LGST 207 Midterm Flashcards
Why Sports
Person and communal aspect, real life drama, sense of distraction and community/healing
Circle of sports
Bargaining power of suppliers (talent, stadium, entertainment), threat of substitute products or services (other forms of entertainment, art, music, movies…), bargaining power of buyers (consume product in various ways–at home or at the game), threat of new entrants (to capture these factors). And there is rivalry among existing competitors
Big picture of Why Sports
The sports industry is unique in that is has such a high profile and can connect with people on such a personal level. There is a threat of new entrants and substitute products or services, but ultimately, sports thrive because of the consumer and their high willingness to pay because of all the amazing intangibles that sports bring
Rating
The percent of households watching a given program (whether TV is on or not)
Share
Percent of households using their TV that are watching a given program
Sweeps
Months in which people write in their Nielson diaries and send them in. Usually the most expensive months for advertisers. February, May, July, and November (2,5,7,11)
How are ratings tracked
Nielson uses a sample size to measure how many people are watching a given program
Why do ratings matter
So that advertisers know how much to pay for a commercial which in turn results in how much broadcasting networks pay for league packages which influences league revenue heavily
Sports TV ratings in relation to TV in general
TV in general is way down, so sports being down a little bit is seen ok. Sports are the only appointment TV (besides awards shows) and this allows for good viewership
Why does the NFL dominate?
Appointment TV because of Sundays and short season and short playoffs. Also violence and gambling
Big picture of TV ratings
Even with TV ratings going down, sports (and especially the NFL) is still king. One of the few remaining appointment TV things that you must watch live.
What was the first sports event
Ancient Greek Olympics, ended because seen as Pagan with Christianity rising
Cincinatti Red Stockings
Harry Wright founded them in 1869. Sells tickets, no other jobs for players during the season, but problems with gambling and drinking
National League history
William Hulbert forms the National Association of Professional Baseball Players in 1871, becomes the NL in 1876. Major cities only, central league office to keep standings and rule changes. Family friendly with no gambling or drinking. 50 cent ticket price to establish value as the best level of competition. price is a key element in establishing value. If free, can’t sell it later. Reserve clause results in teams owning the rights to a player, can’t play for another team. Underpaid and tempted by gamblers
Henry Chadwick
Writes for the NY Times and invented box score
Pivotal events
BlackSox, Federal Baseball Case, Berlin Olympics, Jackie Robinson, Sports Broadcasting Act, Flood v. Kuhn and Messersmith/McNally
BlackSox Scandal
White Sox players paid to throw off the World Series in 1919. Awful for the integrity of the game, but emergence of Babe Ruth helps solve this
Federal Baseball Case
- Team sues because not in the MLB. Baseball ruled not an interstate commerce, which allows for the reserve clause to stay.
Berlin Olympic Games
- Jesse Owens, US black track star won 4 gold medals, big for black athletes. Also, US track team removes 2 Jews to appease Hitler, right before WWII
Sports Broadcasting Act
Allows for the NFL to create their own TV deal, team can act together with other teams to do so in an Anti-Trust exemption
Flood v. Kuhn and Messersmith/McNally
Curt Flood was traded, challenged the reserve clause, but it stays in place. Marvin Miller forms the MLBPA, and the CBA. Abritration and free agency begin as a result.
1920 stars
Mantal Ware, Babe Ruth, Jake Demsey
Big Picture of Sports History
William Hulbert founded the National League in 1876 and immediately established it as the cream of the crop by having a central league office, selling tickets for a high price to establish value, and addressing previous problems (no gambling, drinking, Sunday games). Also, we saw a bunch of other pivotal moments in the 1900’s that led to sports as they are known today.
Hootie v. Martha
Martha Burk, chairwoman of a woman’s organization challenges August (chairman, Hootie Johnson) to admit female members. Bad PR ensues for Augusta, they decide to have no sponsorship in 2003. Factors include protests, Masters being in the spotlight, sponsors and CBS. Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore admitted as first female Augusta members not until 2012
Jackie Robinson decision
When Branch Rickey signed him, needed to weigh factor that whites may stop going to games. But also taps into a whole new market of black people and new supply of talent to improve the game
Title IX
Requires equal funding as a whole (individual sports can be different as long as total sum the same) for men and women sports by Universities (in order to receive federal funding)
Big Picture of Sports Diversity
Sports have grown much more diverse. Title IX requires equal funding for men and women sports in college. Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier was huge for the MLB and allowed it to tap into a whole new market of fans and players. NFL and NBA are engraining themselves in social issues, which could become a serious problem unless agreements can be reached to not alienate the fans. People see sports as a place to get away from social issues, and Kaepernick intertwined them
Key sources of revenue
Media rights is number 1 (risen to the top recently) with long term deals, then gate receipts, sponsorship (which will continue to grow as more opportunities are created)< and then merchandise/licensing
Sports ecosystem
Media, fans, leagues, brands, clubs, and players all interact in a complex way to create sports as we love them.
Big picture of Sizing the Market
Media rights have become increasingly important and influential in a league’s revenue. Also, sports are massive globally and nationally and have grown faster than GDP’s. There is a complex ecosystem that explains how the different factors (media, fans, leagues, brands, clubs, and players via agents) interact in sports
What makes a league major
When they are the highest level of play in the sport, highest demand for the product. Integrity, authenticity, legacy all help
Revenue/profit by league
NFL has the most profit by far. MLB is second, much more revenue than NBA but just a little bit more profit, and the NBA has more profitable teams. NHL is a distant fourth.
Big picture of current status
There are a lot of different leagues in the US and the world. In the US, the NFL is king in terms of profit, revenue, and viewership
How do teams generate revenue
Gate receipts, luxury seating premiums, media rights (local and national), sponsorships (local and national), advertising, stadium naming rights, other stadium-related opportunities, licensing (local and national), concessions, parking
Gate receipts
People going to the stadium, buying tickets to see the team play.
Ticket price by team and sport
NFL most expensive because of lack of supply (16 games) and high demand. MLB has cheapest average because it has so many games. Within each sport, big market/historic teams have the highest average ticket price while newer teams in smaller markets in the south and sunbelt have the lowest
Variable pricing
Charging different prices for the same seat depending on who the opponent is. Set these prices before the season begins and remains the same. Allows for teams to take advantage of supply and demand, not just the secondary market
Dynamic pricing
Movement of ticket prices once the season is underway, driven by the shifts in supply and demand and/or a desire to change purchase behavior. For example, charge more to see LeBron score his 30,000th point