Mountain West Conference Withholding Millions From San Diego State Over Exit Fee
Just a couple of weeks ago, San Diego State told the Mountain West Conference it intended to leave the conference. However, just days ago, the University then told the MWC that it planned to remain in the league after its grand plans of an invite to the Pac-12 fell through (for now).
However, the Mountain West isn’t reportedly interested in playing nice.
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, lawyers are involved over a $6.6 million distribution share for the 2022-23 academic year that the Mountain West is withholding to defray SDSU’s exit fee, pending reinstatement by the board.
Essentially, the Mountain West is suggesting that SDSU told the league it planned to leave, and it owes the league $17 million, so they are withholding $6.6 million, with a remaining balance of $10.4 million.
“We will discuss the status of SDSU’s membership in the conference at a July meeting of our Board of Directors,” said a July 1 letter from Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez to SDSU President Adela de la Torre, responding to de la Torre’s letter Friday saying the Aztecs were staying in the conference.
The meeting is scheduled for July 17th.
While SDSU is set to remain in the Mountain West for the upcoming athletic year, it’s unclear at this point what happens come July 1, 2024. The Pac-12 invite could eventually come, but the league is still waiting on a TV deal, with an offer expected later in the month. Of course, SDSU could “return” to the MWC, however it claims it never officially left that league anyway.
But regardless, this was an unexpected twist in a wild ride of conference realignment that isn’t going away any time soon.
