Pay Dirt : The Business of Professional Team Sports

Why would a Japanese millionaire want to buy the Seattle Mariners baseball team, when he has admitted that he has never played in or even seen a baseball game? Cash is the answer: major league baseball, like professional football, basketball, and hockey, is now big business with the potential to bring millions of dollars in profits to owners. Not very long ago, however, buying a sports franchise was a hazardous investment risked only by die-hard fans wealthy enough to lose parts of fortunes made in other businesses. What forces have changed team ownership from sports-fan folly to big-business savvy? Why has __The Wall Street Journal__ become popular reading in pro sports locker rooms? And why are sports pages now dominated by economic clashes between owners and players, cities with franchises and cities without them, leagues and players' unions, and team lawyers and players' lawyers? In answering these questions, James Quirk and Rodney Fort have written the most complete book on the business and economics of professional sports, past and present. __Pay Dirt__ offers a wealth of information and analysis on the reserve clause, salary determination, competitive balance in sports leagues, the market for franchises, tax sheltering, arenas and stadiums, and rival leagues. The authors present an abundance of historical material, much of it new, including team ownership histories and data on attendance, TV revenue, stadium and arena contracts, and revenues and costs. League histories, team statistics, stories about players and owners, and sports lore of all kinds embellish the work. Quirk and Fort are writing for anyone interested in sports in the 1990s: players, players' agents, general managers, sportswriters, and, most of all, sports fans. Why Would A Japanese Millionaire Want To Buy The Seattle Mariners Baseball Team, When He Has Admitted That He Has Never Played In Or Even Seen A Baseball Game? Cash Is The Answer: Major League Baseball, Like Professional Football, Basketball, And Hockey, Is Now Big Business With The Potential To Bring Millions Of Dollars In Profits To Owners. Not Very Long Ago, However, Buying A Sports Franchise Was A Hazardous Investment Risked Only By Die-hard Fans Wealthy Enough To. Lose Parts Of Fortunes Made In Other Businesses. What Forces Have Changed Team Ownership From Sports-fan Folly To Big-business Savvy? Why Has The Wall Street Journal Become Popular Reading In Pro Sports Locker Rooms? And Why Are Sports Pages Now Dominated By Economic Clashes Between Owners And Players, Cities With Franchises And Cities Lacking Franchises, Leagues And Players' Unions, And Team Lawyers And Players' Lawyers? In Answering These Questions, James Quirk And. Rodney Fort Have Written The Most Complete Book On The Business And Economics Of Professional Sports, Past And Present. Pay Dirt Offers A Wealth Of Information And Analysis On The Reserve Clause, Salary Determination, Competitive Balance In Sports Leagues, The Market For Franchises, Tax Sheltering, Arenas And Stadiums, And Rival Leagues. The Authors Present An Abundance Of Historical Material, Much Of It New, Including Team Ownership Histories And Data On Attendance, Tv. Revenue, Stadium And Arena Contracts, And Revenues And Costs. League Histories, Team Statistics, Stories About Players And Owners, And Sports Lore Of All Kinds Embellish The Work. Quirk And Fort Are Writing For Anyone Interested In Sports In The 1990s: Players, Players' Agents, General Managers, Sportswriters, And, Most Of All, Sports Fans. Introduction -- The Market For Sports Franchises -- Taxes, Taxes, And More Taxes -- Stadiums And Arenas -- The Reserve Clause And Antitrust Laws -- Why Do Pro Athletes Make So Much Money? -- Competitive Balance In Sports Leagues -- Rival Leagues And League Expansion: Baseball, Basketball, And Hockey -- Rival Leagues: The Great Football Wars. James Quirk And Rodney D. Fort. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 513-529) And Indexes. Choice Outstanding Academic Books And Nonprint Materials AS THE STORY goes, in the late 1950s, just a few years before he died, Ty Cobb was interviewed by a young reporter.