The Pac-12 sports league and its affiliated nonprofit, Pac-12 Enterprises LLC, have found themselves in the midst of a tumultuous period, marked by the recent unraveling of the athletic conference and the subsequent loss of future broadcasting revenue. In response to these challenges, the Pac-12 has announced plans to lay off over 140 employees at its San Ramon headquarters starting in January 2024. This mass layoff will impact a wide range of positions, including senior executives, directors, broadcast engineers, and on-air talent.
The Pac-12 Conference has been grappling with a series of setbacks in recent months, leading to a court order compelling the organization to create an employee retention plan. This plan was devised to ensure adequate staffing levels for events worth more than $400 million, which are crucial not only for the Pac-12 but also for its broadcast partners like ESPN and Fox, according to a report in the San Francisco Business Times. The loss of these events would have significant ramifications for thousands of collegiate athletes.
Pac-12 Enterprises LLC, the affiliate responsible for the layoff decisions, has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the layoffs and the organization’s future lease commitments in San Ramon. The lack of public comment has left some wondering about the future of the organization and its ability to navigate these challenging times.
In a separate development, it has come to light that the Pac-12 Conference’s affiliated nonprofit employed three of the 11 highest-paid nonprofit executives in the Bay Area. Former Pac-12 commissioner Lawrence Scott topped the 2023 list with total compensation of $4.09 million. The current commissioner, George Kliavkoff, ranked seventh among Bay Area nonprofit executives, with total compensation of $1.84 million, and the conference’s president, Mark Shuken, came in at 11th with a total compensation of $1.14 million. These revelations have raised questions about executive compensation within the organization, especially in light of the layoffs.
As the Pac-12 grapples with these internal challenges, the legal battle over the conference’s remaining assets continues to unfold. Recent tensions have arisen over revenue-sharing payments between the 10 departed schools and the remaining “Pac-2,” comprising Oregon State and Washington State. These disputes further complicate the Pac-12’s efforts to stabilize and rebuild in the face of adversity.
In January of this year, the Pac-12 Conference announced that it is relocating its San Francisco production studio to San Ramon. This move was part of a new lease agreement with Bishop Ranch, a 600-acre mixed-use community. The 42,000-square-foot production facility is located at the BR15 building and focuses on live sports content production. The Pac-12 had plans to produce over 850 live events annually, along with studio and shoulder programming. Bishop Ranch will also house flexible workspaces and meeting rooms for in-person gatherings.
Additionally, last year, the Pac-12 decided to forgo a permanent headquarters and shift to a remote work environment for staff not directly involved in live events. This decision was unanimously approved by the Pac-12 Board of Directors, emphasizing flexibility for employees while promoting collaboration through occasional in-person meetings, including those at Pac-12 campuses. Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff highlighted the organization’s commitment at the time to supporting employees, fostering collaboration, and maintaining excellence in event production through this new flexible work approach.
