re: NIL is about to usher in the Golden Age of SEC baseball popularity & fan base growth

No doubt there are local areas, especially in the South and West Coast where it’s popularity hasn’t waned as dramatically but overall it’s down about 30% nationally since its highs. Unfortunately, America’s once most popular youth sport is now third behind basketball and tennis. The problem with baseball is it has become specialized by many travel leagues that now play year round which increases burnout and cost. The same goes for softball. It’s much cheaper to find a basketball court or soccer field where all you need is a ball. The American model in most areas has become almost impossible for many poor kids to participate. Latin American countries haven’t done this. They still produce dozens of great players each year, many of them grow up playing in very poor areas.