College sports in the USA and the role of the NCAA

On any financial measure college sports programs in the USA dwarf college sports programs in all other countries combined. Even if the figures for the developmental professional sports programs in other countries for the 18-22-year-old age group were added to the non-US collegiate sports total, the USA figures would still dwarf those in other countries. In overall attendance and ticket revenues college sports in the USA is close to any of the four major US professional leagues. Because there is little media coverage of US college sports in other countries most people outside of the USA do not realize its scale. Conversely, most Americans have no idea that there is nothing like it any- where else.