Business people who changed the way sport was run.

[SkidsFox]

Every so often someone comes along and changes the way sport is operated. Here's 3 who were huge in this area.

 

Vince McMahon (call it sports entertainment if you must). He saw the potential of pay per view income, and so bought up various wrestling "territories" to make a world broadcaster of American wrestling.

Florentino Perez. There were big signings and high wages before he came along the scene. But he showed the bigger clubs that investing in big transfers could pay off in higher earnings from TV rights, shirt sales and other dealings. Soon, clubs like Barcelona, Chelsea and Man City were to follow.

Kerry Packer. Gave cricket a kick up the backside, which resulted in far better salaries for cricket players.

 

I suppose in all these cases the link was the ability to see how much money could be extracted from broadcasting rights.

[ealingfox]

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Edited 18 June 2022 by ealingfox

[Blue ROI]

Limited understanding of the following examples but anyway....

 

David Stern in Basketball. Turned the NBA into a global phenomenon from the 80s right through a golden age in the 90s. Huge impact on pop culture(ads,footwear,movies etc)

 

Barry Hearn. Helped the profile of snooker hugely in the 80s, had a  big impact in boxing in the 90s and revolutionised Darts in the 00s onwards.

[SkidsFox]

18 minutes ago, Blue ROI said:

Limited understanding of the following examples but anyway....

 

David Stern in Basketball. Turned the NBA into a global phenomenon from the 80s right through a golden age in the 90s. Huge impact on pop culture(ads,footwear,movies etc)

 

Barry Hearn. Helped the profile of snooker hugely in the 80s, had a  big impact in boxing in the 90s and revolutionised Darts in the 00s onwards.

Didn't know that, but I've been really impressed by the screenings of darts tournaments in the last few years. 

[Blue ROI]

1 hour ago, SkidsFox said:

Didn't know that, but I've been really impressed by the screenings of darts tournaments in the last few years. 

Look out for PDC/BDO games up to 2001. 

 

It's possible no other game has been transformed to such an extent in the 21st century.

[Blue ROI]

You could make an argument that Jimmy Hill made a monumental impact in Football and Sport in general.

 

Helped abolish the maximum wage.

Made sponsorship and commercialism more viable.

Led the calls to go from 2 to 3 points for a win.

Influential in the concept of sports punditry.

 

He was a right boastful show off but to be fair unlike most self promoters/gloaters he actually did all the things he said!!

Edited 18 June 2022 by Blue ROI