US EditionBig 12 Declines University of Memphis Pitch with $200M Sponsorship ...
SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE, JUL 21 – Memphis offered $250 million in sponsorships and financial incentives to join the Big 12 but was rejected due to concerns about fit and long-term league value, sources said.
- Monday saw Big 12 presidents evaluate Memphis's membership bid, but it lacked the backing needed for a formal vote.
- In pursuit of power status, Memphis Tigers offered a sponsorship-linked bid to join the Big 12, but they still play in the newly branded American Conference and face a $25 million exit fee.
- Specifically, Memphis Tigers' bid relies on sponsor commitments from Memphis-affiliated partners, a five-year media revenue forgo, and includes an expulsion clause after 2030-31 if value targets aren’t met.
- In response, Big 12 officials rejected the proposal, multiple sources say, underscoring the league’s emphasis on fit and long-term upside over short-term financial gain.
- Looking ahead, Memphis Tigers will have to revisit their conference strategy, having also explored a football-only slot in the Pac-12 linked to Big East membership for other sports.
19 Articles
19 Articles
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How Desperate Was Memphis To Join The Big 12? Tigers Proposed Giving Over $200 Million For Invitation
The Memphis Tigers are desperately trying to get out of the American Athletic Conference, so much so that the school submitted a proposal that would offer the Big 12 millions of dollars in sponsorship money that would be tied to its invitation. The Memphis athletic department submitted a proposal to the Big 12 that would see the conference receive upward of $200 million for them to extend an invitation to the Tigers. After being passed over in t…
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