Education Resources

University Sports are Big Business
Article By:Guy Incognito

University sports, especially at the elite Tier I NCAA Level, are no longer amateur activities except that the players don’t receive a salary. In all other respects university sports are all business, big business. The biggest factor is this change that has happened over the last twenty years is television and the advertising money that it attracts. Now universities have full-time recruiting teams that scour the grade schools, junior highs and high schools looking for talented athletes to join their athletic programs. These teams are being paid for out of the money that university sports teams bring into the coffers, but that’s not the only thing being paid for by profitable athletic programs, some of this money actually goes to provide administrative and financial support to the whole institution.

In university sports football is king, but given its rapid rise in popularity all over the world in recent years, basketball, both men and women’s versions, are giving the king a ride for his money. In addition to the regular season television revenues, successful football programs get at least another million dollars if they make it to a post-season bowl game. That’s on top of the seventy thousand paid admissions and parking and concessions at every home game. Some of the most popular teams are also now making just as much money from selling team merchandise like football shirts and ball hats as they do from all of their game day sales and revenue.

Success attracts success as well and for every successful football team there are a ton of wealthy alumni who are ready to step up to the line for their alma mater. Studies have shown that success on the field translated handsomely into contributions from alumni whenever the call goes out from their old school. Community sponsors are happy to underwrite the costs of travel and transportation for university sports teams as long as they can get their name tied into a successful college franchise, oops, athletic program. In addition to attracting money and sponsors strong sports programs also create an excellent draw for other students, even if they are not athletes, to attend famous university sports schools.

University sports are great for student morale but they are also great for filling the administrations coffers. For the really successful athletic teams and programs they really have become big business.
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