1. The Angels raised ticket prices in an effort to raise revenues. It more or less worked, but had a negative backlash in the press (the executive quoted in this article left the team soon after). Discuss this strategy in terms of supply and demand, and whether the Angels did the right thing in balancing short- and long-term interests.
2. The Longhorn Network was launched with great fanfare, but so far it has produced poor results for everyone but UT's accountants. Discuss the balancing revenue streams---was this the right strategy for Texas in the long run?
3. MLS is considering another round of expansion to 28 teams, which would make it still the smallest major Canadian and American league but one of the largest soccer leagues in the world. With a television contract due for renewal negotiations in five years, what is the right plan for MLS from the perspectives of owners, teams, and fans in terms of amount of expansion and cities?
4. The Redskins have reduced the capacity of FedEx Field several times in the past few years. Discuss this in terms of supply and demand---what is the best strategy for the team in the short and long run?
5. Stadium funding from public sources has been controversial from economists and public policy analysts. Is it appropriate for teams to seek (and be granted) public funds? Why or why not?
6. Similarly, even privately funded stadiums can cause controversy---discuss whether the externalities a stadium or arena generates are (on the whole) positive or negative.
7. The NFL's streaming of game programming (first, a London game on Yahoo, and now, certain Thursday games on Twitter) is experimental at the moment. What ultimately will the right mix be between network, cable, satellite, and streaming games when the NFL broadcast rights come up for renewal in 2021?
8. Some members of the USWNT have filed a federal complaint alleging inequalities in their payment structures with US Soccer. Putting aside the legality, what is a "fair" or "equal" payment structure?