History of Sports Management

Introduction    Management structures  Clubs  Leagues  Professional Tournaments Structures grow in response to broad social change and/or address specific social issues  Early baseball banning booze at games to accommodate for the social norm in Victorian Era Maintain honest play  Dishonest play --> loss of fan base Who Gets to Play?     Determined by the power in society Ethics movement Legal racial segregation in early days Ideology of white superiority Club Systems       England is the birthplace of modern sport/sport management 18th cent: English aristocracy created member-based sports clubs 19th cent: Evolution of club sports--> standardized rules, agenda for settling disputes, organized schedules Thoroughbred Racing initial the "first' club system  Races drew broad and diverse audience---> all classes could attend and participate in races  Began as entertainment only--> prestige and love of the game; no athletic financial gain  Owners wanted to breed/train better horses--> development of a more complex club system  1830s allowed for national completion  Gambling on sport provided entertainment, evidence of talent, and ensured honest competition--> if suspected of cheating, jockeys would be beaten up The Jockey Club  Established around 1750  Created to settled disputes, establish rules, determine edibility (amateurism), regulate breeding policies, punished cheaters, designated ofÏcials--> created a strong national governing body for racing  Model for other English sports (rugby, cricket, boxing)  Organized, sponsors, and promoted local events Modern Olympic Games began in 1896 in Athens based on English club-festivals in 1850s  Founder Pierre de Coubertin was inspired by English system/character of sports-> saw an opportunity to create a peaceful movement through sport  Amateur Olympic Games rotate between different host cities every 4 years    Present-Day Club Structure--> based upon membership  International expansion  Ranges from youth to adult events  Large fan-base built into club  Clubs are characterized by non-profit status and exclusivity European club now follow a similar system to US sport leagues--> owned businesses that produce entertainment for profit US developed own club system based on Harness Racing--> foundation of leagues  Racing was mush short and less strenuous for horses--> horses could compete daily and draw more spectators  Managed by track owners/race promoters  Issues emerged very quickly--> sketchy management and race fixing--> loss of fan support/popularity  Quickly killed sport in US  US Lacked political/aristocratic power to operate clubs Leagues     Baseball became the first sport to apply the league system  Cincinnati Red Stockings Some players were paid on teams, other not--> created controversy  Started the development of professional leagues 1871: National Association of Professional Baseball players became the first pro league  Lacked leadership and financially unstable William Hulbert becomes the "Czar of Baseball"  1876: Took over management of National League of Professional Baseball Players--> achieved stability by treating teams like a business  Abandoned seasons to prevent losses--> long-term goals  Raised ticket prices  Competitive Balance Teams began competing against each other w/out influence Enforce district rules to keep honest competition  Gambling and drinking were prohibited in stadiums National League saw success  Media attention  Developed a early form for revenue sharing  Established rules for distributing talent  Gained fan attention  Honored contracts--> reserve system Modern sports leagues depend on consolidated league play with strong centralize control/regulation Fans care about honest effort of players rather than ownership structure      Professional Sports Tournaments  Early gold professionals were instructors/caddies       Professional leagues did not capture interest of golf audience Attempts at generating revenue at tournaments failed  Tournament stability was achieved by incentivizing players with prize money donated by companies/corporate sponsors Fred Corcoran developed self-sufÏcient system for golf tournaments  Used celebrities to endorse/compete at games--> gained followers and money to give to charities/towns/products  Bing Cosby and Bob Hope participated in golf tournament to raise money for the Red Cross during WWII  Good business with charity work-->tax deductions, good publicity, volunteers  Golf equipment manufacturers paid Corcoran to create golfer association and arrange torments using prize money--> paid players and reduces cost of hiring representatives Golf tournaments have evolved into corporate celebrations of golf + products PGA Tour is viewed as a elite/exclusive group Trend of management moving away from nonprofit private associations--> marketing agencies and/or broadcast media (i.e. ESPN) Women in Sports Management    Female contribution began in Ancient Greece  Heraea Games: competition for unmarried girls, administered by women--> female equivalent to Olympic Games Modern contributions include:  Efra Manley of Newark Eagles (Negro League)  Billie Jean King  Judy Sweet and Christine Grant Women are more involved in sports industry than ever  Jobs in Professional sports leagues  Sports organizations (TeamworkOnline)  Broadcast groups  Management positions (NCAA) Academic Field       Continuous growth of sports industry has increased the demand for sports management practices 1957: Walter O'Malley and James Mason discussed the idea of an academic system for sports management to educate and build professionals for the sports field 1966: Ohio University created the first master's degree program in sports management Late 1960s: Biscayne College (ST. Thomas University) and St John's University founded first undergraduate sports management programs 1971: Umass Amherst started second masters program[656+ 1985: 4o undergrad/32 grad sports management programs in US  Today: 350+ programs internationally o North American Society for Sports Management (NASSM)--> created curricular standings to promote quality programs o Commission on Sports Management Accreditation (COSMA)--> promotion/recognition of excellence in sports management education