Money Games

Book excerpt: “A compelling perspective on the evolution of sports business . . . provides an excellent roadmap to maximizing the benefits and minimizing the pitfalls.” —David Stern, NBA Commissioner The businesses behind Dubai Sports City, the branding of David Beckham, and the popularity of fantasy sports leagues are unmistakable indicators that the sports and the entertainment industries are quickly becoming one and the same. This rapid convergence has been key to the sports business industry’s continued growth and financial success. Money Games not only analyzes how industry stakeholders have monetized this convergence, but also answers this core question: how can the sports business continue to profit from the blurring of sports and entertainment? Author David M. Carter considers a wide array of implications for television content, video gaming, athlete branding, the Internet, mobile technology, gambling, sports-anchored real estate development, venue technology, and corporate marketing—in short, those areas where business opportunities exist now that sports and entertainment have become one. “Fans, sports and media executives, and even investors will find that Carter’s examination . . . of the changing landscape of sports and entertainment helps them understand their own experiences.” —Stephen A. Greyser, Harvard Business School “An invaluable resource for stakeholders hoping to monetize sports as entertainment.” —Kenneth L. Shropshire, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of The Business of Sports Agents “The strategies and tactics that all the players will want—from the boardroom to the locker room—can be found in Money Games.” —John Nendick, Ernst & Young Global Media & Entertainment Industry Leader “Identifies the challenges facing the various sports leagues in delivering fans what they want.” —Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Baseball Commissioner