1:24 p.m., Dec. 9, 2009----Tim DeSchriver, associate professor in the University of Delaware's Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, delivered a keynote lecture at the first International Conference on Sports and Exercise Science, held in Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 1-3. The conference focused on sport and healthy lifestyles during the global economic crisis.

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DeSchriver's talk addressed the effects of the global recession on the sport industry. With its origins in the housing market and the financial industry, the global recession has spread to include the automobile, airline, restaurant/hotel, and sport industries.

Ticket sales, the largest source of revenue for many sports teams, have dropped, prompting the industry to discount ticket prices, offer special promotions and deferred payment plans, and place renewed emphasis on relationship marketing.

The impact of reduced ticket sales is exacerbated by decreased corporate marketing budgets. Examples of troubled partnerships include the Detroit Tigers and the automotive industry, PGA of America and the Royal Bank of Scotland, and Manchester United and AIG.

To reduce employment costs, many major sport businesses have implemented layoffs, while player salaries have been largely unaffected. In addition, debt, which is necessary to acquire franchises and to construct and renovate sports arenas and stadiums, is now more costly and difficult to negotiate.

And, at the grassroots level, smaller events, teams, and leagues -- for example, participant-oriented running and cycling races, local charity sporting events, and youth sports leagues -- have been cancelled or downsized due to the economy.

According to DeSchriver, the financial future of the sport industry will depend on greater marketing creativity, less reliance on debt, and new relationships between sports and the media.

“Sport management has quickly developed into a global academic field,” he says. “This conference was a great opportunity to discuss the field with sport managers from countries throughout Southeast Asia.”

DeSchriver's research interests are in the fields of sport finance, economics and marketing, specifically in the areas of professional sport and collegiate athletics. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in sport management at UD and is a member of the North American Society for Sport Management and the Sport Marketing Association.

Hosted by faculty of the Sports Sciences program at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, the conference attracted some 350 participants from 16 countries.

“The warmth and hospitality displayed by the faculty, staff and students from Kasetsart University was impressive,” says DeSchriver. “They made the trip very enjoyable and they provided me with a great opportunity to experience the culture, food, and sites of their fascinating country.”

Topics addressed at the conference included sports physiology, nutrition in sports, sports medicine, sport and exercise psychology, biomechanics in sports, sport management and tourism, leisure studies, and health and well being.

Article by Diane Kukich