Motorsports: The Business

Catalog description

How do you turn a weekend race into a billion-dollar economy? What makes a nation invest in Formula One as a development strategy? Can a sporting event reshape a region's global identity? Why do governments bid for mega-events? How do you measure success beyond the podium? This course explores the business and management of global sport with a focus on motorsport and mega-events, using the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Gulf region as the central case study. Students analyze how major sporting properties are commercialized through sponsorship, hospitality, media rights, entertainment, technology, and sustainability initiatives. We will explore how global business frameworks intersect with regional development, tourism, and government investment in sport, positioning the Gulf as a model for sport-led economic diversification. Through case-based learning, applied assignments, and industry perspectives, students develop a holistic understanding of how mega-events are structured, financed, and leveraged to generate cultural, economic, and brand impact - preparing them for careers in global sport business management.