The Downfall of American Sports – A System in Decline
Are we witnessing American sports plummet to their death?
It's not for a lack of interest. Fans consistently flock to stadiums to see their favorite players and enjoy the experience live with the five major American sports leagues averaging 103.6 million attendees annually over the last 5 years (Sports Business Journal). This will take a hit when the competitive balance reaches its tipping point, something bound to happen given current trends. This decline isn’t happening in a vacuum—there's one underlying culprit behind it all.
This toppling of American sports as we know it comes down to one thing: greed.
The rise of purely profit-driven ownership prioritizing cash flows over winning, pay-to-play sports at a youth level serving as a barrier to entry for whole demographics of talent, and the lack of motivation for players to play outside of money-making opportunities like all-star games or international competitions are all displays of this greed that has engulfed US sports. Perhaps, there are some cues to be taken from the system of European sports like soccer.
"It's not fair! The Dodgers have one of the highest payrolls in the league. Of course they're going to win!"
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Well, to a certain extent, you're right if you have this thought process when your team struggles, but it's possible that your team could be spending significantly more to pick up some premier players. Based on the figure above, some of the MLB's bottom teams weren't willing to splash the cash at a similar rate to stay competitive. While there are other factors in play like market size and the need to take on risk for long-term success, the disparity between revenue and payroll in the MLB is a true display of owners prioritizing short-term profits.
Is there a way to keep owners honest? How do we keep them accountable for keeping fans' best interests in mind over money in their pockets?
Relegation in every major league of European football serves as an accountability mechanism. Think about it, relegation gives teams two options: win or face the consequences. If your team fails to stay out of the bottom of the league, it'll be forced to compete for at least the next season in a much smaller market. In the NBA, for example, it's no secret that teams tank whole seasons by benching their best players to put them into contention for the top lottery picks in the next draft. A relegation system discourages this. This system introduces loads of new teams (likely minor league clubs that would become their own entities) that are competing in smaller markets and fighting for a chance to make it in the top flight against teams in the biggest markets, allowing smaller clubs to make more money from broadcasting and increased exposure when promoted.
Here's an example of what that might look like in the MLB:
Example Relegation Standings (2024)
| MLB (Top Tier) | W | L | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Atlanta Braves | 102 | 60 | Champions |
| 2. Los Angeles Dodgers | 100 | 62 | Playoffs |
| 3. Houston Astros | 98 | 64 | Playoffs |
| ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 18. Kansas City Royals | 66 | 96 | Relegated ⬇️ |
| 19. Colorado Rockies | 62 | 100 | Relegated ⬇️ |
| 20. Oakland Athletics | 58 | 104 | Relegated ⬇️ |
| Triple-A Premier League (Middle Tier) | W | L | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Durham Bulls (Rays AAA) | 90 | 50 | Promoted ⬆️ |
| 2. Norfolk Tides (Orioles AAA) | 88 | 52 | Promoted ⬆️ |
| 3. Oklahoma City Dodgers (Dodgers AAA) | 85 | 55 | Promoted ⬆️ |
| ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 8. Louisville Bats (Reds AAA) | 60 | 80 | Relegated ⬇️ |
| 9. Syracuse Mets (Mets AAA) | 55 | 85 | Relegated ⬇️ |
| 10. El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres AAA) | 50 | 90 | Relegated ⬇️ |
| Triple-A Championship League (Bottom Tier) | W | L | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Las Vegas Aviators (A’s AAA) | 95 | 45 | Promoted ⬆️ |
| 2. Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros AAA) | 92 | 48 | Promoted ⬆️ |
| 3. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins AAA) | 90 | 50 | Promoted ⬆️ |
Relegation introduces an efficient cycle to keep owners honest. More teams mean more regional representation for fans. This representation fosters pride in their local squads and generates more interest in the sport. The increased interest spurs rivalry and passion that materializes in unity among fans which lights a fire under owners and encourages them to keep the fans happy by spending more on better players. This does cause a whole other issue, however. Where are all of these players going to come from to create balance among the new teams?
Relegation adds extra pressure on teams to bring in all of the best talent both nationally and internationally. Currently, American sports at a youth level, especially baseball and soccer, are influenced by parents' ability to pay for their children to be on the best teams with the best coaches, facilities, and resources. There are droves of kids who could be generational talents but, simply, don't have the means to be there with those whose parents can afford the top-tier travel teams. Take Cristiano Ronaldo, for example. He grew up in a working-class family in Madeira, Portugal, and his mother even considered stopping his football training because of financial struggles. But thanks to Portugal’s club academy system, Ronaldo was scouted at a young age and given the opportunity to develop his talent without his family having to foot the bill. If he had grown up in the U.S. under the pay-to-play model, there’s a good chance he never would have made it past the local youth leagues. How many future stars are slipping through the cracks in American sports?
Cristiano Ronaldo with Sporting Lisbon's youth academy
An accountability mechanism like relegation leaves professional clubs no choice but to invest in talent all the way from the youth level by creating fully-funded academies, giving young talents from lower-income families the opportunity to play a sport that they may have never had the chance to play without support from the club.
I think the biggest disappointment of the whole downfall is the players' loss of competitive edge as the result of either not wanting to get injured to lose out on payouts or not playing with passion in competitions where the monetary incentive isn't a factor like all-star games or international tournaments.
NBA stars have openly come out about not caring for the All-Star Game:
For me, it's an All-Star Game, so I don't think I will ever look at it like being"
super competitive. It's always fun. I don't know what they can do to make it more competitive. It's a break. I don't think nobody wants to come here and
compete." — Anthony Edwards
The MLB All-Star Game used to mean something. It was the determining factor for which league gets home-field advantage in the World Series. We didn't see a US National Basketball squad that represented our best for almost a decade until this most recent Olympics. Competitions of the same scale in European football are the most passionate in all of sport. Wins in the Euros and FIFA World Cup often mean more to the athletes than any accomplishment with their club that pays them the big bucks.
Spanish international team celebrating 2024 Euros win
I think we saw a glimpse of this passion in the NHL's Four Nations Face-Off which replaced the annual all-star game. We saw 3 fights in the first 9 seconds of the tie between the USA and Canada. This is the type of competition that American sports should shift to with mid-year comps like the NBA All-Star game seeing viewership drop by 13% this year (Sports Business Journal).
So, where does that leave us?
American sports aren’t dying. They’re just being held hostage by greed, complacency, and a lack of accountability. Ownership prioritizes profits over competition, youth sports gatekeep talent with pay-to-play models, and once-passionate players now treat exhibition games like glorified scrimmages.
Relegation, youth academies, and an emphasis on national pride could reignite the fire, but whether the U.S. sports machine is willing to change is another question. Until then, enjoy watching your team tank for draft picks while billionaires count their money.
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