The wide range of sports and recreation businesses constitute a multi-billion dollar industry globally. In Australia, sport and recreation is a 10 billion dollar business, and, according to ABS data, over 275,000 people are employed in sport and/or recreation organisations.

The unit examines and explains the business of sport and recreation by analysing the economic, legal, governance and success models in various sports and recreation organisations. The primary focus will be on an Australian context, but comparative models from other countries will be contemplated as well.

We will seek to find the answers to questions such as: What lessons can these entities learn from each other? What business strategies are used to retain the profitability of community sport and recreation organisations, leagues, teams and franchises? What lessons can be drawn from those sports and recreation models? What revised models should entrepreneurs apply in order to achieve success?

Substantive instruction will be drawn from the likes of the Education models (e.g., Athlete Development), the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Netball, NBL, AFL, English Premier League, various player unions, China, India, South Africa, Brazil and much more. This instruction will come in the form of interviews with globally accepted experts in their field, and with instructional lectures.

Ultimately, the goal of this unit is to equip the student with a framework and tools with which to understand and to evaluate the business side of a wide range of sports and recreation ventures.