Overview of History of the Center for Sports and Business
The Center for Sports and Business at the Stockholm School of Economics was founded in 2015 to advance research and education at the intersection of sports and business. Its origins lie in earlier education initiatives for athletes and sports executives, which helped shape the center’s research agenda.
Origins: from athlete education to research center
The Center for Sports and Business (CSB) was established in 2015 at the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) to advance research, education, and outreach at the intersection of sports and business. Its origins trace back to 2011, when SSE Executive Education, in collaboration with the Johan Cruyff Institute, launched the Management Diploma for Athletes (MDA). The program supports elite athletes transitioning to new careers and highlighted a central tension in the sports sector: the interplay between commercial and nonprofit logics. This tension continues to shape CSB’s research agenda.
Building on leadership programs for executives in Swedish football and hockey, the Center for Sports and Business was founded with an ambition to combine academic rigor with practical relevance. This guiding mission remains central to the center’s work.
The center brings together an international network of researchers and collaborates closely with sports organizations across disciplines and levels. Its work spans fields such as accounting, strategy, marketing, and economics and is grounded in collaboration with students, practitioners, and scholars.
Research themes and academic collaboration
Research at the center focuses on themes such as hybrid organizations, institutional complexity, commercialization, and value creation in sport. These themes are reflected in academic publications, master theses, and externally funded research projects.
Integrating sports into business education
In education, the center integrates sports contexts into business teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Through case studies, guest lectures, and field-based learning, students work with real-world challenges and contribute to ongoing research.
A platform for dialogue between academia and sport
Beyond research and teaching, the center serves as a hub for dialogue by connecting academia and practice through seminars, networks, and open forums. By addressing sports as a complex and evolving sector, the center contributes to learning, innovation, and responsible development within and beyond the world of sports.