Key issues in global sport assessed in new book from leading sport management educators

A newly published text from Hans Westerbeek, Professor of International Sport Business and Director of PASI (Physical Activity & Sport Insights) at Victoria University and Adam Karg, Associate Professor and Director of the Sport Innovation Research Group at Swinburne University, explores key influences on the development and commercialisation of the global sport industry.

Published by Routledge, International Sport Business: Current Issues, Future Directions, offers a contemporary and forward-looking view of the global sport industry, introducing the key themes, trends and critical issues that will impact decision-making and strategy in sport business in the coming decade and beyond.

Against a background of globalisation, disruption and social change, the authors. The book examines themes such as governance, the social role of sport, value chains and innovation, the increasing importance of data, digital technology and leadership.

Every chapter includes cutting-edge case studies, commentaries, examples of best practice and interviews with leading sport business professionals, encouraging the reader to reflect on the factors that determine success in international sport business. The book also looks ahead, imagining potential scenarios for the future of sport - scenarios based on what are the most likely global geopolitical, demographic, technological and economic trends to eventuate in the coming decades.

Professor Westerbeek and Associate Professor Karg are truly thought-provoking in their critical analysis of today’s sport industry, and they are disruption realistic in regard to their future-thinking. As their views are underpinned by research evidence, insights are intended to generate debate and discussion. The book therefore offers a great platform for University students, and may serve as an essential guide to the future for sport business practitioners and policy-makers.

Introducing the 242 page publication in a communication to colleagues and industry contacts, Professor Westerbeek advised “on behalf of my co-author Adam Karg it gives me great pleasure to announce the publication of International Sport Business: Current Issues, Future Directions. It has been a long time in the making, and when COVID hit, a further postponed journey, but in the end we got there!”

Biographies
Hans Westerbeek is Professor of International Sport Business, Head of the Sport Business Insights Group and Director of PASI (Physical Activity & Sport Insights) at Melbourne’s Victoria University.

He also holds Professorial appointments in Brussels, Beijing and Madrid.

He serves on various advisory Boards including the Dutch Sports Council (NLsportraad) and Sportscloud International, and as an international consultant he has worked for a range of professional sport organisations; international, national and state sport associations and local and state governments in multiple countries.

He has widely published in the field of sport business and sport management, and is a frequent media commentator.

He writes a Sport Business Intelligence blog at www.hanswesterbeek.com.

Adam Karg is Associate Professor and Director of the Sport Innovation Research Group at Melbourne’s Swinburne University.

He is also President of the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ). Associate Professor Karg is engaged in a range of consulting and research projects, and advisory roles, with national and state sporting organisations and governing bodies, charities, sport technology start-ups and professional sport clubs in Australia and overseas. His research focuses on sport fan equity and season ticket holder and membership services related to satisfaction, engagement and loyalty. He also undertakes research in consumer behaviour, sponsorship, branding, media consumption and innovation in sport.

Click here for more information on International Sport Business: Current Issues, Future Directions.