Think about it. They do their level best to compete on an equal level, but, in the end, struggle to even make a mark in the industry. They scrape by to survive. Their players begin to show improvement. Their innovations may suffer from technical gaffes, but they are a positive sign that the league can compete and offer something new and different.
Players become stars.
Innovations garner attention. Suddenly, the bigger group starts to scoop up the talent from the smaller group. They offer lucrative contracts and long-term stability. They provide the chance for the athlete to compete on a larger stage and under a brighter spotlight. Technical innovations are picked up by the more prominent group as well.