4 ms·

I feel like American college sports are in a similar cycle of enshittification right now. Conference-specific TV networks have become an enormous source of inc

I feel like American college sports are in a similar cycle of enshittification right now. Conference-specific TV networks have become an enormous source of income, so conferences are incentivized to expand distribution of their regional TV networks by moving into new geographic markets. Schools, looking out for themselves, are trying to join the most successful conference possible, to get a cut of the mega-conference TV cash. We now have the so-called Atlantic Coast Conference with members schools in Texas and California. The Big 10 Conference, previously made up of 10 midwestern schools, is now up to 18 schools, spanning from coast to coast. Athletes in non-revenue sports are taking long plane rides so they can go run on a track or swim in a pool thousands of miles from home, rather than at a nearby, longstanding rival's facility. The revenue sports are generally happier, although you do get oddities there too. In football, teams generally only play 8 conference teams, so determining the best team in an 18-team conference where each team hasn't even played half of the league isn't terribly fair. Any why are universities abandoning historic rivalries and doing so much wasteful travel? All for that almighty dollar.

jonhohle 2y ago
At least in the west, the PAC-12 imploded because it wasn’t a source of income because they bet on their conference specific networks instead of working with the major TV networks. Schools knew they were leaving money on the table and PAC-12 couldn’t do for them what the other conferences could. The Big 10 hasn’t had 10 schools since 1990, only 3 years after they officially adopted the name.
- csa 2y ago
  > The Big 10 hasn’t had 10 schools since 1990, only 3 years after they officially adopted the name. The Big 10 has been the Big 10 since 1916 when Michigan rejoined. I mean, sure, technically they were the “Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives” until 1987, but no one actually called them that.
PaulHoule 2y ago
Lately I discovered that going to basketball games at my Uni is a great time and a great deal (I can buy $6 tickets for my whole party as a staff member, it is $8 for everyone else) I can sit in the front if I want, it's more fun with the band and the cheer squad and the dance team doing entertainment. The facility is great and has accommodation for families with children, who cheer as hard as anybody and add to the atmosphere. It's just great. [1] Almost all the games they play (Ivy League in the second half of the season) are with teams that are a reasonable bus ride away. In comparison I'm indifferent to watching NBA or college ball on TV. [1] I sometimes go to do photography, other times I bring friends and family. I am going to shoot a double header at the school on the other hill next Friday which is unticketed and a smaller facility, I gotta get a spare memory card because I filled my card just the moment the final buzzer rang in the last game.
- hobs 2y ago
  This is what I think is lost in modern sports, and I don't understand why people find them enervating - going to a local baseball game run by the minor leagues is fun and entertaining and engaging, I would rather have a reasonably bad sunburn than sit through an MLB game.
  - dfxm12 2y ago
    I had an NHL season ticket plan that included AHL games (the teams played in the same building at the time). Major league, minor league, it doesn't matter. What sets live sports apart from watching on TV is the crowd. Nothing beats the atmosphere of a full barn all cheering in unison for the home team, living and dying with each play.
    - PaulHoule 2y ago
      Yep, I paid $33 to to see the New York Red Bulls play (Major League Soccer) and it was just that. It's not the insanity of a Premier League game but it's the closest thing to a European soccer game that you'll see in the states, they even have a seating section to concentrate the die-hard fans right by the opponent's goal. Watching on TV is not the same.

jonhohle 2y ago

At least in the west, the PAC-12 imploded because it wasn’t a source of income because they bet on their conference specific networks instead of working with the major TV networks. Schools knew they were leaving money on the table and PAC-12 couldn’t do for them what the other conferences could. The Big 10 hasn’t had 10 schools since 1990, only 3 years after they officially adopted the name.

csa 2y ago
> The Big 10 hasn’t had 10 schools since 1990, only 3 years after they officially adopted the name. The Big 10 has been the Big 10 since 1916 when Michigan rejoined. I mean, sure, technically they were the “Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives” until 1987, but no one actually called them that.

PaulHoule 2y ago

Lately I discovered that going to basketball games at my Uni is a great time and a great deal (I can buy $6 tickets for my whole party as a staff member, it is $8 for everyone else) I can sit in the front if I want, it's more fun with the band and the cheer squad and the dance team doing entertainment. The facility is great and has accommodation for families with children, who cheer as hard as anybody and add to the atmosphere. It's just great. [1] Almost all the games they play (Ivy League in the second half of the season) are with teams that are a reasonable bus ride away. In comparison I'm indifferent to watching NBA or college ball on TV. [1] I sometimes go to do photography, other times I bring friends and family. I am going to shoot a double header at the school on the other hill next Friday which is unticketed and a smaller facility, I gotta get a spare memory card because I filled my card just the moment the final buzzer rang in the last game.

hobs 2y ago
This is what I think is lost in modern sports, and I don't understand why people find them enervating - going to a local baseball game run by the minor leagues is fun and entertaining and engaging, I would rather have a reasonably bad sunburn than sit through an MLB game.
- dfxm12 2y ago
  I had an NHL season ticket plan that included AHL games (the teams played in the same building at the time). Major league, minor league, it doesn't matter. What sets live sports apart from watching on TV is the crowd. Nothing beats the atmosphere of a full barn all cheering in unison for the home team, living and dying with each play.
  - PaulHoule 2y ago
    Yep, I paid $33 to to see the New York Red Bulls play (Major League Soccer) and it was just that. It's not the insanity of a Premier League game but it's the closest thing to a European soccer game that you'll see in the states, they even have a seating section to concentrate the die-hard fans right by the opponent's goal. Watching on TV is not the same.