Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1243 - Sports and The Economy - 06W
1243 - Sports and The Economy - 06W
For Discussion
Commercial sports prosper in certain types
of societies. Drawing from the textbook and
using Canada, the U.S., England, or
Australia as an example, explain how the
characteristics of any one of those countries
provide a strong support for maintaining
commercial sports.
Market economies
Societies with large, densely populated cities
People with time, money, and freedom of
movement to attend sports events regularly
Availability of large amounts of capital to build
facilities
Lifestyles based on high rates of consumption and
that emphasize material status symbols
Discussion Question
Transnational corporations are using sports
as vehicles for global expansion to a greater
degree than ever before. Using material
from the chapter discuss the following: Why
do these large corporations see sports and
sport sponsorships as important in their
growth? Are they interested only in
immediate profits or do they have other
goals as well? If so, what are those goals?
Outposts in Action
When corporations want to prove they own sports,
they brand sports by searing their logos into them.
Discussion Question
Some critical theorists say that professional
wrestling is little different from other major
spectator sports especially with respect to
the orientations of those involved at all
levels. Do you agree or disagree with them?
Use material from the chapter to make your
case, one way or the other.
Discussion Question
Many cities in North America are subsidizing
professional sport team owners to some
degree. Cities often provide public funds to
build stadiums and arenas. Such support for
teams is justified by beliefs that pro teams
are good for the economy of a metropolitan
area. Using information presented in the
chapter, explain why you agree or disagree
with this justification.
For Discussion
The legal status of professional athletes in
North American team sports has traditionally
been regulated by the "reserve system."
Describe the characteristics of the reserve
system, and show how those characteristics
have had an impact on the salaries earned
by professional athletes. What has
happened to the salaries of athletes as
various aspects of the reserve system have
been eliminated?
Student Questions
Questions addressed by the textbook or other research