College sports are a significant part of American culture and generate billions of dollars in revenue every year. While universities profit greatly from the work of college athletes, the athletes themselves receive no compensation for their hard work. The question of whether college athletes should be paid has been debated in recent years, with strong arguments on both sides. In this essay, I will argue that college athletes should be paid for their work.
One of the reasons why college athletes should be paid is that they bring in a significant amount of revenue for their universities. As noted in "The Case for Paying College Athletes," “The college sports industry generates $11 billion in annual revenues. Fifty colleges report annual revenues that exceed $50 million. Meanwhile, five colleges report annual revenues that exceed $100 million.” Text 1 line 1-3 This money is generated through TV contracts, merchandise sales, and ticket sales, all of which are made possible by the hard work of college athletes. It’s only fair that the athletes should receive a portion of this revenue, especially considering the fact that they are putting in the hours of practice and competing in games.
…show more content…
As noted in "It's Time to Pay College Athletes," “Players are essentially working full-time football jobs while going to school; they deserve to be paid more than a scholarship. Because even full-ride athletic scholarships don’t cover the full cost of attending school.” Text 2 line 15-17 In addition, college athletes are often required to spend long hours practicing and competing, which makes it difficult for them to have part-time jobs. By paying college athletes, universities could help alleviate some of the financial strain that these students