ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the ownership and governance of professional sport teams in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It provides a detailed analysis of how sport leagues and teams are structured and managed in each region and how ownership and governance can challenge efficient sport outcomes. While we provide coverage of a wide range of corporate sports in all regions, we limit the comparative analysis to professional or corporate sport leagues and to the sports of cricket, rugby union and association football (soccer), given the commonality of these sports as dominant sports with professional leagues in each country. As well as the size and popularity of the sports, study of the professional leagues and teams in the region provide evidence of recent environmental and structural changes in many instances, presenting a range of diverse ownership designs and issues.
