Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Bowlsby concerned about 'full, robust' season

Written by 
Published in Breaking News
Thursday, 09 April 2020 09:07

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby has been speaking with the other Power 5 conference commissioners daily, and said on Thursday he remains concerned about "whether or not we can have a full and robust football season" as the future of the sport remains uncertain because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Virtually every program is highly reliant on football revenue," he told ESPN. "We're making lots of contingency plans, but if you don't get the anticipated number of games in, you lose the donations, you lose the sponsorships, you lose the gate receipts and you lose the TV. It's potentially very impactful."

Bowlsby declined at this time to say what specific models the league was considering if the season has to be altered or pushed back. The Big 12 implemented a 10 percent salary cut across the board in the conference office, including Bowlsby, he said.

"We've eliminated all year-end bonuses and are formulating a reduced scope of operation plan that saves quite a bit of money, but we're a relatively small operation," he said. "Most of our resources are passed through to our members."

Bowsbly said the conference isn't ready to put any deadlines on any decisions.

"We don't know when somebody is going to tell us it's going to be OK to go back to close contact," he said. "I suspect that medical experts and scientists are going to be slow to give the green light on that. The magic start date is probably a mirage.

"It may be different in some high density populations and areas than it is in more remote areas," he said. "It could be certain parts of the country and not other parts of the country. I don't think there's just going to be a day when we turn it all on again. There has to be a reacclimation period because athletes aren't training at the same level they had been accustomed to."

Last month, Bowlsby said he expected the league to receive about $10 million from the NCAA, instead of an anticipated $24 million.

Bowlsby said the cancellation of the Big 12 basketball tournaments would result in about $6.6 million in losses. With the league eliminating some costs related to travel, staffing and other expenses, he estimated the overall losses between $15 million and $18 million.

Bowlsby said he anticipated the Big 12 would still be able to "make members whole" in financial distributions this year by using its reserves.

The Big 12 distributed $373.9 million for the fiscal year ending in June 2018, with distributions ranging from $36.6 million to Oklahoma to $33.6 million to Kansas.

"With the uncertainty of competition next year, those revenue streams become potentially less stable," he said.

Bowlsby said universities are under "tremendous financial stress" and aren't in a position to help their athletic departments, but that most in the Big 12 are self-sustained.

"If it was just something that was unique to athletics, it would be different, but universities are giving back board and room charges, and they're refunding tuition and they're doing things, cancelling summer school and doing things that have previously generated cash flow," he said. "They're not able to do anything really to help the athletics programs very much.

"Especially at our level, they tend to be self-funded for the most part. The institution isn't capable of making up lost revenue. What do you do? You have to reduce operations. To reduce at levels that could be imagined is enormously difficult."

Read 216 times

Soccer

USWNT awaits update on Alyssa Naeher leg injury

USWNT awaits update on Alyssa Naeher leg injury

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsUnited States women's national team No. 1 and Chicago Red Stars sta...

Pep: 'Arsenal champions' if City don't beat Spurs

Pep: 'Arsenal champions' if City don't beat Spurs

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players to take their ch...

Villa snatch Liverpool draw on late Durán double

Villa snatch Liverpool draw on late Durán double

Colombian super-sub Jhon Durán scored two late goals as Aston Villa battled back to salvage a 3-3 ho...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Knicks' Robinson has ankle surgery, sources say

Knicks' Robinson has ankle surgery, sources say

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Knicks center Mitchell Robinson had surgery on his left...

Sources: Lakers to start talking with candidates

Sources: Lakers to start talking with candidates

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHICAGO -- The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to start contacting...

Baseball

Reliever Alzolay (forearm) joins Cubs' crowded IL

Reliever Alzolay (forearm) joins Cubs' crowded IL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsATLANTA -- Right-hander Adbert Alzolay, who opened the season as th...

Orioles promote Stowers, option Kjerstad to AAA

Orioles promote Stowers, option Kjerstad to AAA

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIn the midst of his power explosion since the start of spring train...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated