showed up at nationals, got out of a teammate's car that we were crammed into, and then saw Lindenwood's players (many of which also on Team USA) walking off their team bus with their "National Champions 7-peat" hats, it was clear that even club sports isn't untainted anymore.

 

[ashokan]

I don't follow all the details of the master plan, but if given a choice, would rather see a collaboration between the SEC and Big 10, that does not include the other leagues

Cut to the chase and make the NFL 2.0
Recruiting and NIL are "a little pregnant."
College fans have huge, dedicated fanbases where many despise the NFL HQ goons in NYC.
Many players would probably like their college teams vs states wanting punitive millionaire taxes, overpriced homes, crime outside the stadium etc

High Income Tax Rates Drive Top Athletes Out Of Blue States

The NBA recently demonstrated the leg up in contract negotiations had by teams based in no-income-tax states. This follows similar examples from the NFL and MLB.

www.forbes.com

 

[wheezer]

Cut to the chase and make the NFL 2.0
Recruiting and NIL are "a little pregnant."
College fans have huge, dedicated fanbases where many despise the NFL HQ goons in NYC.
Many players would probably like their college teams vs states wanting punitive millionaire taxes, overpriced homes, crime outside the stadium etc

High Income Tax Rates Drive Top Athletes Out Of Blue States

The NBA recently demonstrated the leg up in contract negotiations had by teams based in no-income-tax states. This follows similar examples from the NFL and MLB.

www.forbes.com

To be clear, I wish none of this will happen, and would have been better off without today's NIL parameters also

I just want RU to be a tier one program in a tier one league

 

[ashokan]

To be clear, I wish none of this will happen, and would have been better off without today's NIL parameters also

I just want RU to be a tier one program in a tier one league

There is a lot going on and a lot of things are in motion,
I think a lot of college teams will cease to exist in near future.
I think a lot of colleges will too.
Some colleges in US and abroad are now milking visa loopholes

Report finds Harrisburg University built its finances on visa-seeking students

The vast majority of Harrisburg University students, according to the Bloomberg article, are foreign-born workers. The school's graduate degree programs give them an opportunity - for a fee - to stay in America after their original student visas have expired.

www.pennlive.com

Third-rate universities selling visas rather than education deserve to go bust

It’s time for fat cat vice chancellors to stop rubber stamping Uber driver applications

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Brisket and Bourbon]

College sports in 10 years…makes you wonder how recognizable it will be even by 2024 standards

 

[RUbacker]

College sports in 10 years…makes you wonder how recognizable it will be even by 2024 standards

i don’t recognize this country anymore.

 

[Brisket and Bourbon]

i don’t recognize this country anymore.

 

[NickRU714]

College sports in 10 years…makes you wonder how recognizable it will be even by 2024 standards

Imagine 10 years ago you were told:

• "Student athletes" would be flying from the West Coast to the East Coast mid-week for a conference game.
• Athletic Departments would be receiving nearly $100m in media revenue/conference payouts.
• Depsite nearly Athletic Department saying "we having no money. We are losing money every year" not a single school actually leaves Div 1-A or de-emphasizes athletics. In fact, they keep spending more and more (somehow money keeps being found to give coaching staffs and administrators raises).
• Teams like Kennesaw State are actually moving UP to Div 1-A athletics, for God knows what reason.

Certainly not the "amateur college athletics" that people like to get all nostalgic about.

 

[Knight Shift]

Sounds like something Notre Dame came up with so that they don’t have to join a conference… Also, what would be the point of being in a conference if it is basically 70 teams all tiered by TV viewership?

Ugh…

 

[Brisket and Bourbon]

Imagine 10 years ago you were told:

• "Student athletes" would be flying from the West Coast to the East Coast mid-week for a conference game.
• Athletic Departments would be receiving nearly $100m in media revenue/conference payouts.
• Depsite nearly Athletic Department saying "we having no money. We are losing money every year" not a single school actually leaves Div 1-A or de-emphasizes athletics. In fact, they keep spending more and more (somehow money keeps being found to give coaching staffs and administrators raises).
• Teams like Kennesaw State are actually moving UP to Div 1-A athletics, for God knows what reason.

Certainly not the "amateur college athletics" that people like to get all nostalgic about.

Most certainly not. Set up a system that tiers programs into three tiers based on avg viewership and now you have conferences that make less sense than they do now.

 

[BROTHERSKINNY]

Its well known that China told BlackRock that if they want to do business in China they will have to push CCP agenda in US. BlackRock pushed ESG/DEI poison pills, got radicals on Exxon to cut production 25% among other things. BR is the gang that sees undercutting US as a goldmine. Foreign countries (and others) see US sports as great propaganda tools

"ESG has grown in importance and value, moving beyond a niche set of investors to large institutional investors and hitting a watershed moment three years ago when BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, the world’s largest institutional investor, declared in his annual letter that companies should get on the right side of ESG or get out of the BlackRock portfolio."

ESG and the CCP: Why Investors Should Care about the Chinese Communist Party Incorporated

Investors have a vested interest in understanding the Chinese Communist Party’s relationship with corporate environmental, social, and governance regulations. By holding all industries accountable to strong standards, business and society will benefit.

www.csis.org

"BlackRock invests in about 30 subsidiaries of Chinese defense contractors that have been banned since 2022 by the Treasury Department."

Wall Street, Led by BlackRock, Is Funding Blacklisted Chinese Companies

BlackRock invests in about 30 subsidiaries of Chinese defense contractors that have been banned since 2022 by the Treasury Department.

www.newsweek.com

Sports: The next frontier of foreign influence in America

American sports had remained one of the few sectors in American society that was largely insulated from foreign influence. Until now.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

Larry Fink and many others will not hesitate one second to sell out the United States. F that scum bag POS.

 

[LotusAggressor]

People trying to switch college football to the NFL model of equal TV revenue don’t seem to understand that the NFL only has it because it happened before TV was real money, and the NFL wouldn’t have it if they started up today.

True, but without it, along with the competitive balance mechanisms they installed, the NFL wouldn't be as popular as it is.

 

[NickRU714]

True, but without it, along with the competitive balance mechanisms they installed, the NFL wouldn't be as popular as it is.

It boils down to this for many:

1. "NIL and Unrestricted Transfers are bad because they create a competitive advantage for schools with more money. That competitive advantage is bad for the sport."
2. "Combining revenue or pooling media contracts across conferences is bad because the Big Ten/SEC has more money. We don't want to give up that competitive advantage. It doesn't matter to us if that competitive advantage is bad for the sport."

 

[letitrip2]

The fact that they picked "Project Rudy" as the name is all you need to know about how serious this is. A bunch of dopey Disney execs trying to capitalize on the changes to college sports - they won't even get an audience with the real power in the SEC/B1G.