ABSTRACT

This chapter argues that non-athletic corporation is a for-profit organization generally governed by a Board of Directors that may be publically or privately held. For organizations that produce a product, or provide a service that is dependent on the public for the survival of that product, critical incident management has become a mainstay of their existence. The chapter examines the application of crisis management principles in a non law enforcement or public safety environment. It takes a compressive look at the premise that major professional sports are businesses, albeit ones operating in a slightly different environment than traditional businesses. While a component of any business model addresses product protection, the professional sports institutions address it through participant behavior and general codes of conduct. The chapter explores that athletic corporation is the governing body for a professional sport. Examples would include Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and the Professional Golf Association.