I mentioned this a bit in the Tanking thread, and to keep politics *in* this discussion I’m putting it in OT: Which sport do you think has the most “capitalist” mindset, where money and endorsements affect in-game and meta-game player and coaching decisions the most? Obviously all sports are big money and big money decisions at the ownership level, but I feel like the NBA has a lot of that business down at the player level and coaching level as well. Are other sports similarly affected day to day by the business decisions of players and coaches? I don’t have any point to make, just wanting to see a discussion about it and solicit opinions from y’all.
I would suggest a different framing for your question; instead of 'which sport', I believe it is better to explore 'which organisation'. I would argue the sports are sports, and entertainement is entertainment - they are very related but much different. Compare the NBA mentality/culture/monetization vs Euroleague - it is the 'same sport' (Basketball) but extreamly different in all noted aspects. I would usually tend to categorize 'sports' on an axis from 'athletic competition' based on skills/talent/managment vs 'athletic entertainment' based on those, a la UFC vs WWE, NBA vs Olympic national competition, Soccer world cup vs MLS.. They all feel very different to watch and root for (IMO) - and to me it is because of the innate difference noted above.
Horse racing. You need the most money probably to get in the game unless it's maybe automobile racing on the NASCAR level. Horse racing has to be up there. Capitalistic to me says, most expensive sport to play from a beginner level up. Polo is expensive for that reason as well. It bankrupted the late drummer Ginger Baker to keep Polo horses around. Golf is a capitalistic sport with all the equipment and club fees, etc..as far as the big American sports...football requires a small army to feed but for a small campaign...baseball has the most games and spends a fortune on a bullpen..hard to say which is more capitalistic..basketball is pretty streamlined as far as a roster goes.
Golf is a good answer. I wasn't thinking about it but it is most definitely the most capitalist with its "prestige" and "exclusivety"
That is what I am thinking too. It’s crazy how much the top teams spend each year. I think they spend more money than they make.
Golf began as sport of Scottish shepherds. Polo was always "sport of kings". Jennifer Gates married a polo player, son of Egyptian billionaire. He missed competing in Olympics because horse didn't cooperate or something. Go horse!
Just read a list that has the NBA as the largest generator of money. It's also the sport that has the most recognizable athletes on a global scale.
Which is why the league is thriving like never before and will continue to grow. It’s VERY watchable.
Googled it, the capitalistic way! The National Football League (NFL), dominating American professional sports, is widely considered the most capitalist, generating the highest revenue and showcasing the largest scale of commercialization and financial investment. Here's a breakdown of why the NFL is seen as the most capitalist: Massive Revenue Generation: The NFL consistently generates billions of dollars in revenue annually, surpassing other major US sports leagues like the NBA and MLB. Media Rights & Sponsorships: A significant portion of the NFL's revenue comes from lucrative media rights deals and sponsorships, reflecting the immense commercial value of the league and its teams. Super Bowl: The NFL's annual Super Bowl is a massive global event, generating billions in revenue through advertising, merchandise, and other related activities. Team Valuation: NFL teams are among the most valuable sports franchises in the world, with teams like the Dallas Cowboys consistently ranking as the most profitable. Focus on Profit: The NFL's structure and operations are heavily focused on maximizing profit, with teams and the league prioritizing financial gain over other considerations. High Salaries: Players in the NFL are among the highest paid professional athletes in the world, reflecting the league's immense financial power.
To me off the cuff, any Pro League that depends on media revenue to survive and the players are are at a minimum multi millionaires.
