The Call Up to the Majors: A Proximity-Based Approach to the Economics of Minor League Baseball

By Thomas A Rhoads

Book Overview

Just like any other business, Major League Baseball (MLB) seeks to continually increase brand awareness and brand value. Maintaining high consumer demand for its product is an important element of this business strategy.It is the unique relationship that MLB has with Minor League Baseball (MiLB) and more precisely, the fact that the fan base for MLB and MiLB are very similar that allows the MLB brand to reach outside of the major leagues, into the minor leagues, and into the way the minor league game is structured and played. Major League teams provide each of their Minor League affiliates with players and coaches in order to develop baseball players who can eventually play for the MLB parent club or be traded for another player who can.While Minor League teams are independent businesses, MLB gives them certain rules and regulations to play by, presumably to enhance and maintain consumer demand at the major league level.A strong player development system in the minor leagues is therefore a crucial piece of the business strategy that can help lead to the success of the major league team.This book explores the unique relationship and the unique way the MLB brand is developed through minor league baseball and how MLB and the individual MLB teams are trying to build and maintain consumer demand through the relationship with MiLB, making it of interest to both sports economists and practitioners. "

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1461489237
• ISBN13: 9781461489238
• Release Date: March 2015
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 121 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.2"