Historical Context and Modern Interpretation of the Factors of the Professional Sports Development in North America and Europe

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Today, professional sports are a powerful social phenomenon that is developing at a high rate both in terms of sports and in terms of business. It is natural that various factors influence this process throughout the history of its formation and development. Study Aim: to identify the key factors that influenced and influence the formation and development of professional sport in Europe and North America. Material and Methods. The main materials for the research were data from historical and modern materials regarding various factors that determined and determine now the peculiarities of professional sport development in Europe and North America. Methods: analysis and synthesis, historical method, systematic approach, theoretical interpretation and explanation. Results. Given the global phenomenon of professional sport in the modern world, it should be noted that its structure and effectiveness depend from a wide range of factors, both the external environment and those related to the construction of internal mechanisms of professional sports organizations. Among them: globalization, geopolitical and economic trends, transformation of information and communication technologies, crisis social factors, sports migration, population and demographic ratios in the country, monopoly and competition in the professional sports arena in relation to the coexistence of different organizations in one sport, the focus of professional leagues on higher efficiency. Among the factors that have a negative impact on the development of professional sport today should be noted corruption aspects of professional sports activities. Conclusions. The nature of the influence of these factors is determined by the territorial affiliation of professional sport organizations, as there are certain traditions and legal frameworks of their operation in the United States and various European countries, which have significant differences. At the same time, today the North American remains a more effective model of professional sport development in terms of organizational and economic efficiency.