ACC lands major deal that could secure future

CHARLOTTE — One of the key remaining conference realignment dominos has seemingly stabilized.

ESPN is set to extend its base deal with the Atlantic Coast Conference through 2036, sources confirmed to Sports Business Journal today, marrying up end dates with its separate ACC Network deal. ESPN had until Feb. 1 to pick up the 20-year contract, first signed in 2016.

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The network declined to comment. Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger first reported the news.

Documents that surfaced during the league’s ongoing legal dispute with Florida State revealed the current base ESPN contract — previously believed to be in place until 2036 — actually expires in 2027 and included a look-in provision the network needed to exercise by early this year.