The ACC isn’t the financial powerhouse that the SEC or Big Ten can claim to be, but the conference continues to trend upward.
According to the latest 990 forms, which ACC commissioner Jim Phillips touted earlier this week, the ACC surpassed $700 million in total revenue in the 2022/23 fiscal year — with a 14% increase in distributable revenue from the prior year.
“Each ACC school received an average of $45 million in annual distribution, a league record,” Phillips said at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C. “We expect those numbers to only grow when the 2023/24 revenues and distributions are released. The ACC is one of the top three conferences in both overall revenue generated and per-school distribution. We fully expect that will remain in the years to come.”
And Phillips said that the ACC, as a conference, is aggressively approaching innovative opportunities related to revenue, technology, television, date and analytics and more.
“To give you a small sampling of what has transpired in the past year, the ACC generated an estimated $600 million in new incremental revenue over the term of the existing media agreements through expansion,” Phillips said.
The ACC added Dr. Pepper as the newest official sponsor, as part of a multi-year agreement with the ACC and Disney advertising, and enhanced efforts in video highlight technology through a conference-wide adoption of WSC Sports, which utilizes AI to generate automated highlight clips.
And the ACC is working to increase revenue for its member schools through a success-based plan. The ACC Board of Directors adopted an innovative revenue distribution model beginning in the 2024-25 season.
If an ACC school qualifies for the College Football Playoff, finishes in the top 25 of the CFP rankings, participates in bowl games or receives a bid and/or advances in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, there will be financial compensation. It’s a rewards-based system.
“What this equates to is a range of $20 to $25 million in revenues that can be earned this coming year by any school based on its success, and is in addition to the annual per-school distribution for any member of our league,” Phillips said.
So, the ACC expects to increase its annual revenue, which should hit a $50 million payout per school next season, and then there’s the innovative revenue model which will reward success. The conference is certainly expecting to continue its growth.
Pitt isn’t one of the highest revenue generators in college football, but as a member of the ACC, there’s growth to come.
Supposedly next week is the end of ACC and ten ACC schools including Pitt already have a seat in another conference. The ACC commissioner is in big trouble. More than likely it’s the big 12 for Pitt but that’s better than being stuck getting left behind like BC, Syracuse and WF with basically American conference teams filling the holes.
If you have time, watch J.J. Kitchen’s podcast. He explores the realities of the topic you just mentioned. This above article and J J.’s report are in agreement. The ACC is in good financial standing.
Hmm. With the only correctly fitting adjective of “good” being the accurate fit in regards to the statement that “the acc is in good financial standing.”, then in all honesty the only correctly fitting adjective(s) in regards to The SEC’s financial standing are “astonishingly astoundingly accurate”!!! Just sayin’.