ABSTRACT
In the last chapter the empirical literature on the demand for professional team sports was discussed. Based on a critical review of the literature it was suggested that while there was a diversity of findings upon the determinants of the demand, nonetheless some significant patterns could be understood. As far as economic factors are concerned, while the traditional literature argued that market size was a ubiquitous determinant of demand, price and income effects were identified as weak influences. Moreover, as far as sporting factors are concerned seasonal success, though not the traditional notion of uncertainty of outcome, and team and player qualities appear important determinants of demand. Significantly, it was argued that the traditional literature suffered from a short run aggregate and average emphasis. In particular it was argued that as longer time horizons are adopted for empirical studies then traditional economic determinants of demand, such as prices and incomes, appear to be more significant determinants than previously had been argued to be the case-though a heterogeneity of findings remained.
