600

This course is designed to convey a clear, realistic and contemporary perspective of marketing. This course includes critical analysis of cases and covers important frameworks and tools that can assist managers in making better marketing decisions. Assignments will include researching and writing a marketing plan as well as utilizing analytic tools – including variable costs, fixed costs, relevant and sunk costs, margins (gross, trade, net profit), contribution analysis (break-even, sensitivity, contribution and profit impact, contribution and market size, contribution and performance, and cannibalization), liquidity, operating leverage, cash flow, customer lifetime value, sales force budget, and value and price elasticity of demand – as well as how to manage all marketing efforts in reaching the firm’s strategic goals.

Students will learn fundamental approaches to financial management in specific application to sports organization. Topics include budgeting, analyzing financial performance, valuation of investments in facilities and athlete contracts and sources of capital. The course explores perspectives of both professional sports organizations and athletic departments affiliated with athletic institutions.

Students will learn how professional and amateur sports teams manage their businesses, fans, athletes and brands, including planning, hosting and implementing marketing programs for specific events and sports programs. Theories will be supplemented with industry-recognized speakers, case studies and hands-on work for local clients. Class/client projects, as well as presentations are required.

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the use of statistics in sports management. Students will develop a fundamental understanding of probability theory and predictive modeling through linear regression and other techniques. The course will have a strong focus on data collection and analysis to provide insight on the performance of both athletes in the field and the sports professional or amateur sports organization.