The Global Marketplace

The Global Marketplace

Jimmie King

BUSN-115-11674 Intro to Business & Technology

May 18th, 2014

Professor Ana Strong

DeVry University

I will explain how U.S. sports Franchises figure out ways and opportunities to broaden their cultural popularity abroad, for this I will use the NBA’s Basketball without Borders initiative as an example. I will also explain how franchises ensure their products are appropriate for international markets. I will explain the importance of why governments protect their industries by placing tariffs on imported products and why it is beneficial and at time why it is not

Sports are a very important part of the culture of the United States. With such Franchises like the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), and National Hockey League (NHL) as the top four major sports League. The NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL are commonly referred to as the "Big 4". The best players can become cultural icons as 3 of the four leagues (MLB,NHL, and NBA) feature a diverse ethnic demographic with representation from countries around the world. Two of the leagues the NBA and MLB enjoy a significant place in popular culture in the U.S. as well as abroad respectively in leagues in Europe and Asia.

The NBA, when planning to expand a its message of diversity and culture overseas has made a very significant attempt to understand the cultural differences of the countries in which they have initiated their Diversity program, Basketball Without Borders. Nickels, McHugh & McHugh, (2013) states “to successfully serve new customers, you must understand the cultural differences of their countries. Culture can include social structures, religion, manners and customs, values and attitudes, language, and personal communication”

In the past teams in the U.S. were comprised of primarily only American athletes or American trained athletes usually drafted from High school or Collegiate ranks. But today...