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Maybe This Conference Title Game Wasn't Such A Good Idea After All

When the ACC raided the Big East back in 2003, poaching away Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College, ACC Commissioner John Swofford, college sports' version of Atilla the Hun, proffered as the main rationale the development of the ACC as a football conference. He insisted that one of the main drivers of the raid was the ability of a 12 school conference to divide into two 6 school divisions and stage a lucrative championship game. Certainly, the SEC which is the model upon which the ACC based its raid, has demonstrated the wisdom of this approach, annually selling out the Georgia Dome and generating and additional $10-12 million for the league through the gate and a boost to its CBS contract.

Well, reality is setting in for the ACC; once a basketball conference, always a basketball conference. The first objective of the raid has been achieved as the league did score much increased television contracts following expansion. However, the championship game thing has just not worked out as planned. After being staged in Jacksonville for a couple of years, the game was moved to Tampa this year. The result has to be very disappointing to the BCS Chairman Swofford. A total attendance of 27,360 made their way to Raymond James Stadium for the titanic battle between ACC newcomers Boston College and Virginia Tech. At least, the loser won't have to return in a month for a bowl game as was the case when it was held in Jax. Unfortunately for the ACC, it signed a contract with Tampa to host the game again in 2009. After that it moves to Charlotte, where it should have been all along. At least Charlotte is reasonably close to most of the real ACC fans.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on December 10, 2008 (boomark / email).