cbs3_blue-on-white_2013 Philly_KYW_new Philly_94WIP_new CBS Sports Radio 610 Philly_WPHT_new

Latest Sports

Big East Completes Breakup

View Comments
(credit: Nate Shron/Getty Images)

(credit: Nate Shron/Getty Images)

Check Out

(AP) – The Big East has reached an agreement with seven departing basketball members that will allow them to separate from the football schools and create their own conference on July 1.

Commissioner Mike Aresco told The Associated Press on Friday the seven Catholic schools that are leaving to form a basketball-centric conference will get the Big East name, along with the opportunity to play their league tournament in Madison Square Garden.

Aresco, who will remain commissioner of the football league, would not disclose the financial part of the settlement.

A person familiar with the negotiations told the AP earlier this week that the football schools will receive about $100 million from a $110 million stash the conference had built up over the last two and a half years through exit and entry fees as well as NCAA men’s basketball tournament funds.

“It’s been an arduous four months but we got to the right place,” Aresco said in a phone interview. “I think both conferences have good futures.”

Aresco said the football schools have not chosen a name for the new conference and there are no favorites yet. He also said they have not determined how that $100 million or so will be split among the members.

The person familiar with the negotiations said the bulk of the money will go to holdover members Cincinnati, Connecticut and South Florida.

The divorce agreement with the basketball members, and the football schools’ new TV deal with ESPN, still must be ratified by the school presidents. Aresco said that should come soon and without glitches.

Next up on the agenda for the football schools, Aresco said, is to find a 12th member and venues for future basketball tournaments.

SPORTS PHOTO GALLERIES

View Comments
  • http://sportszone-news.com/big-east-completes-football-basketball-breakup-4.html Big East completes football-basketball breakup | Sports Zone News

    [...] Big East Completes Breakup [...]

blog comments powered by Disqus
Listen Live!

Follow CBS Philly

Like us on foursquare

Now on CBS Philly

nowon lovearts1 Now on CBS Philly nowon kidcast 03161 Now on CBS Philly nowon dec12 rac Now on CBS Philly  Now on CBS Philly nowon 3onyourside Now on CBS Philly nowon deal Now on CBS Philly dunkin homepage tile Now on CBS Philly  Now on CBS Philly