Article 8: Race and Ethnicity

On November 6^th and November 11^th we discussed in the class the topic of Race and Ethnicity in the sport industry. In our notes we learned the difference between Race and Ethnicity.  Race is the social category constructed and accepted by society to describe members with genetic similarity. Ethnicity is a group that is socially distinct population that shares a way of life and is committed to the ideas, norms, and things that constitute that way of life.  In an article I found on the website, TheGuardian, talks about current and former players calling that teams need to target one in five coaches must come from a African American background and an ethnic minority group. Much like the National Football League adopted the rule that all teams must interview at least one African American Head Coach when they have an opening available. That rule was instituted by Dan Rooney the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the league diversity committee. In our notes we learned that sport is not free from racial problems and it reflects the same racial issues in society. In a recent research study conducted, it shows that only 3.4% of coaching positions across the 92 clubs of the Premier League. Gordon Taylor, the Professional Footballers’ Association Chief Executive have stated the need to implement the Rooney Rule. It would expand the use of minorities in the coaching industry. The need to help expand the use of race and ethnic minorities will also help grow the sport more globally.

Gordon Taylor- Professional Footballers' Association Chief Executive

Former Blackburn Rovers Forward, Jason Roberts, said that "race disparity in coaching was 'an embarrassment to football"

 

Article 7: Gender and Sport

On November 13^th and November 18^th we discussed Gender in the Sport Industry. In an article I found on BBC Sport on the topic it discusses that there needs to be a gender balance throughout sport. In article the UK Minster for sport, Helen Grant said that after a recent BBC Sport study that men receive 30% more prize money than women.  According to the study completed, a total of 56 global sports were researched.  In the 56 global sports that were researched only 35 sports pay prize money. In the 35 sports that pay prize money only 25 sports pay equally and 10 sports pay different amounts based on gender. To compare, in 1972, Title IX was founded. It states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education…”. It was put in into place to allow girls and women the right to participate in sports that were exclusively towards boys and men. The global women’s right movement in the 1960’s allowed for girls and women to participate in sports around the world. As stated in the article many foreign athletes come to the United States because they can earn more revenue than if they stayed in their home country. It has allowed the sports to expand have a global impact around the world. Chief Executive of the Ladies European Tour, Ivan Peter Khodabkhsh has said they he makes great effort for equivalency in prize money. He said that achieving equivalency in prize money for each gender would require effort from the governing bodies, corporations and media.
                                                                 UK Minster for Sport

 

 

 

 

Article 6: Sport and Mass Media

In our October 23^rd and October 28^th classes we discussed the effects on the sport industry and the mass media. As we stated in our notes, sport and the media are closely related on one another. They are two of the most successful businesses in the United States that bring in about $1 trillion and $350 Billion respectively. In an article I found on Sports Business Journal that discuss these two industries and how it will generate revenue for teams. In today’s age, you see teams such as the University of Texas Longhorns create a channel that is 100% dedicated to the Texas Longhorns athletics called the Longhorn Network. In our class lecture, we learned that the sport popularity is of a result of the media coverage that is shown. Many of the media today is through social media which is a group of internet applications that allow the creation and exchange of user generated content. It allows news to reach more accessible fans more quickly. In our notes, it says that social media is used by 96% of the Sport Business for marking which is also called mobile marketing. In other words, social media is just another avenue to get the word out in front of a large number of people at one time. The newer channels such as Fox Sports 1 and CBS Sports Network allows for viewership to rise as it acquires the television rights to the particular sporting event. While television companies show sporting events on there network, there goal is to also help promote other shows that are on after the sporting event is over. It tries to promote not only the sporting event but other shows for viewership as well.
Chart Below Displaying Media Rights

MEDIA RIGHTS: WHAT’S AVAILABLE NEXT?
PROPERTY	NETWORK(S)	FINAL SEASON
The Masters	CBS, ESPN	Year-to-year
NFL Thursday Night Football	CBS	2014
EPL	NBC	2015
Preakness/Belmont	NBC	2015
Conference USA football championship	ESPN	2015
Formula One	NBC	2016
Big Ten football championship	Fox	2016
Conference USA	CBS Sports Network, Fox	2016
Big Ten	CBS, ESPN	2017
British Open	ESPN	2017
UEFA	Fox	2017-18
American Athletic Conference	CBS, ESPN	2019
UFC	Fox	2019
PGA of America	Turner	2019

Chart Below Displaying Media Rights by Years

MEDIA RIGHTS DEALS LOCKED IN FOR YEARS
PROPERTY	NETWORK(S)	TERMS	FINAL SEASON
Mountain West Conference*	CBS Sports Network, ESPN	$116 million/7 years**	2019-20
NHL	NBC	$2 billion/10 years	2020-21
PGA Tour	CBS, NBC	N/A/9 years	2020-21
NFL	ESPN	$15.2 billion/8 years	2021
MLB	ESPN	$5.6 billion/8 years	2021
MLB	Fox	$4.2 billion/8 years	2021
MLB	Turner	$2.6 billion/8 years	2021
Australian Open	ESPN	N/A/10 years	2021
NFL	DirecTV	$12 billion/8 years	2022
NFL	Fox	$9.9 billion/9 years	2022
NFL	CBS	$9 billion/9 years	2022
NFL	NBC	$8.55 billion/9 years	2022
Pac-12**	ESPN/ABC, Fox/FSN/FX	$3 billion/12 years**	2022-23
MLS**	ESPN, Fox	$600 million/8 years***	2022
FIFA World Cup***	Fox	$450 million-$500 million/8 years	2022
FIFA World Cup***	Telemundo	$600 million/8 years	2022
MLS	Univision	$120 million/8 years	2022
WNBA	ESPN	$72 million/6 years	2022
Wimbledon	ESPN	$480 million/12 years	2023
NASCAR***	NBC	$4.4 billion/10 years	2024
NASCAR***	Fox	$3.8 billion/10 years	2024
NCAA Men’s Div. I basketball tourn.	CBS, Turner	$10.8 billion/14 years**	2024
SEC	CBS	$825 million/15 years	2023-24
French Open	NBC	N/A/12 years	2024
NBA***	ESPN	$12.6 billion/9 years	2024-25
NBA***	Turner	$10.8 billion/9 years	2024-25
College Football Playoff^	ESPN	$7.3 billion/12 years	2025
Big 12	Fox/FSN/FX	$1.2 billion/13 years	2024-25
Big 12	ESPN/ABC	$1.3 billion/13 years	2024-25
U.S. Open (Tennis)	ESPN	$825 million/11 years	2025
Big East Conference	Fox	$500 million/12 years	2024-25
Notre Dame	NBC	N/A/10 years	2025
U.S. Open (Golf)***	Fox	$1.12 billion/12 years	2026
ACC	ESPN	$4.2 billion/15 years	2026-27
Big Ten Conference	Big Ten Network	$2.8 billion/25 years	2031-32
Olympics (U.S. rights)	NBC	$7.65 billion/12 years	2032
SEC	ESPN/ABC	$6 billion/20 years	2033-34

Article 5: Sport and the Economy

In our October 16^th and October 21^st class we discussed the relationship between the sport industry

and the economy. The relationships between these two entities are very much related as they both are

depended on each other.  In a Sports Business Journal article, it talks about how minor league

franchise values are increasing. In the article it discusses that not too long ago that minor league

teams could be had as a way to pull the former owner of the team out of debt. Also noted in the

article is the roughly 40 million people attended a minor league baseball game which is said to be

more the NBA, NHL or NFL. As we stated in our notes, that while the costs of owning a franchise

are rising, the league revenues are falling which have put a decreased on the number of jobs available

in the workforce.  A lot of the industry money depends on the extra income that a person has to

spend. I know for example, that I would rather attend a professional sporting event then a minor

league sporting event so I would usually try to safe my money to spend on the professional sporting

event then I would if a minor league sporting event was close to me. As stated in our notes that

people have to have the extra time, money, transportation in order to attend the sporting event and a

lot of it depends on the economy and the persons job situation. With many companies cutting jobs to

save money many people do not have the extra spending money that they once did to spend at games.

 

            

Home of the Dayton Dragons

Sold for $40 million in July 2014

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

Article 1: Sport and Politics

In our October 2^nd and October 7^th class we discussed the relationship between sports and politics. Sport and politics are very much related. Every sport league is a governing body similar to our nations government. A Sports Business Journal article talks about the governing power in the National Football League is response to the domestic violence scandals going through the league this season.  Much like people say about a Presidential Candidate, people are saying the National Football League commissioner, Roger Goodell should be fired because he didn’t do enough to correct the problem when it first occurred. Also much like the President of the United States, there is a Vice President or a second-hand person to make important decisions when the President is not able to. In the sport industry, there are the commissioners and most have a second hand person to help with important decision. Except in the National Football League where Roger Goodell is the only person making the decisions. He eliminated the second hand position when he took over the league in 2006. Similarities between politics and sports closely resemble one another and often decisions are made based off one or the other. In class we discussed some ways that they are associated with one another such as the president throwing out the first pitch at a ballgame, the league champions being invited to the White House to be honored and many athletes become politicians after there playing days are over due to the established following that they have. According to our notes, some noted politicians that have come from the sport industry are Lynn Swann of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who ran for governor of the state of Pennsylvania, and Steve Largent, of the Seattle Seahawks, who ran for governor of the state of Oklahoma after being in the House of Representatives for eight years.

                            Example of Championship Team being honored at the White House

Article 2: Reasons for Studying Sport

On August 28^th and September 2^nd, our class discussed some reasons for studying sports. One of the many reasons that people study sports is because gambling is big business in the sport industry. According to our notes, sports’ wagering, done legally or illegally, brings in about $382.4 billion. An article I found on Press of Atlantic City reports that the recently elected commissioner of the National Basketball Association, Adam Silver, says that legal sports betting will happen at some point in the United States.  Due to the popularity in sports’ wagering already today, I expect the amount to rise if this were to ever happen. According to the article, Commissioner Adam Silver is a proponent of this opportunity because it would bring in more interested fans. In class we discussed some forms of sports’ wagering which include fantasy sports leagues, College Basketball Tournament leagues, as well as the many other games people could place a bet on. In the past you had to go to Las Vegas if you wanted to place a bet, however with today’s advancement in technology, people are able to place a wager right from the comfort of their own home.  According to our notes, sports’ wagering is big business revenue. While it can come with the success of winning, there are many problems that can occur if you become addicted to sports’ wagering.

                                                Example of Sports Wagering in Las Vegas

Article 3: Sport and Education

In our September 25^th and September 30^th classes we discussed Sport and Education in American Sports in the 21^st Century. One the subtopic that was discussed was the participation of students while they are pursuing their education. The Snohomish Times out of Snohomish, Washington, discusses the increase in sport participation. According to a study conducted by National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) 7.8 million student-athletes participate in sports.  According to the article, the state of Washington ranks in 17^th place for participation of student-athletes with 159,548. The state with the most participation is Texas with 805,299 student -athletes.  According to our notes, some of the reasons that students participate in high-school athletics is to be involved in student activities, build self-esteem, enhance fitness and participation, and to develop skills needed further in life. According to the study, girls’ participation increased for the 25^th consecutive year. One of the things that we learned as well is that academics usually improve due to being a student-athlete because you are held to a much higher standard. One of the rules at many institutions is the eligibility rule, which requires that you have to have a certain grade in order to participate in that week’s games so student-athletes usually take their studies more seriously.  

 

                                                       Example of High School Athletics

 

 

Article 4: Youth Sport

During the September 18^th and September 23^rd class in American Sport in the 21^st Century we discussed the topic of youth sports in the United States. One of topics that we discussed in relation to youth sport was the Little League World Series that takes place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. According to the Sports Business Journal article focusing on the 75^th Anniversary of the Little League World Series, talks about how it was founded and some statistical data about the event. According to the article, it was founded by Carl Stotz, a lumber store clerk. According to the article, it is the world’s largest and most funded youth sport organization in the world. There are about 2.4 million players over a span of 76 countries. About 1.9 million of the 2.4 million come from the United States.  It was created as a 501(c) or non-profit organization as a way to allow kids to participate in sports regardless of their ability. Today, the Little League World Series is very commercialized due to the television contract that it currently has with ESPN and sponsorship with national companies such as Honda. In our class notes we discuss how the Little League World Series has evolved into what it is today and some of the problems associated with this.  One of the problems that is associated with this regards the pressure that is put on these young kids. I believe that some of that could be cut down without the media and production that is associated with the Little League World Series.

                                            Little League World Series 75th Anniversary Logo