The Business of Intercollegiate Athletics

In 1852, James Elkins, the enterprising superintendent of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad, had an innovative marketing idea. He urged the men of Harvard and Yale to test their skills in a rowing regatta, so he could sell train tickets to spectators. The event was a great success, and it wasn't long before other matches were planned, stands were built, tickets were sold, local businesses began to advertise their services, and coaches were hired to improve teams' chances of winning. So began the association of college sports and commerce. Whether the men of Harvard and Yale made a deal with the devil or a mutually beneficial arrangement has been hotly debated ever since.