Question Home

Position:Home>General - Arts & Humanities > Why are sports teams private?


Question:

Why are sports teams private?

I don't think it makes much sense that a team representing the state of new york or california for instance is owned by a single person. In actuality, the team does not belong to the state and its people but to that person. For example, the Dallas Maverick's might as well be called Cuban's Mavericks.


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Professional sports teams are privately owned clubs that are operated on a for-profit basis. The way they are identified with particular cities generally involves the city recognizing that a pro-sports team is good for local businesses and agreeing to put up money alongside the team owners to build a stadium and its supporting infrastructure. The New England Patriots wanted to be the Boston Patriots, but Boston wasn't willing to put up the money, so they went a few miles west and affiliated with no one.

There are a few teams associated with a whole state, but the same relationship exists between them and the state as between other teams and their respective cities.

Just because the public at large has no legal connection with the team doesn't mean that there is no relationship between the team and the city they represent.