PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Big East commissioner Mike Aresco was in Philadelphia Saturday and says there are no plans for the conference to change its name and negotiations are expected to start soon with ESPN on a new TV deal.

Aresco shot down speculation the Big East was considering tweaking its name because of its growth to a four time-zone league. Aresco says, “There’s tremendous brand equity built up in the Big East name.”

Joe Bailey, the conference’s former interim commissioner, had said this week the Big East was leaning toward a name change.

Aresco says there is interest from other networks in the Big East TV package, but the intention is to say with ESPN. The conference and ESPN are in the midst of a 60-day exclusive negotiating window.

Aresco made his first visit to Temple on Saturday to watch the Owls play Maryland.

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