Since the latter part of the nineteenth century sport has become increasingly commercialised. At no time has this process of commercialisation been more apparent and occurred more rapidly than over the past three decades. There are numerous manifestations of inextricable links that have developed between sport and business. This collection examines five of them in a global context: ? the growth of the sports industry ? the commercialisation of amateur sport ? sport sponsorship; public sector organisations and sport ? and the contribution of television to the commercialisation of sport.

What does commercialisation mean for the future of sport?
Modern sports links to commerce are highly visible. Stadiums and arenas bear the names of businesses, while sponsors' logos appear on athletes' clothing and equipment, on the facilities in which they play, and in the titles of the events in which they compete. Media companies pay vast sums for the rights to broadcast sports events, and advertisers pay a premium to promote products during the screening of these events. Cities invest, at the expense of other social projects, in the staging of major sports events and to attract...

Drawing on the knowledge of international sport management gurus, this book provides cutting-edge ideas from those at the forefront of the industry. A particular emphasis is placed on the rapidly evolving fields of organisational theory and economics.

Sharp, clear and relevant this book meets the needs of those studying and researching within the growing discipline of sport management. The intelligently cross-referenced entries provide a concise overview of the key concepts in the field guiding you through the important debates, sources and research methods in the management and delivery of sport. The book introduces readers to the concepts at the centre of their studies; it suggests relevant further reading and thoughts for future research and applies academic theory to business and organizational problems in a real-world context.