Birmingham Post - Sports Columnists - Business of Sport

Peter Sharkey: Economic downturn hits ticket sales at major sporting events

Birmingham Post — Thu, 31 May 2012 06:40:00 GMT

At first glance, the latest opportunity afforded consumers to buy tickets to the summer’s Olympic Games appeared successful. However, approximately 450,000 Olympic tickets remain unsold, plus there is a further 1.3 million football tickets which are likely to prove extremely difficult to sell.

Peter Sharkey: Money talks louder than ever for football's elite

Birmingham Post — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:06:00 GMT

Twelve days ago, Manchester City still nervously awaited the arrival of Queens Park Rangers to their Etihad Stadium, mindful that victory over the relegation-threatened club would secure their first league title since 1968.

Peter Sharkey: Chisora and Haye brawl their way to a pay-per-view fortune

Birmingham Post — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:53:00 GMT

Disgraced boxers David Haye and Dereck Chisora will reportedly receive a minimum of £2 million as a reward for violent behaviour in Munich more suited to a vomit-strewn pavement outside of a city centre nightclub.

Peter Sharkey: RFU's closed shop Premiership at risk of stagnation

Birmingham Post — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:00:00 GMT

Traditionally, at the conclusion of a domestic sporting season encompassing predictably large doses of anguish, joy, controversy and relief, together with all of those additional, wonderful characteristics which attract us to sport, the team finishing top are declared champions, while those at the bottom are relegated.

Peter Sharkey: London should follow LA in Olympic Games management

Birmingham Post — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:00:00 GMT

Precious few cities look at their sparkling best when viewed from a second class train carriage, particularly when dark grey clouds dominate the horizon and a menacing drizzle threatens to erupt into a heavier downpour.

Peter Sharkey: Warwickshire ticket giveaway could revitalise Twenty20

Birmingham Post — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:00:00 GMT

If an initiative currently under way at Warwickshire proves successful, T20 could still fulfil a role as a cornerstone of financial success.

Peter Sharkey: Premier League clubs cash in on replica kits

Birmingham Post — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Most football fans of a certain vintage recoil at the sight of youngsters in cities from Bradford to Brisbane donning replica Manchester United shirts.

Peter Sharkey: LTA failing to make most of £30m sponsorship deal

Birmingham Post — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:00:00 GMT

After signing a five-year, £30 million deal with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Otto Thoresen, chief executive of life and pensions firm Aegon, declared that “British tennis is at a breakthrough stage in its development."

Peter Sharkey: US Masters refuses to sell its soul to sponsors and TV

Birmingham Post — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:00:00 GMT

Rarely is the build-up to a golf tournament comparable to that one normally associates with a Las Vegas-based heavyweight title fight.

Peter Sharkey: London 2012 and the quest to keep the IOC happy

Birmingham Post — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:35:00 GMT

The IOC will be keeping a close eye on arrangements made for the sponsors of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Peter Sharkey: BBC's neglect of sport continues with loss of Grand National

Birmingham Post — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMT

There was a time when just about everything the BBC produced and broadcast was considered first class, its output envied by national and commercial broadcasters across the globe.

Peter Sharkey: Sky TV could take a stake in Formula 1

Birmingham Post — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Though purists despair at the Stalinist-style annihilation of almost all pre-1992 statistics and records, even the most curmudgeonly football fan couldn’t fail to be impressed with Sky’s unrivalled coverage of the beautiful game.

Peter Sharkey: FA and Tottenham opened the door to football's financial crisis

Birmingham Post — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Another week, another clutch of football clubs in dire financial trouble. It’s becoming all rather predictable.

Peter Sharkey: BOA facing balancing act for London 2012 Olympics

Birmingham Post — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Anyone selected to represent Team GB at the London 2012 OIympics must sign a 34-page contract with the British Olympic Authority which details precisely what athletes receive in terms of financial recompense should they strike gold.

Peter Sharkey: Rangers FC serves as a stark warning over Employee Benefit Trusts

Birmingham Post — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Glasgow Rangers’ rapid descent into administration came as a complete shock to most football fans, once again highlighting the precarious nature of the game’s rickety financial structures.

Peter Sharkey: FA counting the cost of the England football team manager fiasco

Birmingham Post — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:24:00 GMT

Almost a decade ago, two top-flight football managers, Sam Allardyce and Dave Bassett, had their hearts monitored during the course of important matches to measure stress levels and their respective reactions.

Peter Sharkey: Tour de France may pay price for Alberto Contador ban

Birmingham Post — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:12:00 GMT

Foregoing the car to walk a few miles bathed in glorious Atlantic coast sunshine early last July, my wife and I finally secured a yearned-for opportunity to watch the start of the Tour de France.

Peter Sharkey: Super Bowl Sunday rises above US economic woes

Birmingham Post — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:29:00 GMT

For almost immediate evidence of what is one of the west’s few boom industries, you need only to tune into Sunday’s Super Bowl match between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

Peter Sharkey: Rugby's salary cap a lesson for football's Premier League

Birmingham Post — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:11:00 GMT

With a handful of exceptions, Premiership rugby fans are not watching precious sporting millionaires and for this the game must take considerable credit for introducing a workable salary cap.

Peter Sharkey: Comparing salaries of Premier League footballers to top city CEOs

Birmingham Post — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:33:00 GMT

In any walk of life, it’s possible to happen upon people promoted far, far beyond their ability. Consider your own workmates for a moment and you will immediately recognise this statement to be true.