UCLA’s decision to head for the Big Ten may have been out of necessity.

When the school announced it would depart the Pac-12, some fans didn’t understand the decision. As it turns out, the Bruins were on the brink of having fewer sports to cheer on.

UCLA’s athletic department racked up $102.8 million in debt over the last three fiscal years, potentially forcing it to cut Olympic sports programs altogether.

• The school has 25 teams and more than 700 athletes. 
• It’s unclear how many teams would have been affected or when.

“When your program is in significant debt, it’s difficult just to maintain, never mind to invest,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said. “This not only preserves the programs now — which was not a given — but also will allow us to invest in them.”

In the Big Ten, UCLA could close that deficit if it earns $100 million per year from the conference’s projected $1 billion media rights deal in 2024. The conference’s current deal, worth $440 million annually, expires in 2023.

Apple has reportedly restarted media talks with the Big Ten after UCLA and USC announced their plans. Fox Sports already has a deal for at least half the conference’s games, and CBS is reportedly eyeing a package that includes Saturday afternoon games.

Pac-Less-Than-12

Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah are reportedly in discussions with the Big 12 about joining, with Oregon and Washington also potentially eyeing a Pac-12 departure. A Pac-12 and Big 12 merger hasn’t been ruled out, either.

Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers de facto owner Jody Allen says the two franchises will eventually be up for sale, but not for at least another 10 years. 

“There is no preordained timeline by which the teams must be sold,” said Allen. “Until then, my focus — and that of our teams — is on winning.” 

• The Blazers are the 13th-most valuable NBA franchise at $2.05 billion, per Forbes.
• The Seahawks are valued at $3.5 billion, the 12th-most valuable NFL team. 

Allen — who became owner of the two franchises in 2018 through a trust after the death of her brother, Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen — has received buyer interest in one of the teams. 

In June, Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Alan Smolinsky submitted an offer to buy the Blazers for more than $2 billion, according to ESPN. 

MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has also expressed interest. 

Lucrative Opportunity 

Allen’s decision to sell the two franchises at some point down the road should prove to be a lucrative one, as the value of professional sports teams continue to soar, particularly in the U.S.

Last month, a group led by Walmart heir Rob Walton agreed to purchase the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion — the most ever spent for a U.S. team and second-most for any pro sports team. The top spot goes to Chelsea FC, which was sold in May for $5.4 billion.

The A’s are one step closer to building a new ballpark after the Oakland City Council voted against putting the team’s proposed $12 billion development project through an advisory vote. 

“The Oakland City Council has provided clear direction in our negotiations with the A’s,” tweeted Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf. “Oakland taxpayers will be protected from the costs of the ballpark and associated development. We have learned the mistakes of the past.” 

An advisory vote would have allowed the public to weigh in on the team’s proposed project. 

• The Oakland City Council voted 4-2 against the advisory vote on November’s ballot.
• It allows the A’s to circumvent any potential approval delays for the project.
• The voting process included an abstention by Oakland vice mayor Rebecca Kaplan. 

Last month, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission voted 23-2 to remove Howard Terminal’s “port use” designation — clearing a major hurdle for the A’s to start the development of their project, which includes a $1 billion, 35,000-seat ballpark. 

It also features a 400-room hotel, 270,000 square feet of retail space, and 3,000 housing units. 

Long Way to Go 

The A’s plans for a new ballpark are still a long way from coming to fruition.

The team must agree to a deal with the city of Oakland, which has been an arduous process due to negotiations regarding affordable housing.

The A’s could also move to the Las Vegas area, where management has selected two potential sites.