Professor Scott Rosner
Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
On October 21 and 22, 2005, Professor Scott Rosner of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania served as a guest professor for two classes in the San Diego State University Sports Business Management MBA program. Mr. Rosner is a lecturer in the Legal Studies and Business Ethics Department at the Wharton School as well as the Director of Programs and Strategic Planning of the Wharton Sports Business Initiative. Mr. Rosner has an extensive background in teaching sports law and sports business management at the University of Pennsylvania, Seton Hall University, and Cazenovia College.
Mr. Rosner discussed the issue of start-up professional leagues, from the abrupt end of the United States Football League to the current success of Major League Soccer. The students learned about the benefits and drawbacks of forming a league under single-entity ownership (as the MLS was formed). They debated the future growth of the WNBA and the difficulty of the situation the league currently faces. Anti-trust laws were also discussed with Rosner as he explained the steps that start-up leagues must take to avoid anti-trust violations.
Using his extensive law background, Mr. Rosner was able to provide insight into the formation and success of The Arena Football League. He described the unique television contract for the league, the security that this contract provides, and the benefits and drawbacks that both NBC and the AFL received from this contract. He also depicted the creation of the NFL, the importance of the initial league-wide television package that Pete Rozelle negotiated with CBS, and the unique system of revenue sharing in place for the NFL.
The students of San Diego State University would like to thank Professor Rosner for his time and insight regarding the sporting world and the analysis he provided for many of the industries leagues.
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