Where does the funding that pays for professional athletes come from? Why do some athletes get paid so much? What are the sources of income for Team Owners? Why are ticket prices so high? Where does stadium funding come from?
These are just some questions many people have about money and its impact on sports.

Owners of top pro sports teams make money from 1) gate receipts, 2)media revenues, 3)stadium revenue, 4)licensing fees, and 5) merchandise sales. The reason so many new stadiums are being built are to put more store so people can buy more merchandise so the owner makes more money.

Amateur Sports
Amateur sports dont have owners, but they have commercial sponsors and governing bodies that control events and athletes. All amateur sport organizations are interested in controlling the athletes and the money generated from sponsorships and competitive events. They depend on corporate sponsorshiop money to pay for athlete training, operating expenses, and competitive events. Some athletes sign deals as individuals only as long as they dont fear with NGB sponsors which regulate and control the sport.
Example: Nike signed a 90 million endorsement deal with 17 year old LeBron James before he had even played in a NBA game.
Corporations are about making money, not supporting teams.

When sports are commercialized, athletes become entertainers. Professional athletes are paid for thier efforts, where amateur athletes recieve rewards within limits set by the organizations that govern them.

• Many people dont see athletes as workers becuase people associate sports as a representation of "play" in their lives. People see sports as fun rather than work.


• When sports are organized to make money, the players become workers.


• Many people dont think being a professional athlete is a real job becuase they enjoy thier work, however, many workers other than athletes enjoy their job.
  

Income of minor league sports:

• There are 3500 Minor League Baseball players on 176 teams in North America and their salaries start at 150 at a lower level but can be about 70,000 per year at the top level.


• The medium salary for a MLS player is 38,000


• WNBA average 52,000 per season while the WNBL average less than 5000 for a 24 game season.
  

Major League Sports:

• About 15 percent of players make enormous amounts of money and nearly 30 percent make close to the minimum salary in their leagues.


• players average salaries ahve grown far beyond median family income. the average NBA slary in 2004-2005 was 84 times greater than the median family income.


• A lot of the highest paid athletes do not necessairly get all of their income from the sports team they play for. A lot of money they recieve comes form endorsements.


• Agents today tell their celebrity athletes that they are brands themselves.


• Michael Jordan was the first athlete to do this. He endorsed Nike products which gradually grew into his own line of products in addition to the "Air Jordan."

If some athletes are considered celeberties, then lets compare athletes to some of the highest paid celeberties:

Oprah: 260 Million(year)

Will Smith: 80 Million

Johnny Depp: 72 Million

Eddie Murphy: 55 Million

Camerson Diaz: 50 Million

Kiera Knightley: 32 Million

Some of the professional players make close to the same amount as some of the highest paid celeberties.

Many professional athletes have short careers or play at levels at which they do not make much money.