Congressional action is coming towards collegiate athletics

[donniesyracuse]

If MLB kills most of the minor leagues, (for a second time- the first time was in the 1960's), will a viable trend toward independent minor leagues begin? They could keep their own players for full season of a length they determine with a playoff system they prefer and employ veteran players trying to resort their careers or just keep playing the game they love.

There might be some shiny exceptions, but I think most markets will struggle with independent teams. Many minor league teams already lose money and that’s with MLB paying the players.

 

[Modern Coac]

There might be some shiny exceptions, but I think most markets will struggle with independent teams. Many minor league teams already lose money and that’s with MLB paying the players.

Yep. The independent teams will generally not make it. That was a bone thrown to them by MLB, a rotten bone at that. You are right. There might be a couple of communities that adopt an indy team, but not much. Too few to matter. Fans want to see true minor league ball. Parts of a MLB franchise.

I actually thought Congress would raise a bigger ruckus about the reduction at first, but there is not much they can do without widespread support and it is an issue that has a pretty narrow interest group. Very splintered. All I heard in political realm were a couple of standard stump speeches that this was wrong...the minors should not be touched..a few Congressional officials were going to look into this. Nothing happened.

 

[nzm136]

Who is going to pay for all of this?
Several unintended consequences, IMHO:

. Higher Tuition
. More student athletes will leave before graduation to pursue NFL/NBA
. Slippery Slope towards open professionalism
. Further alienation between athletes and other students
. Cutting other sports
. Decrease bond between Alumni and School

Exactly - people often push for paying without contemplating where the money is pulling from and/or the repercussions.