The Global Football Industry Marketing Perspectives World Association for Sport Management Series

In recent years, football?s status as "the world?s sport" has shown little sign of waning. From increasing participation at grassroots levels and to the highly lucrative media rights deals secured by the top elite clubs, the game appears to be thriving as it continues to excite and enthral billions of people around the globe. Nevertheless, there are a number of challenges and opportunities facing the football industry today that warrant further examination.

This book brings together leading international researchers to survey the current state of the global football industry, exploring contemporary themes and issues in the marketing of football around the world. With contributions from Europe, Asia and the Americas, it discusses key topics such as football club management, the economics of the football industry, match-fixing, social media, fan experiences, the globalized marketplace, and the growing popularity of the women?s game.

Offering insights for researchers, managers, and marketers who are looking to stay ahead of the game, The Global Football Industry: Marketing Perspectives is essential reading for anyone with an interest in international sport business.

Section I: Global Football Industry 1. Contemporary Global Football Industry: An Introduction 2. European Grassroots Football: Structural and Managerial Peculiarities 3. Economic Importance of Football in Germany 4. Non-local Portuguese Football Fans and Their Love for ‘The Big Three’ 5. The Driving Forces of Competitive Balance in European Football: A Review of Europe’s Top Leagues 6. Competitive Balance in the Chinese Football League Section II: Marketing Perspectives 7. Psychographic Profiling and Segmenting Major Indoor Football League Fans 8. When the Beautiful Game Turns Ugly: Fan Experiences of Perceived Match Fixing in Football 9. Videographic Analysis of "Weird Guys": What Do Relationships Mean to Football Fans? 10. Comparison of Marketing Approaches in Men’s and Women’s Football Events 11. The Equalizer: Feminist Themes in NWSL Club Marketing 12. General Game Support Programs Associated with Professional Team Sports

James J. Zhang is Professor and Director of the International Center for Sport Management (ICSM) at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, USA

Brenda G. Pitts is Professor of Sport Management and Director of the Sport Business Research Laboratory at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA