• eclectic_electron@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      11 months ago

      Athletics is actually petty profitable, since athletes can’t be paid, so the school gets all the money for sponsorships, tickets, merch, etc.

      It can actually be a problem for the schools, since athletics isn’t allowed to be profitable. They have to spend all the money athletics brings in on athletics, which is why the athletics department ends up with all the fancy new buildings.

      • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        16
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        since athletes can’t be paid,

        Remind me again, what is it called when the people generating the wealth are not compensated?

        It can actually be a problem for the schools, since athletics isn’t allowed to be profitable. They have to spend all the money athletics brings in on athletics, which is why the athletics department ends up with all the fancy new buildings.

        Ah yes, that sounds like a great benefit for students getting an education. Also for the academic staff. Must be great to work at a university as a lecturer and know the football coach earns multiples of your salary.

      • lightnsfw@reddthat.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        What’s the point of having an athletic program if you’re not using it to subsidize programs that actually matter?

        • eclectic_electron@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          11 months ago

          It kinda does do that, just indirectly. Even if the university can’t profit directly off of athletics, a successful sports season increases application rates and donations. Basically it boosts the brand recognition and brand identity of the school.

          It’s still painful to me that the class size at my engineering school basically doubled the year after the university won some basketball championship. I don’t want to believe that people, and especially engineers, are that influence-able but the numbers don’t lie