Professional elite sport in USA

1
Professional (elite) sport in USA

• Sport run as a business
• Franchised system common
• Sport is elitist little amateur or public
  provision
• Sport relies on sponsorship, media fees, gate
  receipts

• Black out system occurs to maximise gate receipts
• TV companies exert a lot of power
• Scheduling of events/ advertising governed by TV
• Sports stars are marketed as assets
• Endorsements

2
Professional sport in USA

• Win at all costs attitude due to commercial
  pressure
• Sports are all high scoring and action packed to
  maximise entertainment value
• No draws
• Sport tends to be spectator based not
  participation based

• Large drop out after university
• Spectators tend to be family orientated
• High quality facilities for both players and
  spectators
• Heavy marketing with accompanying merchandise
• Few away fans