Opposition to Expansion of the Atlantic Coast Conference

Opposition to Expansion by University Trustees

University leaders of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) are currently deliberating the possibility of expanding their ranks to include Stanford, California, and SMU. However, two trustees from North Carolina have come forward to announce that the majority of their board opposes this potential move.

ACC Meeting to Discuss Expansion

A reliable source has informed The Associated Press that ACC presidents and chancellors are scheduled to convene on Friday morning to further discuss the prospects of expansion. While it remains uncertain if a final decision will be made during this meeting, internal discussions surrounding the conference expansion have been kept private.

North Carolina Board of Trustees Speak Out

Shortly after news of the upcoming ACC meeting broke, the chairman and vice chairman of North Carolina's board of trustees released a joint statement firmly opposing the expansion proposal. They urged the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a member of ACC, to vote against the inclusion of Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and Southern Methodist University.

Reasons for Opposition

In their statement, Chairman David L. Boliek Jr. and Vice Chair John P. Preyer expressed their respect for the academic excellence and athletic programs of the potential new members. However, they emphasized that the extensive travel distances for regular in-conference competitions would be impractical for their student athletes, coaches, alumni, and fans. Additionally, they raised concerns about the economic implications of a transcontinental conference, pointing out that it fails to adequately address the income disparities faced by current ACC members.

Given these factors, the trustees believe that a successful expansion that aligns with the interests of UNC-Chapel Hill must provide undisputed guarantees. Should these assurances be lacking, they strongly advocate for voting against the proposed expansion.

ACC Weighs Expansion Amidst Conference Tragedy

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has been contemplating expansion for the past several weeks. However, a tragic incident involving a professor at the University of North Carolina has temporarily halted the conference's plans. In light of this, the ACC presidents and chancellors were slated to discuss the matter in a call on Monday night, which has now been rescheduled to Friday.

Three weeks ago, the presidents deliberated on the possibility of adding new schools but ultimately decided against taking a vote. It became apparent that the necessary 12 out of 15 votes for approval were unlikely to be obtained, as Florida State, Clemson, North Carolina, and North Carolina State expressed opposition to expansion.

In response, Commissioner Jim Phillips has been diligently working on revenue distribution models in an attempt to reach a consensus among the member institutions. While the addition of three schools would require ESPN to increase its yearly media rights revenue to the ACC, the new members would initially receive reduced payments upon entry, gradually increasing over time.

This proposed arrangement would bring in more revenue for current ACC members; however, the allocation of funds has been a major point of contention.

The interest in expansion has intensified not only within the ACC but also among Stanford and Cal (University of California, Berkeley). The recent departure of multiple schools from the Pac-12, heading towards the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences, has left the Pac-12 with just four committed schools beyond the current year. With this uncertainty surrounding the Pac-12's future, Stanford and Cal have been actively seeking a new conference affiliation for the 2024-25 season and beyond. Only Washington State and Oregon State remain to rebuild the once-prominent conference.