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Might want to rethink those Big 3 Championships

Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:14 pm
Posted by TheGhostofBud
Oilton, OK
Member since Dec 2021
139 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:14 pm
I know LSU fans love baseball, but it's not widely followed. For shits and giggles I did a Google search - and got this:

The Women's College World Series (WCWS) outperformed the Men's College World Series (CWS) in television viewership in 2026. The WCWS Championship Finals averaged 2.2 million viewers and peaked at 3.0 million, while the men's CWS Finals between North Carolina and Oklahoma averaged 2.0 million viewers.

The TV viewership for the Women's College World Series (WCWS) officially eclipsed the men's College World Series (CWS) in 2015. During the championship rounds that year, softball drew an average of 1.85 million viewers, notably outperforming the baseball equivalent.The WCWS has continued to expand its lead in viewership over the CWS in recent years:

2023: The WCWS final averaged 1.7 million viewers, easily outperforming the men's CWS final.
2024: The WCWS championship series averaged a staggering 2 million viewers, pulling in massive audiences for matchups like Oklahoma vs. Texas.
2025: The WCWS set new all-time highs, averaging 1.6 million viewers across all games (up 20% from 2024).
2026: The WCWS finals (Texas vs. Texas Tech) hit another all-time high of 2.5 million for Game 2, far surpassing the 2026 men's CWS Game 3 viewership of 2 million.

You want to talk about OU and those softball championships, but they make more money than baseball. Softball is more popular, and I think baseball purists might be offended, but the rules need to change to make the game faster. It's boring as frick!
This post was edited on 6/26/26 at 6:36 pm
Posted by Gatorbait2008
Member since Aug 2015
29068 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:20 pm to
Football and Basketball support most college sports.
Posted by vidtiger23
Member since Feb 2012
9885 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:23 pm to
Curious how you came to the “softball makes more money than baseball” for Oklahoma. Did not look much into it, but a quick google search said the softball program operates at a larger deficit.
Posted by pgaddxn
between here and there
Member since Jul 2008
1902 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:25 pm to
quote:

You want to talk about OU and those softball championships, but they make more money that baseball


Well this is just utterly and completely wrong. Maybe your Google is broken.

PS: you misspelled “than”
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
140301 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:27 pm to
quote:

know LSU fans love baseball, but it's not widely followed


Baseball is at best 5th, maybe lower. Women's basketball and volleyball get way more following and TV exposure.
Posted by pgaddxn
between here and there
Member since Jul 2008
1902 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:27 pm to
quote:

but a quick google search said the softball program operates at a larger deficit.


Because they generate less revenue while simultaneously operating at a lower cost.
Posted by Gunga Din
Oklahoma
Member since Jul 2020
3621 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:30 pm to
I just think softball is better suited for a TV audience.

It moves a bit faster and is only seven innings.

Because the bases are closer... there are more bang-bang plays...

Because the ball carries slower... there are more fabulous defensive plays.

But the fact that the games are 2 to 2.5 hours instead of 3.5 hours is probably the main thing.
Posted by vidtiger23
Member since Feb 2012
9885 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:32 pm to
quote:

Baseball is at best 5th, maybe lower. Women's basketball and volleyball get way more following and TV exposure.

Men’s CWS championship peaked at over double the women’s volleyball championship? Curious how you came to that conclusion as well. Posting receipts of actual evidence would really be useful here.
Posted by TheGhostofBud
Oilton, OK
Member since Dec 2021
139 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:35 pm to
quote:


Curious how you came to the “softball makes more money than baseball”


Talking about to the networks. Ratings make money - ratings are what the conferences get the cash from! Since Love's Field opened - the softball stadium holds about 1k more than L. Dale Mitchell -(including SRO - fixed seats about 450 more), not sure how many the baseball stadium will hold after renovations. So I would pretty much guarantee that since Spring of 24 softball has brought in more cash than baseball at OU.
Posted by TheGhostofBud
Oilton, OK
Member since Dec 2021
139 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:37 pm to
quote:

PS: you misspelled “than”


Thanks for that - drives me crazy! I don't think Google is broken, but I could use CoPilot if it makes you happy - LOL
Posted by vidtiger23
Member since Feb 2012
9885 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:39 pm to
quote:

Talking about to the networks. Ratings make money - ratings are what the conferences get the cash from! Since Love's Field opened - the softball stadium holds about 1k more than L. Dale Mitchell -(including SRO - fixed seats about 450 more), not sure how many the baseball stadium will hold after renovations. So I would pretty much guarantee that since Spring of 24 softball has brought in more cash than baseball at OU.

That may all be true, I do not know about OU athletics to fact check you here. But I do know that the softball team operated at a larger deficit than baseball. Meaning they in fact did not bring in more cash. Both loss and softball loss at a higher value.
Posted by TheGhostofBud
Oilton, OK
Member since Dec 2021
139 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:40 pm to
quote:


Curious how you came to the “softball makes more money than baseball” for Oklahoma. Did not look much into it, but a quick google search said the softball program operates at a larger deficit.


Also - a quick Google search:

Here is how the softball financials compare to other Sooner programs:
Softball: Generates a strong annual profit (bringing in around $1.67 million). It remains one of the few athletic programs at OU to operate in the black.
Other Programs: By comparison, Men's Basketball operated with a $4.1 million deficit, and Women's Basketball ran a $5.6 million deficit.

The financial performance of Oklahoma softball is vastly superior to Sooner baseball, creating a rare dynamic where the women's program heavily outperforms the men's program on the balance sheet.While OU softball generates a strong annual profit, the OU baseball program historically operates at a multi-million dollar deficit.The financial gap between the two programs highlights several key differences:

Financial Comparison Breakdown

Profit vs. Deficit: In typical fiscal tracking, the University of Oklahoma baseball program brings in around $1.5 million in total revenue against over $4.2 million in operating expenses, resulting in a net deficit of roughly $2.7 million. Softball consistently operates in the black with annual profits exceeding $1.6 million.

Ticket Sales & Demand: Driven by the massive popularity of its dynasty and the opening of the 4,200-seat Love's Field stadium, softball generates between $1.6 million and $2.7 million in ticket sales alone. Softball is one of only three OU sports (alongside football and men's basketball) to cross the million-dollar ticket revenue milestone. Baseball ticket revenue tracks significantly lower.
This post was edited on 6/26/26 at 6:46 pm
Posted by Oklahomey
Bucksnort, TN
Member since Mar 2013
6004 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:45 pm to
Baseball > Softball, always. There has been an NCAA champion crowned since 1947. It’ll always be part of the Big Three.
Posted by lsu711
Member since Sep 2003
15441 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:45 pm to
quote:

they make more money than baseball.

Oklahoma likes softball more than baseball.

All good, but we will judge you for it.
Posted by vidtiger23
Member since Feb 2012
9885 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:45 pm to
Well our googles are telling us different things lol. Everything mine says tells me that they lost just under 3M. That would not be operating in the black.
Posted by pgaddxn
between here and there
Member since Jul 2008
1902 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:50 pm to
I genuinely think his google is broken. Absolutely nothing I’ve read says softball makes more money than baseball in anything including ads, networks, or the ncaa.

He likes softball and figured he’d try to shite on LSU. We all know exactly why he did.
Posted by TheGhostofBud
Oilton, OK
Member since Dec 2021
139 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:50 pm to
quote:

It’ll always be part of the Big Three.


I don't think so, it's losing appeal. That's kind of like saying football will always be on top. I hope so, but all of the problems it has seen as of late, along with concussion and injury problems - the sport has taken a beating. Young kids aren't playing as much, and fans are throwing in the towel. If something doesn't change - football will fall from the Big 3 as well. It might take 30 years, but it can happen. Just because you are on top today, doesn't guarantee tomorrow.
Posted by pgaddxn
between here and there
Member since Jul 2008
1902 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 6:58 pm to
What are you talking about? The baseball viewership is climbing every single year. I understand why softball is important to you but nothing you are saying about baseball is factual.


What are you trying to accomplish here?
Posted by Cheese Grits
Wherever I lay my hat is my home
Member since Apr 2012
62543 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 7:05 pm to
quote:

The Women's College World Series (WCWS) outperformed the Men's College World Series (CWS) in television viewership in 2026.


Newsflash to the new kids. This is the SEC and the ladies look good in the unis. As a bonus each team has at least 1 large marge for those who know big girls need love too.
Posted by tBrand
Member since Oct 2022
4161 posts
Posted on 6/26/26 at 7:09 pm to
So what you're saying that Texas, not Oklahoma, is the only SEC school to win a big 3 title this year.

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