States pour taxpayer dollars into college sports as athlete pay, soaring costs squeeze budgets
- Some states are using taxpayer money to support college athletics as universities face higher athlete pay and rising operating costs.
- At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the athletics program is receiving $3 million for the first time from state sports betting taxes.
- Wisconsin lawmakers approved $15 million for athletic costs at the University of Wisconsin, and Connecticut and Louisiana are also using tax dollars to support college sports.
- The NCAA allowed athletes to receive payments from private entities for name, image and likeness in 2021, and a later legal settlement let schools directly pay athletes about $20.5 million annually, a cap that rose to $21.3 million this school year.
- Sports business analysts say states that provide support may create pressure on neighboring legislatures to do the same to avoid competitive disadvantages.
States are increasingly using public money to help college athletic departments as programs face higher costs tied to athlete compensation and other expenses. The AP reports that this support is not going directly to star players, but it does free up university funds by covering facility and administrative costs that schools would otherwise pay themselves.
North Carolina is among the states taking this step. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill athletics program is receiving $3 million from state sports betting taxes. In Wisconsin, lawmakers approved $15 million for athletic costs at the University of Wisconsin. Connecticut and Louisiana are also using tax dollars to support college athletics.
The shift comes after major legal changes to college sports compensation. The NCAA opened the door in 2021 for athletes to receive name, image and likeness payments from private entities. A later settlement allowed schools to pay athletes directly, initially about $20.5 million per year, with the cap rising to $21.3 million this school year.
Analysts say the dynamic could spread if schools in one state argue they are at a competitive disadvantage compared with rivals receiving public support. The article says more states have already considered similar help as college sports budgets continue to tighten.
随着球员薪酬和成本上升压缩预算，各州向大学体育投入纳税人资金
随着大学体育项目面临球员薪酬和其他开支上升带来的压力，一些州开始动用公共资金来帮扶校队。美联社报道说，这类资金并不是直接发给明星球员，而是用来支付场馆和行政等原本由学校承担的成本，从而释放学校自有资金。
北卡罗来纳州已经加入这一做法。北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校的体育项目首次获得了州博彩税拨出的300万美元。威斯康星州立法者批准向威斯康星大学提供1500万美元用于体育开支。康涅狄格州和路易斯安那州也在用税收资金支持大学体育。
这一变化发生在大学体育薪酬规则出现重大调整之后。NCAA于2021年允许运动员从私人实体获得姓名、形象和肖像权报酬。随后的一项和解又允许学校直接向运动员支付报酬，最初约为每年2050万美元，本学年上限升至2130万美元。
分析人士表示，如果某些州率先提供这种支持，其他州的学校可能会以竞争劣势为由，向本州立法机构施压要求跟进。报道还说，随着大学体育预算持续吃紧，更多州已经开始考虑类似做法。