Skip Sauer: Turning pro early, in Europe
A few top-level college players are already skipping college to play overseas, and it's safe to assume the trend will continue as the talent levels and salaries improve across the pond. If Europe eventually becomes the primary destination for top-level talent, the NCAA will be forced to change. Some people may believe that the NCAA will be fine because alumni will always support their teams no matter the talent level, just like believing that people will buy the same amount of gas as prices go up, but this view requires an unhealthy respect for the Law of Demand. ACC teams are not going to fill 20,000 seat stadiums if the talent level sinks to that of the Colonial Athletic Association.
In the next 50 years or so, I suspect that growing international competition will force the NCAA to drop their rules preventing athletes from earning fair compensation.
...at least I hope so.
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Related:
Q & A with the Sports Economist, Skip Sauer
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