Mick
Practically every civilization has had the equivalent of the Romans' "bread and circuses" to keep the masses happy while the elite pick their pockets clean. I can't see that aliens would be that much different, save that they might be intelligent enough to know the true value of 11 blokes running the length of a field to kick a ball into a net while 11 other blokes try to do the same thing with the same ball in the opposite direction.
Three hundred grand a week each plus sponsorship income on top?? Cricket might be unfathomable to the average alien/American but at least it doesn't award unspendable incomes to knuckle-draggers.
Just don't get me started on golf.....................
DM