Sports Economist Analyzes NFL's Success and Lessons for Golf's Future

Expert weighs in on challenges for PGA Tour, impact of Saudi investment, and the power shift towards athletes

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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As the sports industry evolves, a sports economist examines the unique appeal of the NFL model, the PGA Tour's experiments with scarcity, the disruptive influence of YouTube, the complex motivations behind Saudi investment in golf, and the growing leverage of individual athletes. The expert provides insights on how other leagues can learn from the NFL's success and adapt to changing consumer preferences and power dynamics.

Why it matters

The shifting landscape of professional sports has far-reaching implications for leagues, teams, athletes, and fans. Understanding the factors driving these changes can help other sports organizations adapt their strategies and business models to thrive in the future.

The details

According to sports economist David Berri, the NFL's success as a television product, with its dynamic action and easily digestible narratives, presents a unique challenge for other leagues to replicate. The PGA Tour is experimenting with scarcity, reducing the number of full-time playing privileges and tournaments, in an effort to increase the perceived value of each event. However, Berri cautions that this alone is unlikely to dramatically change the sport's appeal. The rise of YouTube has fundamentally changed how sports are consumed, empowering viewers to choose what they watch and forcing leagues to be more responsive to audience preferences. The influx of Saudi investment into sports, exemplified by LIV Golf, raises complex questions about the motivations behind these investments and the challenges of building a new league from scratch. As player contracts expire, athletes are gaining unprecedented leverage, able to leverage their individual brands and appeal to alternative funding sources, creating a new era of player empowerment.

  • The NFL is approaching Super Bowl LX.

The players

Brian Rolapp

The former NFL executive who has become the CEO of the PGA Tour.

David Berri

A sports economist who provides analysis on the evolving sports industry.

Bryson DeChambeau

A professional golfer who has gained unprecedented leverage in contract negotiations.

Sedona Prince

A basketball player whose viral video exposed inequities in NCAA tournament resources, leading to greater visibility for women's sports.

Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF)

A sovereign wealth fund with over $1 trillion in assets that has invested in the new LIV Golf league.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know if golf has quite the same television appeal. There's a ceiling to how many people are going to tune in.”

— David Berri, Sports Economist (newsy-today.com)

“I don't think that's going to dramatically change anything.”

— David Berri, Sports Economist (newsy-today.com)

“You have to be responsive to what the YouTube audience wants. You have to pay attention to that because they're choosing it themselves.”

— David Berri, Sports Economist (newsy-today.com)

“You have to create events that are totally different. The key is to offer something unique and compelling that attracts both players and fans.”

— David Berri, Sports Economist (newsy-today.com)

“I would ask for $2 billion. I would just throw it out there.”

— David Berri, Sports Economist (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

The PGA Tour will continue to experiment with new formats and strategies to attract a broader audience and stay relevant in the evolving sports landscape.

The takeaway

The sports industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation, driven by changing consumer preferences, the rise of new media platforms, and a shift in the balance of power between leagues, teams, and athletes. Successful organizations will need to be nimble, innovative, and responsive to these changes in order to thrive in the future.