The rich are getting richer, folks. From Sports Business Daily:
The University of Alabama is set to capitalize on its success over the last five years by signing one of the nation’s most lucrative multimedia rights deals with Learfield Sports worth at least $150 million to $160 million over 10 years.
The extension of a long-term relationship between the Crimson Tide and Learfield will now run through June 30, 2024. Alabama, which has been with Learfield since 1998, took advantage of an opt-out in its previous deal to renegotiate. The school, which did not talk to other companies, could make even more money through a revenue-share — on top of the guarantee — if Learfield’s sales top certain thresholds.The new financial terms of $15 million to $16 million a year double Alabama’s guarantee previously and put the Tide among the top three schools in multimedia rights revenue behind Texas and Notre Dame, both of which have unique TV arrangements that boost their overall figure.
Not a bad haul for a public school in small-time Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Perhaps Learfield is also working on cloning Nick Saban so Alabama won't plummet back into mediocrity whenever Saban decides to hang it up in the next couple of seasons.
I suppose, though, it's best to strike while the iron is hot, and despite ending last year with two consecutive losses, nobody is hotter than Alabama right now.
