Who owns sport these days?

It's an interesting question - and it's the basis for our campaign. Increasingly, the big sports clubs are owned and controlled by equally big private interests. In the US, it's not uncommon for baseball 'franchises' to be owned by huge conglomerates. In the UK, there is a growing trend in football of clubs being bought up by millionnaire businessmen. Often these owners contribute significant investment - in new facilities and new players, for example. But the fans still drive the business, through gate receipts, merchandise and by paying to watch sporting events on television. The net flow of investment is generally from the fans to the sport. Yet fans are often excluded from decisions that affect their access to and enjoyment of their chosen game...

Over the coming months, we will be investigating how the world of sport is evolving - where the money is, how decisions are taken, how accessible it all is. Please send us your comments. And, if the way sport is evolving concerns you too, please join our campaign!

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