Introduction to Sport Marketing

Book excerpt: Now in a fully revised and updated third edition, Introduction to Sport Marketing is a clear, straightforward, and concise introduction to the theory and practice of sport marketing, and the only sport marketing textbook you will ever need. Built around a step-by-step framework for developing effective sport marketing plans, and full of real-world, international cases, data, and examples, the text helps students to develop the essential skills and subject knowledge required to thrive in today’s fast-paced sport industry. It covers sport marketing at all levels, from grassroots and community sport to international mega-events, and across all sectors from professional sport to public and not-for-profit organisations. Leading the reader through the marketing process, from analysis and setting a strategy to planning the marketing mix, implementation, and evaluation, the text introduces the products, services, distribution channels, and stakeholders that generate value, including brands, merchandise and licensed products, players and athletes, leagues and franchises, and events. This new edition includes expanded coverage of cutting-edge topics, including social media, digital sport marketing, esports, the social impact of sport, ‘sportwashing’ and soft power, innovation and fast prototyping, consumer psychology, and diversity and equity. It includes useful features throughout, from review questions to guides to further resources. This is an essential textbook for any sport marketing course taken as a part of a degree programme in sport management, sport marketing, sport business, sport development, or business, management, and marketing.