The Sports Strategist: Developing Leaders for a High-Performance Industry

Today's high-performance sports business is more complex than ever before and presents new challenges to the industry at all levels. Sports organizations are fighting hard for the money and engagement of fans, media, and sponsors while facing unprecedented competition both domestically and internationally. The cost of doing business continues to rise, while traditional revenue streams are under increased pressure.

In The Sports Strategist: Developing Leaders for a High-Performance Industry, authors Irving Rein, Ben Shields, and Adam Grossman demonstrate that relying too much on winning is a losing long-term strategy for dealing with these challenges. Instead, they argue that sports organizations must focus on identifying and maximizing key factors that, unlike winning, can be controlled and shaped. By building a more well-rounded business, sports strategists will position themselves and their organizations for sustainable success in the industry.

Blending extensive industry experience and real-world case studies with their academic expertise, the authors arm students with the combination of the necessary tools to help them make better strategic decisions. Students will learn how to design identities, reinvigorate venue experiences, manage narratives, and maximize new technology in today's connected world. In addition, readers will explore how to implement business analytics, build public support, and apply ethics in decision-making. These techniques are vital to creating a successful sports organization that is ready to reap the benefits of winning when it does happen, without having to suffer when it does not.

The demand for innovative leaders who can address these issues and make tough decisions on which challenges to prioritize has never been greater. The Sports Strategist is an essential resource for anyone looking to thrive in the sports industry.

Irving Rein is Professor of Communication Studies at Northwestern University. He is the author of many books, including The Elusive Fan, High Visibility, and Marketing Places. He has consulted for Major League Baseball, the United States Olympic Committee, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and numerous corporations. Ben Shields is Lecturer in Managerial Communication at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He previously served as Director of Social Media and Marketing at ESPN. He is coauthor of The Elusive Fan and has written many articles and book chapters on sports media and marketing. Adam Grossman is Founder and President of Block Six Analytics. He has worked with a number of sports organizations-including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Capitals.