The Business of Sports, 2nd Edition

The Business of Sports, 2nd Edition

by Mark Conrad
Released February 2011
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781136855528

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Book description

This book explores the business aspect of sports with an orientation to those topics that are most relevant to journalists, providing the foundation for understanding the various parts of the sports business. Moving beyond sports writing, this text offers a distinct perspective on professional, college, and international sports organizations – structure, governance, labor issues, and other business factors within the sports community. Written clearly and compellingly, The Business of Sports includes cases (historical, current, and hypothetical) to illustrate how business concerns play a role in the reporting of sports.

New features for the second edition include:

  • updates throughout, including disciplinary policies throughout the major sports leagues
  • expanded discussion of intellectual property issues and merchandising
  • new sections on ethical issues in sports, aimed at journalists.

Offering critical insights on the business of sports, this text is a required resource for sports journalists and students in sports journalism.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Preface to the First Edition
  5. Preface to the Second Edition
  6. Introduction: What Makes Sports a Unique Business?
    1. What Makes Sports a Unique Industry?
    2. References
  7. 1. The Structure of Professional Team Sports
    1. The Professional Leagues
    2. A Short Summary of the Four Major Leagues
    3. The Major Stakeholders In a Traditional League Structure
    4. Cooperation Versus Competition
    5. Fostering Competition
    6. Drawbacks
    7. Alternatives to the Traditional Sports League
    8. References
  8. 2. The Structure of Individual Sports
    1. Tournaments and Tours
    2. Individual Sports Athletes Are Not Employees
    3. Scheduling
    4. Rankings
    5. Examples of Individual Sports Governing Bodies
    6. References
  9. 3. The Structure of College and High School Sports
    1. Institutional Control
    2. Governance System
    3. Divisions
    4. Enforcement
    5. The Rules
    6. Athletic Conferences
    7. Championships
    8. High School Interscholastic Sports
    9. References
  10. 4. The International Sports System
    1. The International Olympic Committee
    2. National Olympic Committees
    3. International Federations
    4. National Governing Bodies
    5. Examples of International Federations and National Governing Bodies
    6. Helpful Websites
    7. References
  11. 5. Sports Contracts
    1. Contracts Involving Team Sports Athletes
    2. Contracts Involving Individual Sports Athletes
    3. Key Clauses In a League–Player Contract
    4. Contract Negotiations
    5. Coaches’ Contracts
    6. Insurance
    7. Endorsement Contracts
    8. The Marketing Assessment
    9. The Key Clauses
    10. Sponsorship Agreements
    11. References
  12. 6. Labor Relations In Sports
    1. The Labor Laws
    2. The Leagues
    3. Salary Control
    4. Major League Baseball
    5. National Football League
    6. National Basketball Association
    7. The National Hockey League
    8. The Women’s National Basketball Association
    9. Major League Soccer
    10. Miscellaneous Labor Issues
    11. Summary of Key Information
    12. References
  13. 7. Sports Agents
    1. The Business
    2. Mega-Agencies
    3. Duties of an Agent
    4. The Rise of Agents
    5. Agent Responsibilities
    6. Alternatives to Agents
    7. Standards and Regulations
    8. References
  14. 8. Team Relocation and Facility Issues
    1. A Short History of Franchise Relocation
    2. Waves of Relocation
    3. New Stadiums and Arenas
    4. Leagues’ Control of Relocation
    5. Facility Attempts to Stop Relocation
    6. Relocation and Cities
    7. Expansion
    8. Financing a Stadium
    9. Funding Vehicles
    10. The Stadium/Arena Lease
    11. Stadium Naming Rights
    12. Concessions
    13. Seat Licenses
    14. Seating Organization/Pricing
    15. Advertising
    16. Parking
    17. Other Revenue Generators
    18. Alteration of Existing Facilities
    19. A Final Word
    20. References
  15. 9. Sports Injuries
    1. Legal Theories
    2. Limitation of Liability Clauses
    3. Strict Product Liability
    4. State Law Immunity
    5. Medical Malpractice
    6. Risk Management
    7. Alcohol and Public Safety
    8. Defamation
    9. Criminal Law and Sports
    10. References
  16. 10. Performance-Enhancing Drugs In Sports
    1. National Collegiate Athletic Association
    2. The Olympic Movement
    3. Professional Sports
    4. References
  17. 11. Discrimination In Sports
    1. Race Discrimination
    2. Underrepresentation of Minorities
    3. Title IX
    4. Criticisms of Title IX
    5. Disability
    6. References
  18. 12. Intellectual Property and Sports
    1. Trademarks
    2. Copyright
    3. Athletes’ Right of Publicity
    4. Licensing Agreements
    5. Professional Leagues and Group Licensing
    6. References
  19. 13. Traditional and New Media In Sports
    1. The Property Right
    2. The Key Audience
    3. Radio
    4. Broadcast Television
    5. The Olympics
    6. Media Ownership of Teams
    7. New Technologies and Sports
    8. The Future
    9. A Short Summary of U.S. Media Rights Deals
    10. References
  20. Glossary

Product information

  • Title: The Business of Sports, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Mark Conrad
  • Release date: February 2011
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781136855528