Winning championships is no longer the only metric of a successful collegiate sports program. Jim Phillips has spent his five-plus-year tenure as ACC Commissioner trying to generate more revenue for the league. The ACC is and has been facing financial pressure even with yearly record hauls.
Corporate sponsorships have been a particular focus for Phillips, in dealing with a significant revenue gap behind the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference. The ACC reported about $826.5 million in total revenue in tax filings covering the 2024-25 sports season, with schools earning a full distribution share getting an average of $47.1 million.
By comparison, the Big Ten and SEC both crossed the $1 billion mark in total revenue in their filings, with the Big Ten paying an average of nearly $80 million to full-share members while the SEC came in at just over $72 million. The biggest way to improve its financial picture typically is through media rights contracts, which the ACC has a contract with ESPN through the next 10 years.
The conference has doubled corporate sponsorships in the past 5 years. The ACC has also hired its 1st ever Chief Revenue Officer in Anthony Macri who previously worked in Formula 1 racing and the for the Memphis Grizzlies.
