Most pioneering moves by sports organizations to increase the value of a sport object

Hey everyone!

I’m planning to write my Master’s thesis on how certain moves by sports-related organizations have increased the value of the sport, individuals, or organizations (like clubs, sponsors, etc.) associated with them.

I’m on the hunt for compelling stories and examples that demonstrate how out-of-the-box thinking and unique actions have led to the success of an organization or the sport as a whole.

My expertise is mostly in basketball and the NBA, so I’d love to hear some great examples from other sports as well!

I’m particularly interested in stories where a single action, person, or event dramatically shifted the sport’s popularity, whether in a positive or negative way.

Some of my favorite examples so far include:

• How Conor McGregor’s personality helped UFC and MMA grow exponentially.
• David Stern’s decision in the 80s to sell NBA TV rights to Argentina for $2,000 a year, boosting the league’s international popularity.
• The Nike and Michael Jordan phenomenon.
• David Stern’s strategy in the 80s of shipping VHS tapes to China to increase the NBA’s popularity there.
• The shift from focusing on teams to highlighting personalities and rivalries in the 80s, such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, which drew massive attention.
• The impact of the 1992 Dream Team in the Barcelona Olympics, which turned basketball into a global sport.
• Ryan Reynolds’ influence on Wrexham FC and the city of Wrexham.
• Jerry Buss revolutionizing the Lakers’ games by inviting celebrities and reimagining cheerleaders, turning games into major attractions.
• Linsanity.
• The NBA’s partial allowance of fan-made highlight videos using NBA footage.

Right now, I’m fascinated by the NBA’s search for a new face of the league as LeBron James nears retirement. I’m also curious about their misstep in choosing Ja Morant a few years ago and how the league’s popularity might be affected once "Inside the NBA" goes off the air.

If you have more examples or comments on the ones I’ve listed, I’d love to hear them!

Thank you!!