In mid-September, the Western Athletic Conference (“WAC”) filed suit against the Mountain West Conference (“MWC”), the University of Nevada (“Nevada”), and California State University, Fresno (“Fresno State”) indicating that the WAC would be irreparably harmed if Nevada and Fresno State left the WAC prior to the conclusion of the 2011-2012 academic year.  Earlier today, it was announced that the parties settled the dispute at issue. 

Nevada and Fresno State agreed to pay a departure fee of $900,000.00 each, which is a heavily reduced sum in comparison to the $5 million fee originally sought by the WAC.  In exchange for the reduced departure fee, Nevada and Fresno State will compete in the WAC in all sports until July 2012.  After July 2012, WAC membership will include Louisiana Tech University, New Mexico State, San Jose State University, University of Hawaii, University of Idaho, and Utah State University, and Brigham Young University (in all sports other than football).  It has been widely reported that the WAC seeks to add more institutions, which have been rumored to be some combination of the following: University of Montana, Texas State University, University of Texas, San Antonio, University of Denver, and/or Seattle University.

For any questions, feel free to contact Christian Dennie at cdennie@bgsfirm.com.