I've said it before here, but nobody in business has as long of a view as the LDS church. When businesses are looking at payouts of 5-10 years, the LDS church is looking at 30-50.

That being said there were a couple of reasons to do what they did... short of the government revitalizing the area it wasn't going to happen. If you spent any time in what was the ghost town of downtown SLC pre City Creek would see why the church had an interest in revitalizing the downtown area, particularly around the literal and symbolic center of the LDS church.

But the LDS church will get their money and then some back out of City Creek, it just might not be in 5-10 years.

So, BYU Athletics is likely going to need to prove an ROI on the things I've described above if not in the short term (which they can't) then in the long term (which no athletics program in the country can do). If the U wasn't in the PAC12, nothing but the indoor practice facility would even exist today, and the things that do exist are also largely because of generous donors.

So in order for BYU to maintain relevance in athletics you are going to need to prove that you can get an ROI. You won't be able to do that unless you get into a P5 conference. If we're honest that window is closing fast, if it isn't already closed. If you do get in, you'll also need to get some donors who can break a $20 to get the things supporting your athletics program up to date.

Now suppose all of those things DO happen, it will also be at least 5 years before you are competitive in whatever P5 conference you get into. You guys are 10 years out from a prayer of relevance.

Again, I may be very wrong, the Church may see much more value in the athletics program than I think they do, but if I were a betting man I wouldn't bet on it.