FSU Official: Noles in For Big Payday From Future ACC Network

Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Florida State Seminoles helmet on the sidelines before a game against the Houston Cougars in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Florida State Seminoles helmet on the sidelines before a game against the Houston Cougars in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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FSU athletics director Stan Wilcox made recent comments saying the school should get an additional $15 million a year not long after the network’s launch.

It was just a few months ago that the ACC, home to FSU athletics for the last quarter century, announced that it would be starting its own cable sports network starting in the 2019-20 school year. The network, run in a partnership with ESPN since they have to have their paws in everything, would be the home for more football, basketball, baseball and Olympic sports coverage than what is being distributed now.

As it turns out, the network could end up being very, VERY profitable to the FSU program in the years to come. During an interview with the school’s 247Sports.com affiliate, The Osceola, athletics director Stan Wilcox believes the school could be getting millions and millions in extra revenue once everything kicks in:

"Wilcox said the ACC’s projections have indicated that the distribution per school will increase by $8 million-$10 million in 2019-20, and then $10 million-$15 million in future years.“These are all projections,” Wilcox said. “It all depends on how well the network does. They are saying this network should have the same kind of return that the SEC Network has had in their first couple of years.”"

It’s ambitious to think that the ACC Network is going to have the same result as what the SEC Network has had – numbers that show that move was a success. For the ACC, having some of the nation’s best teams in the two major money sports – football and men’s basketball – is going to make it attractive…as will having almost all the major markets along the East Coast covered, including nine of the top 18 television markets.

For FSU, it means additional money coming in for facility upgrades, coaching salaries and so much more. Head coach Jimbo Fisher said that he has discussed new football facilities – such as meeting and workout rooms along with other areas exclusive to the team. This additional money will help make that a reality which, along with continued support from Seminole Boosters, will allow the school to continuing rivaling other top programs across the country.