Every year the sport and entertainment worlds have multiple events that cause fans to stop everything. The Super Bowl, the World Series, the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and the NBA Playoffs are just a few. However, there is one tournament that takes over the month of March. The tournament is known as March Madness. March Madness is not only the biggest collegiate sporting event, but also one of the biggest sporting events of the year. This basketball tournament generates millions in revenue from ticket sales, apparel sales, hosting venues, T.V. broadcasting and betting. Many fans try (and fail) to build the perfect bracket. One year, Warren Buffet said he would offer one million dollars to any individual who had a “perfect bracket.”
For all the lovers of March Madness, there will also be skeptics. Some will ask “is the hype worth it?”
The Critics
Fans from around the country want to watch their favorite player, team and coach. Fans are also excited to see who will be the “Cinderella Story” of the tournament. However, while fans are being entertained, is it fair for players? Some argue that the players get the short end of the stick for multiple reasons. One reason is that player jerseys and apparel are being sold and players do not receive any of the revenue. Another argument is that players do not receive any of the profit from the television deal. Finally, critics say that the most exciting players are typically one and done, therefore, it may take away from the hype of next year’s tournament.
The Fans
Although there may be a great argument against the March Madness hype, there are also counter arguments. Players may not receive portions of the revenue, but they receive scholarships to the university they are playing for. Also, when the NCAA made their television deal with CBS, the NCAA came up with a system where each division and conference in the NCAA get a portion of the profit. Lastly, the players that are one and done still have the opportunity to play on the biggest stage of college basketball.
Instead of debating about whether or not March Madness is fair/unfair or overly hyped, we should all appreciate and marvel at the talent that the young athletes showcase. We may not notice at the moment, but every game we watch could be the next historical moment.