1. INTRO TO SPORTS ECON What is Sports Economics?
Why Sports Econ? Why now?
Branches of Sports Economics
Emerging topics in sports economics

2. Sports Econ.
Economics is the study of allocating scarce resources among competing human wants.
Sports economics then is the study of allocating scarce resources among competing wants in the context of sports.
EX: Competitive Balance in the NFL, MLB etc.

3. What qualifies as a Sport?
This begs the question what is a sport?
As defined by TV coverage? (NFL Vs. Timber-sports, World’s Strongest Man/Woman)
Sports as defined by physical exertion, competitive situations? (American Gladiators)
What about recreational sports like fishing, hunting, mountain biking etc.

4. Why Sports Econ.? Why now?
The coincidence of several factors has led to the rapid emergence of this exciting field.
Eminent scholars (who also happen to be sports fans) looking for new challenges.
The availability of sports data.
Journal of Sports Economics & The Economics of Sport
Public visibility such as stadium funding
Student interest & compatibility with student research.

5. Branches of Sports Econ.
Various branches of sports economics have sprung up around the areas of expertise of the scholars that have founded the discipline. For example:
Labor economists who turned their attention to sports studied the determinants of wages in various sports.
I.O. economists studied issues of competitive balance in various sports.
Environmental economists have used CVM to value Sports Teams as a public good.

6. Branches of Sports Econ.
Theory of the Firm, Industrial Organization & Sports
Theory of the Firm
Do sports franchises & TV networks maximize profit?
The decision to buy, sell or move a team
Monopoly & Antitrust issues
Are the NFL, NCAA etc. monopolies/cartels?
Is that economically efficient?
Competitive Balance & the health of leagues
Why is the NFL more competitive than MLB?
Formation &decline of leagues
NFL Vs. XFL

7. Branches of Sports Econ.
Public Finance, Regional Econ. & Sports
Who pays for the stadium?
Taxes Vs. Bonds
Benefits of a team to the host city.
Impact studies: Corporate Vs. Academic
Team Sale/Relocation
Game with multiple rounds

8. Branches of Sports Econ.
Labor Economics of Sports
Unions, strikes & negotiations. (Game Theory?)
Determinants of Wages
Economics of Discrimination
Hiring& firing team managers, coaches etc.
Contracts, incentives & performance

9. Branches of Sports Econ.
Consumer Theory & Sports Economics
The Demand for Leisure:
Determinants of Game day attendance
Determinants of TV ratings
Participation in recreational sports such as IM soccer, flag football, golf, winter sports, outdoor activities (fishing, hunting, hiking etc.)

10. Branches of Sports Econ.
Economics of Risk & Uncertainty
Evaluating player & coaching talent
Purchase & sale of teams with “old” stadiums

11. Branches of Sports Econ.
Amateur Sports
NCAA
Olympics

12. Emerging Branches of Sports Econ.
Econometrics/Stats. of winning strategies
Sports & Exercise as a habit/addiction
Sports & alcohol, performance substances
Sports & Gambling
Sports & Domestic Violence
TV Ratings & sports
NASCAR, PRCA, WNBA, MLS
Recreational youth sports