The ACC "filed an amended complaint" in North Carolina Superior Court on Tuesday seeking damages from Florida State for "'serial breaches of critical legal promises and obligations' and questioned FSU's right to have leadership in ACC positions." The filing is the latest in the "procedural jockeying" between the ACC and Florida State over the school's challenge to the league's grant of rights. The ACC filing "includes six claims, including FSU breaching its contract with the ACC, breaching confidentiality in the media rights agreement and breaching fiduciary obligations and obligations of good faith." The next key date is Feb. 16, when both sides have "agreed to respond to the initial filings" (ESPN.com, 1/17).
After enjoying a $10.3M surplus in 2022, Florida State's athletics department operated at a $2.57M deficit in 2023. FSU operating expenses in 2023 for 20 sports were $172,130,700 compared to total operating revenues of $169,558,790. Spending increased by $21.5M over 2022, "with the highest jump in what the NCAA’s reporting document calls 'other operating expenses.'" Florida State VP/AD Michael Alford said that some of those expenses "were related to construction and renovation projects." In revenues, FSU saw "a surge in tickets sales," increasing from $18.8M in 2022 to $24.7M in 2023. FSU also earned $32.2M in the general category of media rights compared to $30.4M in 2022 (TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, 1/17).
