Interbrew , the maker of Labatt, owns baseball's Toronto Blue Jays , but plans to sell the team. Pro-team owners pay to play, and finding funds is the name of the game. The Boston Celtics and the Florida Panthers trade publicly. The NFL does not allow corporate ownership, leaving teams such as Jerry Jones' moneymaking Dallas Cowboys in the hands of individuals. US sports networks are also expanding to global audiences.
Teams typically overspend on bonuses for free-agent superstars.
Big payrolls, in turn, take big tolls. NIKE founder Phil Knight is a dominant force without a team. NIKE has set a tone of frank commercialism in sports. Such commercialization has sent athletes' earnings through the stratosphere. Revenues come not only from broadcast and ticket sales, but from licensing of names and logos.