Sports and Economics: Booming Naming Rights Market

In my American Sport in the 21st Century Class we talked about how sports and economics work together for a respective product. We talked about how money has become the foundation for sports

Dallas Cowboys Stadium was built in 2009. AT&T bought
the naming rights for the stadium in 2013.

at all levels, but why is it back in 2010 when new stadiums were built like AT&T stadium and MetLife Stadium they had no corporate sponsors to fund them what so ever. These stadiums cost $1.3billion to build and they were the most advanced stadiums at the time, but instead of being called "AT&T Stadium" or "MetLife Stadium" they were called "Dallas Cowboys Stadium" and "New Meadowlands Stadium". In an article wrote by Terry Lefton on February 22nd, 2016 for the Sports Business Journal he discusses how the market for corporate names is booming more now than ever and how the market wasn't as big in 2010. In the article Lefton quotes Van Wagner, a Sports and Entertainment president, who says that essentially naming rights have been reborn in the sports world. CEO's and Presidents of many companies around the world say that naming rights back in 2010 were non-existent due to the recession that happened in 2008. No company wanted to spend too much money on an arena or stadium because it was too risky at the time. Now we are seeing stadiums obtain corporate sponsors before they are even built. The Minnesota Vikings new stadium already has U.S. Bank as they're corporate sponsor and Mercedes-Benz is sponsoring the Atlanta Braves new stadium that will be built by 2017. These sponsors help the sports world tremendously because as we discussed in class profit motive shapes owners and athletes. The sports world is growing faster than we know it and that is great for many future sports managers. You can read Lefton's full article here:
 http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/02/22/In-Depth/Naming-Rights.aspx

Do sports need money in order to survive? Yes
Would the economy be impacted if sports were not around? Yes
Does the economy impact sport? Yes

How do sports and the economy relate to each other? Look Below.

Sport obtains a lot of money. Sport needs money to survive.

-          Money has become the foundation of sport at all levels

-          Profit motive shapes owners and athletes

-          Fans are left with the feeling that they are the victims of greed

Sports and Media: LeBron unfollows the Cavs

One of the Most Scrutinized athletes in the world,
LeBron James,  Forward Cleveland Cavaliers.

In my American Sport in the 21st Century class on March 22nd, 2016 we learned about sports and its role that it plays in our media. In class we discussed that athletes are considered to be role models to many people around the world, but since they are considered to be role models they get put under  a microscope and if the athlete makes one wrong move then the athlete gets scrutinized for it. Take LeBron James for example. LeBron is arguably the best basketball player in the world and he gets scrutinized for the smallest things that he does. In an article wrote by Joe Vardon for Cleveland.com on March 22nd, 2016 he discusses how many people overreacted when LeBron unfollowed the Cleveland Cavaliers social media accounts. Some fans and reporters took it as a sign that LeBron is leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers organization like he did in the summer of 2010. Though, this is definitely not the case and LeBron has discussed that with the reporters. LeBron likes to stay off social media when the playoffs come around. Every year since 2010 he remains inactive on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. but some fans and reporters used this strategy against him. The roles of the media are to inform, educate, advertise, and to entertain as we discussed in class. When this social media fiasco of LeBron's occurred it was definitely to entertain the public. Social media has an enhanced the scrutiny of players as we discussed in class and LeBron is one of the many athletes that are scrutinized the most in the sport world. You can read Vardon's full article here: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/03/lebron_james_unfollowed_the_ca.html

Athletes are becoming more
scrutinized do to the uses of Twitter.

Are athletes more scrutinized do to social media? Yes
Should some athletes stay away from social media? Yes
Should athletes watch what they are doing on social media? Yes

Relations between sport and the media


-          -Sport and the media are very closely related, they are symbiotic

-         - Two of the most successful businesses in the U.S. ($1t and $350b Industries)

-          -Sport popularity is as a result of media coverage

-          -Media generates enormous sales in circulation and advertising based on extensive treatment of sport

Sport and Socialization: What Is the Role of Sports in Socialization?

Sports help children interact with others at an early age.

On February 9th, 2016 in my American Sport in the 21st Century class we talked about sports and its impact on socialization. In an article wrote by Richard Tenorio for livestrong.com on October 17th, 2015 he discusses the impact of youth sports and its impact on socialization. Tenorio shows how youth sports form bonds and help children socialize with others as we discussed in class. Tenorio also shows that youth sports can help children interact with adults as well since they are interacting with a coach constantly. Many traits can be learned and transmitted as you play sport and if you have children learn those traits at an early age it can be very beneficial to them later in life. Character building is one of the top values in sport as we discussed in class and if someone presents a good character it makes them more likable and easier to talk too. Socialization plays a big role when it comes to sports and Tenorio shows how sports can bring boys and girls together at a younger age even though they are different do to their gender roles. Being part of a team creates a social identity, builds self-esteem, and helps children fit in to a social group as we discussed in class. Sports also create a peer group, help children relate to others, and create bonds that may have never been possible without the use of sport. Lastly, sport teaches integrity, work ethic, leadership, sportsmanship, honesty, respect, confidence, and teamwork as we discussed in class as well. All of those traits are learned through socialization and without socialization sports would not be where they are at today. You can read Tenorio's full article here: 

Sports help children
 interact with adults at an early age.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/532903-what-is-the-role-of-sports-in-socialization/

Do sports play a big role in socialization? Yes.
Do children learn helpful traits from sport? Yes.
Do sports help children fit in to certain peer groups? Yes.

Sport and Politics: NASCAR endorses Donald Trump

On February 29th, 2016 my American Sport in the 21st century class talked about sports 


Brian France has received a lot of
criticism after endorsing Trump.

and how they are used in the political world. In an article wrote by Jordan Bianchi for sbnation.com on March 2nd, 2016 he wrote an article explaining how Brain France, CEO of NASCAR, has been friends with Donald Trump for 20 years and is going to endorse him in his 2016 presidential campaign. In class we talked about government candidates and how they use sport to connect with voters. Government candidates use sport to connect to voters because it is relatable to the many sport fans in the U.S. With this new endorsement Donald Trump can connect with the fans of NASCAR and obtain more publicity for his 2016 presidential campaign. This endorsement has become controversial do to the outlandish remarks about immigrants coming from Donald Trump. Bianchi talks about Darrell Wallace who is an African American driver that races in NASCAR's Infinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. Wallace is a driver who likes

Barack Obama uses the sport of basketball to connect
with the American people as we discussed in class.

the way that NASCAR is trying to become diverse especially after adding a female driver, Danica Patrick, and a Japanese- American, driver Kyle Larson. Wallace is upset because this endorsement may hurt the diversity of NASCAR. With this endorsement NASCAR wants Trump to promote them as well, but instead he might be more harmful to the sport. In class we talked about how candidates can promote sport and economic development, but NASCAR could lose fans do to this endorsement. You can read Bianchi's full article here: http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2016/3/2/11140342/brian-france-donald-trump-endorsement-nascar

Do politicians use sport to connect to voters? Yes.
Is it easier to connect to voters through sport? Yes.

Below are the connections between sport and government that we discussed in class:

-          Safeguard the public order

-          Maintain fitness & physical abilities

-          Promote the prestige & power of a community or nation

-          Reproduces dominant values

-          Increase Support for political leaders and political structures

-          Promote economic development