HADM 5400

Economics and Strategy of Sports

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

Over the past 50 years, the business of sports has grown into a major global industry, shaped by virtually every business discipline, including finance, accounting, analytics, law, marketing, and leadership. The sports and hospitality industries have also become increasingly interconnected, with both relying on experience design, demand creation, revenue management, and customer engagement. This course introduces students to the business of sports through the lenses of markets, strategy, revenue generation, and analytics. Students examine how teams, leagues, media companies, sponsors, venues, and athletic departments create and capture value. Topics include league economics, labor markets, ticket pricing and revenue management, media rights, sponsorship, sports analytics, and the changing structure of college athletics. As the gateway course for the Sports minor, this class provides a broad introduction to the contemporary sports industry while laying the foundation for more specialized coursework. It is designed for students from a wide range of majors and requires no prior background in sports business.

Last 4 Terms Offered (None)

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the structure of the global sports industry.
• Analyze the revenue models of sports organizations.
• Understand league structures, labor markets, and competitive balance.
• Evaluate pricing and revenue strategies for sporting events.
• Analyze the role of media rights and digital platforms in sports distribution.
• Apply data analytics to sports business problems.
• Evaluate strategic decisions made by teams, leagues, and sponsors.

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