Sport has a number of distinctive characteristics whichimpact onthe extent of its globalization. This book seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the unique development in sports, its governance, its logic of co-creation of value and the advancement of the industry towards internationalisation, professionalization and commercializationINTRODUCTION Sport as Business: International, Professional and Commercial Aspects; H.Dolles & S.S?derman PART I: SPORT CONSUMERS PERSPECTIVE 'As American as mom, apple pie and Dutch soccer?' The team identification of foreign Ajax F.C. supporters; A.K.Kerr , N.F.Smith & A.Anderson Decision-making styles in purchasing sport products: An international comparison between American and Korean college students; S.Bae Travel time elasticities in recreational sports: Empirical findings for the professionalization in sports facility management; T.Pawlowski , C.Breuer & P.Wicker PART II: SPORT EVENTS AND SPORT FACILITIES Perceptions of the impacts of major commercial sport event; C.Auld , K.M.Lloyd & J.Rieck Gender, race, and nationality: An examination of print media coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics; A.N.Eagleman & E.L.McNary Valorisation of sports facilities: A representation of the global value; B.Aug? , A.Pedenon & A.Vernhet PART III: SPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNANCE Sports organizations, professionalisation and organizational conflict: A review of the literature; J.Schulz International and professional dimensions of National Governing Bodies: Insights from the Gaelic Athletic Association; A.Bourke The role of the central broker and its influence on effectiveness in an intentionally created sports professionalisation network; S.Martin , M.Benson-Rea & N.Palakshappa Business ecosystem co-evolution: The Ultimate Fighting Championships; S.Ford & C.Kerr Learning from failure: Is Major League Soccer repeating the mistakes of the North American Soccer League?; J.D.Francis Learning from success: Implementing lƒf