The ESPNs of the World is a great read, especially if you are a fan of sports or are reading this for the first time. This book is an exposé of the history of sports and its effects on society, and I highly recommend that you pick it up.
In the past, sports leagues were primarily made up of professionals who were not only passionate about the sport, but were also wealthy and powerful enough to be able to buy the biggest stadiums and the best players. Many leagues were therefore dominated by the biggest names in the sport, like the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat. This gave rise to several negative effects that, ironically, made the sport less popular.
Now, while many people are already aware of the negative effects of money, the biggest issue that sports leagues face is that of funding. As you might imagine, leagues are often very reliant on the public’s support. For example, the NBA is one of the most popular sports leagues on Earth and it relies on the public for over half of its revenue. This is usually due to the fact that the NBA is the most popular sport in the U.S.
