Abstract

In this study we have attempted to construct a model for a professional sport league. Then, the model was compared with the reality in the german soccer industry. The output of a professional team sports industry is the contest, which is offered to spectators for pleasure; the outcome of the contest in which two teams compete with each other under a set of well defined rules, is unforseeable. The economic structure of the professional team sport industry is peculiar, because the members of the industry are partners as well as rivals. From this results a conflict which must be balanced by the leadership of the soccer industry. The soccer club tries to maximize its utility, that is, it will try to win very often under the constraint of insuring the financial balance. The leadership of the industry must try to conduct the clubs to joint profit maximization. In the context of this article labour aspects as well as aspects concerning the factors which determine the gate receipts are discussed.