Sport Management and Sociology of Sport
The Relationship between Sport Management and the Sociology of Sport
Brad Davis
Southern New Hampshire University
Abstract Across all levels of sports, perhaps the connection between sport and society is the most valuable and co-dependent element for sport managers to understand. Without the impact our society has on sport, athletes, owners, television networks and sponsors would not spend or generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. If sport managers fail to grasp and understand the significance of this connection, they are simply not doing their job. Sociology of sport can help the development of today’s sport management practices and policies and provide a base for sport managers to be successful. This paper will provide a framework of the significance of the relationship between sport management and sociology of sport.
The Relationship between Sport Management and the Sociology of Sport An example of the relationship between sport and society and the implications it has on sport management is the ramifications of the recently concluded NHL lockout. The lockout, which lasted 113 days, marked the third time since 1994 that the NHL cancelled regular-season games due to labor unrest. Roughly 10% of games in that time frame have been cancelled. While the lockout has finally ended and the NHL will open the 2013 season on January 19, significant damage has been done to the relationship the NHL has with its fans, and it’s up to sport managers to make it right, and in a hurry. The recent history of the lockout proves that they benefit nobody in the long run, and nearly kills the sport in the short term. The city of Detroit lost roughly 1.9 million dollars for each cancelled game this season, or roughly 35 million dollars overall. Local sports bars lost millions of dollars without any fans to serve over the last couple months. The relationship between sport and society comes into play in how the sport managers plan to rebuild the trust they
Brad Davis
Southern New Hampshire University
Abstract Across all levels of sports, perhaps the connection between sport and society is the most valuable and co-dependent element for sport managers to understand. Without the impact our society has on sport, athletes, owners, television networks and sponsors would not spend or generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. If sport managers fail to grasp and understand the significance of this connection, they are simply not doing their job. Sociology of sport can help the development of today’s sport management practices and policies and provide a base for sport managers to be successful. This paper will provide a framework of the significance of the relationship between sport management and sociology of sport.
The Relationship between Sport Management and the Sociology of Sport An example of the relationship between sport and society and the implications it has on sport management is the ramifications of the recently concluded NHL lockout. The lockout, which lasted 113 days, marked the third time since 1994 that the NHL cancelled regular-season games due to labor unrest. Roughly 10% of games in that time frame have been cancelled. While the lockout has finally ended and the NHL will open the 2013 season on January 19, significant damage has been done to the relationship the NHL has with its fans, and it’s up to sport managers to make it right, and in a hurry. The recent history of the lockout proves that they benefit nobody in the long run, and nearly kills the sport in the short term. The city of Detroit lost roughly 1.9 million dollars for each cancelled game this season, or roughly 35 million dollars overall. Local sports bars lost millions of dollars without any fans to serve over the last couple months. The relationship between sport and society comes into play in how the sport managers plan to rebuild the trust they
References: Rosner, S., Shropshire, K. (2011). The Business of Sports (2nd ed.). Subury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Sunnucks, M. (2013, Jan 10). Phoenix Coyotes’ NHL lockout payback: Possible intrasquad game special value. Sporting News Online. Retrieved from http://aol.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2013-01-10/nhl-lockout-news-schedule-phoenix-coyotes-sale-greg-jamison Tampa Bay Lightning (2013, Jan. 9) Lightning to offer 200 season tickets for just $200 each. Tampa Bay Lightning Official Website. Retrieved from http://lightning.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=649577 Tuttle, B. (2013, Jan. 8). NHL Lockout is Over! Guess Who’s Happier than Fans or Players? Time Magazine Online. Retrieved from http://business.time.com/2013/01/08/nhl-lockout-is-over-guess-whos-happier-than-fans-or-players/ Yerdon, J. (2012, Aug 20). Sharks ownership claims they lost $15 million despite selling out every game. Retrieved from http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/20/sharks-ownership-claims-they-lost-15-million-despite-selling-out-every-game/