Pro sports are the new secular religion. Actually, mainstream religion, even though having declined in recent decades, attracts more than 30 times the attendance of pro sports. Actually, the announcers are people like Marv Albert, Frank Gifford, O.J. Simpson and Dennis Miller. Pro sports ties us all together. Actually, in most cities considering subsidies, pro sports quickly becomes the most divisive force in politics.
Pro sports are entertainment businesses like the movie companies or record stores.
Actually, pro sports are, by virtue of their anti-trust exemptions, state sponsored monopolies . Any major competition to the four major leagues has, in essence, been strictly curtailed by the federal government, via the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 and Baseball's broader anti-trust exemption. The owners run the teams like real businesses where revenues must exceed costs. Franchises are designed to operate at a loss, which is to be covered by taxpayers who have little interest in the game. Teams compete with each other.