Originally Posted by indigo
If collegiate sports were truly a loss, would they continue? No.

If you say so, but the evidence says otherwise.

Originally Posted by indigo
institutions embark on an upward spiral of optional investment, leveraging ticket sales to drive fundraising and expenditures on infrastructure such as field improvements, addition of practice fields, better lighting, new fencing, enhanced scoreboards, additional stadium seating, luxury box seating, press box upgrades, etc.

Yes, because these things are required to recruit the most sought-after athletes, in order to present the best program, and thus draw the most fan dollars.

Such a collegiate sports arms race could be expected to drive escalating tuitions, fees, and state contributions, with no tangible benefits to education. Such an arms race could be expected to see very few winners, and a great many losers.

Kinda like we're seeing now.

However, colleges remain committed to their sports programs because they make the school look good, helping them in their recruiting for academic students. But recruiting costs don't end there, because prospective students are also drawn towards newer or upgraded facilities, and top ranks in US News rankings. So there's an arms race in those areas as well... leading to MORE escalating costs.

The result is, once again, an arms race that yields escalating costs and an increasing number of losers.

The only way to win the game is not to play.