For over 25 years, Contemporary Sport Management has been the most comprehensive, authoritative introductory text in the field, and the improved eighth edition promises to serve the needs of sport management students even better.
Sixty contributors representing a diverse array of scholarly and practitioner backgrounds have teamed up to deliver a timely text to keep pace with the ever-changing sport management landscape. Nearly a third of the contributors are new to this edition, adding fresh perspectives, examples, and experiences to the mix.
This full-color text is organized into three parts and aligns with Common Professional Component principles set forth by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). Part I, Introduction to Sport Management, provides an overview and covers the foundational elements of the field. Part II, Sport Management Sites, exposes students to career opportunities through various sport entities, including interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional sport organizations and agencies. In part III, Sport Management Functions, readers learn about the core functional areas of sport management, including sport marketing, communication, sales and consumer behavior, analytics, finance, facility and event management, and law.
Much has changed in the sport industry since the previous edition was published: name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules; social justice and inclusion initiatives; conference realignments; billion-dollar media rights deals; opportunities for women in sports; and the proliferation of artificial intelligence, sport analytics, and virtual reality and augmented reality—just to name a few. Each chapter incorporates new content, case studies, and sidebars addressing these and other trending topics. A new chapter dedicated to esports discusses its ecosystem, global expansion, and career opportunities and, in response to requests from instructors, returning to the eighth edition is a section on sport tourism.
Supplementing the text are online learning materials delivered through HKPropel that are designed to increase student engagement and enhance understanding of chapter content. More than 200 activities, Case Studies in Sport Management journal articles, and case study sidebars underscore key concepts and challenge students to think critically about sport management so they can develop insight into issues they will encounter in their careers. Case studies new to this edition examine the 2026 World Cup, marketing of women’s sports, facility management, and player safety.
Contemporary Sport Management has long been a favorite of instructors and students, propelled by its engaging content and visuals, full-color design, robust pedagogical aids, integrated online learning tools, and extensive instructor ancillaries. The updated eighth edition continues that tradition, broadening students’ understanding of today’s sport management issues and preparing them to enter the profession.
Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with this ebook.
Part I. Introduction to Sport Management
Chapter 1. Managing Sport
Paul M. Pedersen
Defining Sport and Sport Management
Nature and Scope of the Sport Industry
Unique Aspects of Sport Management
Sport Management Competencies
Future Challenges and Opportunities
Chapter 2. Developing a Professional Perspective
Khirey B. Walker, Dominique C. Kropp, Jamee Pelcher
Professional Preparation
Professional Attitude
Career Planning and Management
Career Readiness for Occupational Success
Chapter 3. Management Concepts and Practice in Sport Organizations
Kathryn Heinze, Kathy Babiak, Lucie Thibault
Organization Defined
Types of Sport Organizations
Organizational Environment
Organizational Effectiveness
Organizational Strategy
Organizational Culture
Organizational Structure and Design
Organizational Change and Innovation
Critical Thinking in Sport Organizations
Ethics in Sport Organizations
Chapter 4. Managing and Leading in Sport Organizations
Laura J. Burton, Ajhanai Keaton, Shannon Kerwin
Theoretical Approaches to Management
Management Functions
Classifications of Managers
Managerial Skills
Leadership
Decision Making, Authority, and Power
Leadership Prototypicality
Critical Thinking in Sport Managing and Leading
Ethics in the Leadership of Sport Organizations
Chapter 5. Sociological Aspects of Sport Management
Nicole M. LaVoi, Dunja Antunovic, Katie Lebel
Social Significance of Sport
Benefits of Sport
Dark Side of Sport
Sport as a Vehicle for Social Transformation
Implications for Sport Managers
Chapter 6. Sport Management Research
Jess C. Dixon, Brendan Dwyer, Ceyda Mumcu
What Is Sport Management Research?
Why Sport Managers Need to Understand Research
Key Features of Quality Research
Ethics in Sport Management Research
Critical Thinking in Sport Management Research
Current Challenges in Sport Management Research
Future of Sport Management Research
Part II. Sport Management Sites
Chapter 7. Managing Sport Participation Across the Life Span
Marlene A. Dixon, Jennifer E. McGarry, Ashlyn Hardie
Origins of Sport for All and Community-Level Sport
Youth Sport History
Definition of Community Sport
Size and Scope of Community Sport
Types of Community Sport Organizations
Management Challenges
Adult Community Sport Offerings
Youth Sport Offerings
Chapter 8. Interscholastic Athletics
Tywan G. Martin, James E. Johnson, Eric W. Forsyth
Arrival of Interscholastic Athletics
Governance of Interscholastic Athletics
Value of Interscholastic Athletic Programs
Participation Numbers
Operating Models
Careers in Interscholastic Athletics
Issues Facing Interscholastic Athletics
Critical Thinking in Interscholastic Athletics
Ethics in Interscholastic Athletics
Chapter 9. Intercollegiate Athletics
Ellen J. Staurowsky, Robertha Abney, Nicholas M. Watanabe
Origins of Intercollegiate Athletic Governance
College Sport Finance
Intercollegiate Athletic Administrators
Critical Thinking in Intercollegiate Athletics
Ethics in Intercollegiate Athletics
Chapter 10. Professional Sport
Jacqueline McDowell, Amy Chan Hyung Kim, Kelly Evans
Historical Aspects of Professional Sport
Unique Aspects of Professional Sport
Revenue Sources for Professional Sport Teams
Future Challenges Facing Professional Sport
Career Opportunities in Professional Sport
Chapter 11. Sport Management and Marketing Agencies
Ashley G. Bowers, Alex C. Gang, Ray Schneider
Functions of Sport Management and Marketing Agencies
Types of Sport Management and Marketing Agencies
Careers in Agencies
Challenges Facing Agencies
Critical Thinking in Agency Activities
Ethical Issues in Sport Management and Marketing Agencies
Chapter 12. International Sport Management
Armin Marquez, Elsa Kristiansen, Ashleigh-Jane Thompson
What Is International Sport?
Expansion of International Sport
Current Issues in International Sport
Guidelines for Future Leaders in International Sport Management
Critical Thinking in International Sport
Ethics in International Sport
Chapter 13. Esports Management
BerNadette Lawson-Williams, Dina Gentile, Minna Rollins
Evolution of Esports
Differentiating Esports From Traditional and Nontraditional Sports
Esports and Wellness
Popularity of Esports
Societal Trends in Esports
Chapter 14. Emerging Developments in Sport Management
Gashaw Abeza, Elizabeth Wanless, Yoseph Z. Mamo
New Realities
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
Blockchain and Sport
Nonfungible Tokens in Sport Industry
Machine Learning and AI Chatbots in Sport
Streaming
Fantasy Sport
Sports Betting
Part III. Sport Management Functions
Chapter 15. Sport Marketing
Ketra L. Armstrong, Brian Turner, Kimberly S. Miloch
Developing a Sport Marketing Plan
Market Research
Critical Thinking in Sport Marketing
Ethical and Socially and Culturally Responsible Sport Marketing
Career Opportunities in Sport Marketing
Future of Sport Marketing
Chapter 16. Sport Sales and Consumer Behavior
Bo Li, Cara Holdsclaw, James J. Zhang
Understanding the Individual as a Sport Consumer
Group Influences on the Sport Consumer
Situational Influences on the Sport Consumer
Consumer Decision Making in Sport
Sport Sales
Challenges and Issues in Sport Consumer Behavior and Sales
Critical Thinking in Sport Consumer Behavior
Ethics in Promoting Sport Consumer Behavior
Chapter 17. Analytics in the Sport Industry
Kevin Mongeon, David P. Hedlund, Yiran Su
The Sport Analytics Process
Sport Analytics Techniques
Critical Thinking in Sport Analytics
Sport Analytics in Practice
Chapter 18. Communication in the Sport Industry
Mike Ross, Brody Ruihley, Zack P. Pedersen
Theoretical Framework of Sport Communication
Strategic Sport Communication Model (SSCM)
Media Relations in Sport
Community Relations in Sport
Critical Thinking in Sport Communication
Ethics in Sport Communication
Chapter 19. Finance and Economics in the Sport Industry
Timothy D. DeSchriver, Sarah B. Williams, Daniel F. Mahony
Current Financial Situation of U.S. Professional Sport
Current Financial Situation of U.S. Collegiate Athletics
Economics of Sport
Overview of Financial Management
Sources of Revenue and Expenses for Sport Organizations
Careers in Financial Management for Sport Organizations
Chapter 20. Sport Facility and Event Management
Brianna L. Newland, Stacey A. Hall, Thomas J. Aicher
Overview of Facility Management
Facility Management
Event Management
Chapter 21. Legal Considerations in Sport Management
Katie M. Brown, Natasha T. Brison, Lauren McCoy Coffey
Basics of Law
U.S. Constitution
Federal Legislation
State Legal Systems
Future Challenges
Critical Thinking in Sport Law
Ethics in Sport Law
Paul M. Pedersen, PhD, is a professor of sport management within the department of kinesiology in the School of Public Health at Indiana University Bloomington (IU). He has worked as a sportswriter, sport management consultant, and sports business columnist. Pedersen’s primary areas of scholarly interest and research are the symbiotic relationship between sport and communication and the activities and practices of various sport organization personnel.
A research fellow of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), Pedersen has published more than 10 books (including Sport and the Pandemic, Strategic Sport Communication, Encyclopedia of Sport Management, Handbook of Sport Communication, and Research Methods and Design in Sport Management) and over 125 articles in peer-reviewed outlets such as the Journal of Sport Management, European Sport Management Quarterly, Sport Marketing Quarterly, International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, Sociology of Sport Journal, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, and Journal of Sports Economics. He has also been a part of more than 125 refereed presentations at professional conferences and more than 50 invited presentations, including invited addresses in China, Denmark, Hungary, Norway, and South Korea. He has been interviewed and quoted in publications as diverse as the New York Times and China Daily.
Founder and editor in chief of the International Journal of Sport Communication, he serves on the editorial board of seven other journals. He was a 2024 inductee into the Hall of Fame of the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) as a Master Professor, was a recipient of the 2020 distinguished alumni award from Florida State University’s College of Education, and was a 2011 inductee into the Golden Eagle Hall of Fame (East High School in Pueblo, Colorado). Pedersen lives in Bloomington, Indiana, with his wife, Jennifer, and their youngest child, Carlie, who is in college. Their oldest children, their spouses, and grandson (Hallie and Liam; Brock and Brooke; Zack, Megan, and Nolan) live in Montana, Texas, and Indiana.
