California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California, has been selected as the venue to host Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football games, starting in 2024. This move was confirmed by the ACC board of directors, who have approved the addition of three new member schools – the University of California Berkeley, Southern Methodist University (SMU), and Stanford University. While SMU will join the conference on July 1, Stanford and Cal will join on August 2.
This expansion is seen as a positive development for the ACC. According to James E. Ryan, the president of the University of Virginia and the ACC board chair, this move will not only enhance and strengthen the conference now but also in the future. The tireless efforts of commissioner Jim Phillips have been appreciated throughout the entire process, with a focus on minimizing travel burdens for student-athletes, and excitement about the collective future of the ACC.
This union between the ACC and the new member schools reflects the ongoing trend of college athletic programs switching conferences to capitalize on revenue from broadcast deals. Sources have revealed that Stanford, Cal, and SMU joined the ACC at a discounted rate due to financial stress in their athletic departments and concerns about long-term sustainability.
The addition of Stanford and Cal to the ACC will have ramifications for the Pac-12 conference, as it will be left with only two programs in the 2024-25 season. Similarly, SMU will be the ACC’s sole representative from Texas. However, the AAC, which currently includes 13 teams, has added several former Conference-USA programs to expand its conference lineup.
Financial terms of the union between the ACC and the new member schools have not been disclosed. Despite the geographical distance between the California-based schools and the Atlantic coast, the ACC is committed to finding scheduling solutions and minimizing travel burdens for all member schools.
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