A Fan’s Perspective of the business of American sports. Paul Venturo

Sports are no longer just games, as they generate billions of dollars worldwide each year, with American leagues collectively bringing in the highest revenue by far. Indeed, they are also an integral part of the economic and cultural life of American citizens. The industries involved reflect the world in which we all live: the media, the economy, and the psychology of group identity. This presentation will explore key aspects of professional and college sports in the United States and, to some extent, Canada. We will discuss everything from the explosion in gambling and fantasy leagues to the intricate deals for TV rights and sponsorship deals. We’ll also look at how sports contracts work and how they differ from league to league while exploring business concepts such as salary caps, free agency, and NIL (name, image & likeness). Special emphasis will be on the college sports world, which is undergoing a seismic shift in how student athletes are compensated, and the chaos this has caused, not only in athletics but in higher education on the whole.