The Sports Franchise Game: Cities in Pursuit of Sports Franchises, Events, Stadiums, and Arenas

by Kenneth L. Shropshire

Power, prestige, and millions of dollars—these are the stakes in the sports franchise game. In this book, sports attorney Kenneth Shropshire describes the franchise warfare that pits city against city in the fierce bidding competition to capture major league teams. Rigorous research, fascinating interviews with major players, stories behind the headlines, and an insider's perspective converge in this rare view of the business side of professional sports. Shropshire portrays a complex web of motivations, negotiations, and public relations, and discusses examples from Philadelphia, the Bay Area, and Washington D.C.

120 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

Kenneth L. Shropshire, the David W. Hauck Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, is the author of several award-winning books such as The Business of Sports, The Business of Sports Agents, The Sports Franchise Game, In Black and White, Sports and the Law, and Basketball Jones. His expert views have been presented in Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and Nightline. A Stanford and Columbia Law graduate, Shropshire previously worked in private law practice and as an executive with the LA Olympic Organizing Committee. He is also the Director of the Wharton Sports Business Initiative.

Reviews

[John Dickhaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only regret about this book, and the only reason that it received 4 instead of 5 stars, is simply for the fact that the book is now outdated.

For any sports fan looking for a quick (you could read this 72 page book in a day), and accessible read concerning the stadium politics, myths, and horse trading that is "the sports franchise game," look no further than Prof. Shripshire's book. You will not be disappointed.

It would be nice to see a future addition of this book that could contain updated topics concerning the 1998 MLB expansion, the Washington Redskins leaving RFK stadium, the return of baseball to DC/departure of the Expos, the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns; and the list goes on. These updated chapters could bring us to two modern day sports franchise dilemas: the future of the St. Louis Rams, and Tampa Bay Rays.