CIF modifies Open Division football playoff revenue shares

Prior to the CIF San Diego Section change from playoff divisions based on enrollment to divisions based on competitive balance, a formula was put in place for CIF playoff ticket revenue in which the CIF received 70 percent, the home school received 20 percent, and the visiting school received 10 percent. A unanimous vote at the April 5 CIF Board of Managers meeting revised that formula for the first round of the Open Division football playoffs so that each school will receive 15 percent.

The 2013 change to an alignment by competitive balance also created an Open Division for the top eight Division I teams. In a 12-team or 16-team playoff format, the teams seeded fifth through eighth received at least one playoff home game, but schools in the bottom half of the Open Division do not have a first-round home game.

"In Open Division more of those teams are traveling," said CIF commissioner Jerry Schniepp.

The formula of 20 percent for the home school and 10 percent for the visiting school was approved by the Board of Managers in June 2008. The rationale behind the home school receiving a greater share of playoff ticket revenues is that the home school has operational and administrative preparation expenses while the visiting team has only travel costs.

The revenue formula only applies to admission tickets and not to concessions, but the school which hosts the game also receives concession revenue. The loss of concession revenue as well as the lower admission revenue share for Open Division teams playing a first-round game on the road creates a difference between $2,000 and $5,000 for most schools.

The formula prior to June 2008 distributed 50 percent to the CIF and 25 percent to each team. Increased costs to the CIF for facilities, as well as fall 2007 weather which decreased CIF football championship game attendance and thus CIF revenue, led to the increase in the share for the CIF as part of the adoption of the CIF's 2008-09 budget.

The Grossmont Conference proposed a change only for Open Division football playoffs. The original proposal was that the CIF received 60 percent and the home and visiting schools each received 20 percent. That led to concerns about CIF operating losses.

"We are not operating at a surplus at this point," Schniepp said.

The proposal was modified so that the CIF retains 70 percent of the receipts and the home and visiting teams each receive 15 percent. The CIF Coordinating Council approved that modified proposal on a 28-0 vote March 1, with Frontier Conference president Cory Tatz recusing himself.

"Another good example of a compromise," said Schniepp.

The April 5 Board of Managers meeting also included a first reading on a proposed change which would add a football playoff division to reduce the number of playoff rounds so that an earlier state playoff can be accommodated. If that proposal is approved May 24, the Open Division would consist of four teams, so the third and fourth seeds would have a road game and no possible home matches.

The modified formula only applies for the first round of the Open Division playoffs. A school hosting the semifinals will still receive 20 percent while the visiting team will receive 10 percent. The championship games are played at a neutral site.

The distribution of 20 percent for the home team and 10 percent for the visiting team will continue to be the case for other football divisions and for other sports.