Will pro sports still be a thing in 100 years?

[Colleen27]

I think some sports might not exist in 100 years.

I think there is a 50/50 chance that football (American football) might not exist in 100 years.

Eventually parents will realize what they might be doing to their kids with respect to CTE.

I think that's giving people too much credit. Yes, football is declining among educated, middle and upper class families. But it is still going strong here in the sticks, and from what I can see, the same is true in inner cities. Out here, CTE is dismissed as maybe not quite fake news but at the very least overblown, overhyped news on par with the latest dangerous/scary TikTok trend and fentanyl skittles and other viral parental panics. I think there will probably always be enough people who will, whether out of tradition or a belief that the better equipment in use now compared to "back in my day" negates concussion concerns, let their love of the game override any safety concerns about their kids playing.

 

[HopperFan]

I think college sports as we know it won't be a thing in 50 or less years -
which in turn will be one of the impacts to pro sports.

NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA ... will all slowly disintegrate -
college sports will become more like minor league teams, club sports or dissolve.

Colleges are experiencing a slip in demand, many figured out during COVID they could find good paying jobs without a degree. Many who depended on sports to go to college will find that college is not necessary and the athlete pool will drop. Alot has changed in the job market and education demands and all that is affecting college attendance and as a result may affect sports.

Most sports can draw direct from high schools, I think football is the hardest because physical size and strength changes so much during college. That is a sport that can maintain and still be a feeder.

At what point do we run out of owners that are willing to own a team; costs to operate, salaries, venue costs ... all reliant on attendance or tv $. With cable dropping and folks purchasing specific sport streaming, how much will that impact their broadcast income? More teams are becoming part of an investment group. At what point are they a bad investment?

At what point do fans just refuse to pony up hundreds of dollars for a couple hours entertainment - sometimes in the elements. We used to go to lots of sporting events but as ticket prices, parking prices and relocating venues starting happening we decided to focus on one sport (soccer season tickets) and watch the rest on television.

I feel like younger people (my kids ages) while they love sports, they are happy watching it on television at a bar or restaurant. One ticket could cover dinner, drinks and a month of streaming services. I think they will redefine sports in the future. They want more to their entertainment than sitting a sports venue. It will all come down to are teams making owners enough money because I think there will be very very few owners who are passionate about the sport, just about the dollar.


--- Don't ask about the Olympics. I think for a number of reasons they will cease to exist in my lifetime (and I'm on the back side of the hill).

 

[kdonnel]

I think that's giving people too much credit. Yes, football is declining among educated, middle and upper class families. But it is still going strong here in the sticks, and from what I can see, the same is true in inner cities. Out here, CTE is dismissed as maybe not quite fake news but at the very least overblown, overhyped news on par with the latest dangerous/scary TikTok trend and fentanyl skittles and other viral parental panics. I think there will probably always be enough people who will, whether out of tradition or a belief that the better equipment in use now compared to "back in my day" negates concussion concerns, let their love of the game override any safety concerns about their kids playing.

I do often overestimate the average person's intelligence, but that is where lawyers, and government regulation have to step in to even the playing field.

When youth football leagues start getting hit with lawsuits, or when public high schools no longer promote football as a sport, it will have to change.

I don't have a problem with football. If a grown man/woman wants to play, let them play, it is their choice.

However, I think it borders on child abuse for those under 18 to play knowing the CTE risk that the children will face later in life.

 

[Dead2009]

American football, baseball, basketball and soccer will. Sports like hockey might not sadly.

 

[Buzz Rules]

American football, baseball, basketball and soccer will. Sports like hockey might not sadly.

Why?

 

[Dead2009]

Because it's simply not as popular as basketball or baseball, especially overseas. The NHL also wouldnt have the funding the NFL or MLB would have in 100 years.