The main factors in UCLA moving to the Big Ten are exposure, institutional partnerships and resources. There is a time and a place for it.
The regents of the University of California approved UCLA's move to the Big Ten on Wednesday, but there are a number of conditions.
The UC Board of regents chair and UCOP president recommended that UCLA be allowed to move to the Big Ten in a special meeting on Wednesday. The Board of regents voted to approve the move.
Rich Leib said that the Board of regents looked at the reality of where they are. We decided that the best thing to do was the way we did it and allow them to leave.
As a result of the board's decision, UCLA will have to increase its expected investment in student-athletes resources and may have to provide a subsidy to the University of California, Berkeley, depending on the amount of media money the school gets. The board included a number of conditions for UCLA to address the impact of the move on athletes.
The subsidy to UC Berkeley would be for student-athletes.
Berkeley was hit by UCLA leaving. They had a hard time. We don't know how much, but we think it's important that we help them in that situation.
The board can revisit the issue once the media deal is done.
UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said after the decision that the school was excited to join the Big Ten Conference. The Big Ten offers exciting new competitive opportunities for our student-athletes to compete and showcase their talent and we have always been guided by what is best for our 25 teams and 700 student-athletes.
During four meetings in July and December of last year, the regents discussed and researched the move. The regents' general counsel said in September that the board had the power to block the move. The board was going to make a decision in November but decided to hold a special meeting on Wednesday to give a final decision.
The regents wanted to know more about the additional resources that would be required to improve student athletes' experience as part of the move.
Kevin Warren thanked the regents for respecting the decision of UCLA to change conferences.
The Big Ten Conference is in a position of strength and stability due to the changing landscape of collegiate athletics. The goal is to prioritize the health and well-being of our student-athletes and forward our academic and athletic mission under the umbrella of higher education.
The National College Players Association, run by former UCLA football player Ramogi Huma, came out against realignment last week due to the effect the extra travel would have on students' academics.
Carol Christ, the chancellor of UC Berkeley, was against the move. The UCLA move affects UC Berkeley the most. The Los Angeles market of USC and UCLA will no longer be part of the Pac-12 and this will lower the value of a media rights deal.
UCLA gave the regents a document detailing the school's financial plans for travel, academic support, mental health services, nutrition and other areas before the November meeting. Due to the move, the school plans to spend an additional $10 million on athletes.
The board directed UCLA to provide more yearly resources for student-athletes if it wants to join the Big Ten.
Between 11 and 12 million enhancements were added by us. There is a range between $11.03 to 12.20 million.
Academic support, nutrition and mental health services for student-athletes have been enhanced. Breakfast and lunch are required for all UCLA athletes, as well as professional nutrition services, while they are travelling.
Jarmond spoke at a Sports Business Journal conference in Las Vegas last week and said thatRutgers isn't played every week. It's not a lot in the grand scheme of things. The benefits are much greater than the challenges.
According to the Los Angeles Times, UCLA is in line to make up to $70 million a year in media rights and exposure due to its debt. The Big Ten signed a seven-year, $7 billion media deal in August. There is no TV deal for thePac-12.
The conference will wait for the regents' decision before moving forward with a media deal, according to the commissioner. The only conference that doesn't have a deal is the Pac-12, which is expected to have a lucrative deal done in the first quarter of next year.
Leib doesn't know what will happen with the PAC 12. USC was the first to hurt them. If they get a very strong media contract, which would make Berkeley a lot better, then perhaps the payment would be much less. It's really difficult to know. We wanted to give ourselves a lot of options.
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